Coca Cola Cake

This Coca Cola Cake is a rich and moist chocolate sheet cake made with Coke and topped with a boiled chocolate frosting that melts into the top. It's easy to make and tastes amazing. Trust me, everyone will be asking for this copycat Cracker Barrel recipe!

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love Chocolate Cake with Coke
• Ingredients Needed
• Cake Variations
• How To Make Coca Cola Cake
• BruCrew Tips
• Storing and Freezing
• More 9x13 Cake Recipes
• Recipe

Coca Cola chocolate cake has been a Southern favorite since the 1950's. I've seen it in so many old cookbooks and watched it disappear at church potlucks over the years. When Cracker Barrel added it to its menu in the '90s, this classic dessert became even more popular.

Cracker Barrel has always been a family favorite. When our kids were young, they loved sitting in the rocking chairs and playing the pegboard game while waiting for food.

Recently, we visited again, and I had the hash brown casserole, bacon mac and cheese, and fried apples. Of course, the real reason for my visit was a slice of their famous double chocolate fudge Coca Cola cake!

With food costs rising everywhere, I have been creating copycat recipes of my favorite restaurant dishes. I made a delicious cola version of my Dr. Pepper cake that tastes just as good as the original but is so much cheaper.

Adding soda boosts the chocolate flavor and helps the cake rise, making it light and fluffy. In my opinion, the best part is the cooked cola frosting. It soaks into the warm cake and creates a delicious fudgy glaze. Trust me, everyone will want the recipe!

Ingredients Needed

This chocolate Coca Cola cake comes together with simple ingredients and one very important can of soda. Scroll down to the printable recipe card for the exact amounts and detailed instructions.

• All Purpose Flour: Gives the cake structure. Spoon and level or weigh for best results.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens and balances the deep chocolate flavor.
• Baking Soda: Helps the batter rise.
• Eggs: Binds everything together and adds richness.
• Buttermilk: Gives the cake a light, moist, and tender texture.
• Vanilla Extract and Salt: Add balance and warmth.
• Unsalted Butter: Adds a rich flavor to the batter and frosting
• Cocoa Powder: Gives the cake and frosting a deep color and flavor. Hershey's Dark cocoa powder is what I used in this cake. You can use regular cocoa powder as well, but the cake will be lighter.
• Coca Cola: The star ingredient! Please use regular full-sugar Coke for the best texture and flavor! This is not the time to do a diet.
• Milk: Adds just the right amount of creaminess to the frosting and helps it come together smoothly.
• Powdered Sugar: Sweetens the frosting and gives it a pourable consistency. Sift it before adding it to the hot mixture to avoid any lumps!

How To Make Coca Cola Cake

This Coca-Cola cake recipe comes together quickly and easily. The most important thing to remember is to pour the hot frosting over the warm cake so it melts right in. Let's get started.

1. Mix the dry ingredients. Add the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt to a large bowl and stir until combined.
2. Mix the wet ingredients. In a smaller bowl, whisk together the eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla, then set aside.
3. Make the soda mixture. Place the butter, cocoa powder, and Coke in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir until the butter melts and the mixture is smooth.
4. Combine the ingredients. Pour the warm cola mixture into the dry ingredients and whisk until combined. Gently whisk in the wet ingredients until smooth.
5. Bake. Pour the batter into a prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
6. Make the frosting. Melt the butter, cocoa, and Cola in a small saucepan over low heat until melted and smooth. Bring to a low boil, then remove from the heat. Whisk in the sugar and vanilla until smooth and glossy.
7. Frost the cake. Immediately pour the warm frosting slowly over the hot cake, then spread it out evenly with a spatula. Let the frosting set before cutting.

Storing and Freezing

On the Counter: Let the frosting set completely before cutting the cake into squares. If you cut into it before it sets, the frosting will run off the sides. Once set, store in a tightly covered container for 3-4 days.

In the Freezer: Wrap the entire cake or individual squares in two layers of plastic wrap and then one layer of foil. Freeze for 1-2 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.

More 9x13 Cake Recipes

• Chocolate Chip Cake
• Easy Coconut Cake
• Carrot Cake Sheet Cake
• Orange Creamsicle Poke Cake
• Best Banana Cake

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