Coca-Cola Cake

Did you know that the secret to a delicious homemade chocolate cake might be hiding in your fridge? Coca-Cola can add a unique flavor and feel to chocolate cake. Our Coca-Cola Cake recipe is a fun, nostalgic treat that both kids and adults love.  

The soda’s carbonation helps create a light, fluffy cake, while its caramel notes add to the rich chocolate flavor. It’s topped with a frosting also made with Coca-Cola. Together, they create a chocolate dessert that’s super simple to make, but hard to resist. 

The idea of using Coca-Cola in a cake might seem strange, but it’s an old-fashioned scratch-made recipe that dates back to the 1950s and 60s. Home bakers were looking for ways to make their cakes more interesting, and someone must have figured out adding a can of Coke to batter would make chocolate cake better! It’s been a Southern classic since then.

Ingredients

Cake

Coca-Cola – you can use your favorite kind of cola for this recipe so long as the flavor goes with chocolate. You won’t need any more than one can for both the cake and the icing.

Oil –  we use plain vegetable oil for this.

Butter – we almost always use salted butter for cooking and baking, since it is what we always have on hand. If you choose to use unsalted, you’ll need to add some salt to the recipe to counterbalance all of the sweetness.

Granulated sugar – this is just plain white sugar.

All-purpose flour

Cocoa powder 

Baking soda

Large eggs

Buttermilk – most of us in the South always have buttermilk on hand. If you don’t, all you need to do is add 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice to a 1 cup measuring cup and add enough milk to equal one cup, then give it a good stir and let it sit for about 5 minutes. You could also substitute with Greek yogurt or sour cream.

Vanilla extract 

Frosting

Powdered sugar

Cocoa powder

Butter, salted – just like above, you’ll need to add some salt to offset the sweetness.

Coca-Cola

Vanilla extract 

How to Make Coca-Cola Cake and Frosting

Cake

1 – Set the oven to 350℉ and prepare a 9×13 cake pan by greasing it lightly with cooking spray or butter.

2 – In a small saucepan, combine the Coca-Cola, oil, and butter. Heat over medium-high until the butter has melted and the mixture begins to bubble. As this heats, start preparing the rest of the cake batter.

3 – In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.

4 – Once the cola mixture is hot, pour it over the dry ingredients and mix until well combined and slightly cooled.

5 – Add the buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla to the batter and mix until fully incorporated.

6 – Transfer the batter to the prepared cake pan and bake for 25-30 minutes. Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center of the cake; it should come out clean.

7 – Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes while you prepare the frosting.

Frosting

1 – Sift the powdered sugar and cocoa into a mixing bowl.

2 – In a saucepan, heat the butter and cola over medium-high heat until it begins to bubble.

3 – Pour the hot liquid into the bowl with the powdered sugar and cocoa. Add the vanilla and beat until the mixture is smooth and no streaks of powdered sugar remain.

4 – Spread the warm frosting evenly over the slightly cooled cake.

5 – Allow the cake and frosting to cool completely before cutting and serving.

Pro Tips

Baking times may vary slightly depending on humidity and other weather conditions.

For variety, try using cherry Coke or vanilla Coke. When using cherry Coke, consider adding a layer of cherry pie filling before covering the cake with warm frosting.

For a sweet and salty twist, sprinkle chopped salted peanuts over the frosting, reminiscent of the classic Southern combination of Coke and peanuts.

Do not use diet soda. There is some kind of chemical reaction that occurs when it heats up and your cake will turn out terrible. Ask us how we know…..

Can I Use a Different Kind of Soda?

One of the amazing things about Coca-Cola Cake is how easy it is to customize. You can add your favorite mix-ins to the batter, like chopped pecans or marshmallows, or even a hint of espresso powder to intensify the chocolate flavor. You can also experiment with different types of Coca-Cola, like Cherry Coke or Vanilla Coke, to give the cake a slightly different flavor profile.

Isn’t This Just a Coke Cake?

I suppose, if you aren’t from the South. 

Down here, we don’t call it a Coke cake. If you ask one of us for a Coke, you’ll be met with “What kind?” Don’t look at us like we lost our minds, any carbonated soda-pop is referred to as a Coke, even Pepsi and generic colas. Don’t argue about semantics, just go with it, answer respectfully, and feel free to use Ma’am or Sir, we kind of expect it.

Can I use Diet Coca-Cola or Another Cola Brand in the recipe?

While you can use any kind of dark cola, like Pepsi or generic, diet Coke will alter the flavor and texture. For best results, use any regular cola beverage.

Can I Make the Cake Ahead of Time? 

You can bake and frost the cake a day in advance and store it at room temperature, covered tightly with plastic wrap. 

Can I Freeze Coca-Cola Cake? 

Yes, you can freeze the unfrosted cake for up to 3 months. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil before freezing. Thaw the cake at room temperature and frost it before serving.

Can I Make Cupcakes Instead of a Cake?

Sure! You’ll need to adjust the baking time 20-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean. (Use one of the center cupcakes for this.)

Can I Add Nuts or Other Ingredients to the Cake Batter?

Yes, you can add chopped nuts, such as peanuts, pecans or walnuts, to the cake batter for extra texture and flavor. You can also add other ingredients like chocolate chips or dried fruit if desired. 

We wouldn’t add more than 1/2 to 1 cup of nuts. Too many nuts will change the baking time.

Do You Have Any Other Southern Desserts?

We’re glad you asked! Yes we do. Here are a few of our favorites:

• Red Velvet Cake
• Butter Pound Cake
• Louisiana Crunch Cake
• Gooey Butter Cake
• No Bake Banana Pudding

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