This Classic Coca-Cola Cake is a wonderfully rich and chocolatey cake with coca cola in both the cake and icing. This delicious southern chocolate cake always gets rave reviews.
This cake is so easy to make and has so much great chocolate flavor. The cake batter itself is fabulously moist and dense. It’s made with a cup of coke, buttermilk, unsweetened cocoa powder and mini marshmallows.
On top is a wonderful Chocolate Icing that turns out like a thin coating of fudge on top. Over time it melts a little into the top of the cake keeping it wonderfully moist and fresh tasting for days.
What Is Coca Cola Cake?
Coca Cola Cake dates back to the mid-20th century, but became much more widely known when Cracker Barrel added it to their menu in the mid-1990s. It’s very much like Texas Sheet Cake in flavor and texture, but with the addition of Coke.
The cake batter itself is perfectly moist and dense.
If you love peanut butter, be sure to try this peanut version or coca cola cake.
Reader Comment
Debbie says- “Out of this world delicious!” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
How To Make
(More detailed instructions in recipe card below.)
- Combine buttermilk and Coca Cola in a glass measuring cup.
- Beat butter until creamy with an electric mixer. Gradually beat the sugar in.
- Add the eggs and vanilla, beating on low speed until combined.
- Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl.
- Add flour mixture, alternating with buttermilk mixture.
- Stir in marshmallows.
- Transfer to a greased baking dish and bake for 30 to 35 minutes.
- Make frosting. Combine butter, cocoa, and coke in a saucepan and heat until the butter is melted. Remove from heat and stir in the powdered sugar. Pour frosting over cake.
Recipe Tips
- Don’t use diet soda for this recipe.
- Don’t overmix the cake batter. Just stir until combined. Overmixing can make the cake tough instead of tender.
- The icing will thicken as it cools. If too runny, let it cool a little before pouring over the cake. But careful not to let it cool too much or it will set up.
Variations and Substitutions
- You can use Dr. Pepper or Root Beer instead of Coke.
- Some people like to add 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon to their cake batter.
- If you like nuts, try sprinkling 1/2 cup of toasted chopped pecans over the glaze.
Storage
Leftovers can be stored at room temperature or in the refrigerator for about 4 days.
This delicious chocolate cake always gets rave reviews and it is sure to bring back childhood memories.
Pin this now to find it later
Pin ItTry These Other Southern Cakes Made with Soda
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- 7-Up Cake
- Pineapple 7-Up Cake
- Cheerwine Poke Cake
- Cheerwine Chocolate Cake
Classic Coca Cola Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup Coca-Cola
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup salted butter, softened
- 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows
Coca-Cola Icing
- 1/2 cup salted butter
- 1/3 cup Coca-Cola
- 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 (16-ounce) box confectioners' sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with baking spray.
- Combine Coca-Cola and buttermilk in a glass measuring cup. Set aside.
- Using an electric mixer (either stand or hand-held) beat butter until creamy.
- Gradually beat in sugar.
- Add eggs and vanilla and beat on low speed until blended.
- In a bowl, combine flour, cocoa, and baking soda.Add flour mixture to butter mixture in 3 additions, alternating with buttermilk mixture in 2 additions. Beat just until blended.
- Stir in marshmallows. Pour batter into prepared baking dish.Bake for 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes before adding icing.
- To make icing, combine butter, coke, and cocoa in a large saucepan and place over medium heat until butter is melted, stirring frequently.Remove from heat. Whisk in confectioners' sugar and vanilla. Pour on top of cake.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I get so many compliments …especially for the frosting which I have varied the pop….and used on other cakes!
This cake is amazing! I thought I had ruined it when all the marshmallows went to the center but it tasted great next time I’ll try without the mallows! Does it still turn out without them?
Best cake ever. Made with Dr. Pepper. Everyone loved it.
I made this for a family dinner at Christmas time. I don’t usually drink Coca-Cola so I had to make a special trip to the store for a bottle of it. I had heard this is a delicious version of chocolate cake, with a flavor from the Coke that chocolate cakes usually don’t have. I’m so glad I made it. It was way more delicious than I expected. It was enjoyed by everyone who had a piece of it. I added chopped walnuts to the frosting, otherwise followed the recipe exactly. I’m sure I’ll make this again. Thank you for providing your recipe.
The cake is a five star. It takes more than 35 min. to bake,
I need a Frosting for the cake. Not an icing. Please send the frosting to top the cake.
How can you tell when the cake is done?
Lightly touch the top of the cake when it has baked about 35 minutes. If the spot you touched comes right back up, it’s done. Also, if the edges of the cake have slightly separated from the sides of the cake pan, that’s another sign the cake is done. You can poke in a toothpick near the center and it should come out with something non-liquid, showing the batter has baked all it needs.
Very good chocolate cake!! Couldn’t really get the coke taste to come through but overall a very tasty cake!!
Can you substitute fluff for the marshmallows?
Can you freeze and serve later.
Absolutely, Sherry
Just polished off a chunk out of the freezer – more dense and chewy. Better in my opinion!!
Everyone loved it. Simple to make and the icing was amazing!
This is the best Coca Cola cake I’ve run across. My husband even requested it for his birthday tonight. The only difference I’ve found is it takes closer to 45-50 minutes for my cake to get all the way done in the middle as opposed to 30-35. Great recipe!
What makes the marshmallow go to the center of the cake
Not mixing the batter thoroughly after the addition of the marshmallows?
I have the same problem. This is the 4th time I’ve bake this cake and the marshmallows end up in the middle, even though I thoroughly mixed them into the batter. Also, they end up looking (but not tasting) burned!