Old Fashioned Coca Cola Cake

This Coca Cola Cake is an Old Fashioned  Recipe filled to the brim with rich, chocolate fun. Add the coke makes this cake dense and moist and the fudge frosting as absolutely delicious.

Why You Will Love Coca Cola Cake

1. RICH, CHOCOLATE INDULGENCE – Coca-Cola Cake offers an irresistibly moist and rich chocolate flavor. If you are a chocoholic, this cake is for you! And it tastes PERFECT with some vanilla ice cream! And the addition of Coca-Cola to the batter results in a uniquely moist and tender cake. 
2. FUN FLAVOR PROFILE – The coke also gives this cake a slight caramel undertone and sets it apart from more traditional chocolate cakes. 
3. EASY RECIPE – With a straightforward preparation process, Coca-Cola Cake is accessible for bakers of all levels, ensuring a delicious outcome without the stress.
4. NOSTALGIC, CLASSIC RECIPE – Many grandma’s have been making some variation of this cake in their kitchen for decades. There is just something about classic, time-tested recipes that fills my soul (and my taste buds) with happiness. 

What Is Coca Cola Cake

As the popularity of Coca Cola really exploded in the middle of the 1900s, at some point, someone decided to use it in a cake recipe. No one is sure who. But, ever since, it’s become a Southern staple at potlucks, church gathering and picnics. It is sort of a slight variation of the Texas Sheet Cake. Some versions of this cake layer it with marshmallows. But we didn’t. It sort of reminds me of this other famous cake. 

In the 1990s, Cracker Barrel put it on their menu and it popularity increased even more. 

Coca Cola Cake Ingredients

Here is what you’ll need to get started. For a more information, check out our printable recipe card below. 

FOR THE CAKE

• COCA COLA – Really any brand will work. You can also substitute Dr. Pepper or Root Beer. Can you use Pepsi? Meh…
• BUTTER – We used unsalted butter. 
• UNSWEETENED COCOA POWDER – Any brand will work. It can be found in the baking aisle of your grocery store. 
• FLOUR – Any All-Purpose Flour will work. 
• GRANULATED SUGAR – 
• BAKING SODA – A leavening agent that makes this cake nice and fluffy. 
• SALT – It’s always important to bake with salt to offset the sweet flavors. 
• EGGS – If possible, bring your eggs to room temperature before adding them to this recipe. 
• BUTTERMILK – If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make your own easily. Just combine 1/2 cup of milk with 1/2 tbsp of lemon juice of vinegar. Let it sit for 10 minutes. 
• VANILLA EXTRACT – We always recommend using a high quality vanilla extract. 
• POWDERED SUGAR – Also called confectioner’s sugar. We’ll use this to make our frosting. 

Coca Cola Cake Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9×13 baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. 
2. In a medium saucepan, combine the Coca Cola, butter, and cocoa powder. Cook over medium heat until the butter is melted and the mixture just begins to boil, stirring occasionally. When the mixture begins to boil, remove it from heat and allow it to cool for around 10 minutes.
3. While the soda is reducing, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. 
4. Pour the soda mixture over the flour mixture and stir to mix until just moistened.
5. Add the eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla extract and whisk until well blended.
6. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the   comes out clean.
7. While the cake is baking, prepare the glaze by warming the Coca Cola in a medium saucepan over medium heat until the mixture begins to come to a boil. Continue cooking until the soda is reduced to around 1/2 cup.
8. Stir in the butter, vanilla extract, and cocoa powder until the cocoa is dissolved and the butter is melted.
9. Remove the pan from heat and add the powdered sugar, stirring until the mixture is smooth. 
10. Pour the glaze over the top of the warm cake.
11. Allow the cake to cool completely before slicing and serving.

Storage, Freezing and Leftovers

You can keep your coca cola cake in an airtight container at room temperature. It should stay good for about 5 days. 

You can also freeze Coca Cola Cake. You can freeze it with the frosting on it, but when it thaws it may lose some quality. So, if you are planning on freezing it, you may want to put the frosting on after it thaws and before serving. 

Notes, Tips and FAQs

• DO YOU NEED TO USE COCA COLA IN COCA COLA CAKE? – No. You can substitute Dr. Pepper or Root Beer with very little change in flavor. 
• TOPPING IDEAS – We just topped ours with a little whipped cream. But you can also top with walnuts, pecans, almond slices, toasted coconut or a dollop of vanilla ice cream. 
• ARE THERE MARSHMALLOWS IN COCA COLA CAKE? – Sometimes. We opted not to use them in our recipe. 

We hope you enjoy this Coca Cola Cake! We’d love to hear how it turns out for you in the comment section. Happy eating!

LOOKING FOR MORE DELICIOUS CHOCOLATE DESSERTS? CHECK OUT:

• BUTTERFINGER CAKE
• CHOCOLATE COCONUT BROWNIES
• CHOCOLATE ZUCCHINI CAKE
• DARK CHOCOLATE BROWNIES