If you love easy sheet cake recipes, be sure to also try our Banana Bars with Penuche Frosting, Pineapple Poke Cake, or Texas Sheet Cake.
This Coke Cake recipe is sure to be a crowd pleaser
Did you know that the Coca-Cola was founded in Atlanta, Georgia in 1892? It’s why I’m including this coca cola cake recipe in my collection of Georgia-inspired recipes for my American Eats series where I visit some of the most popular foods and flavors of each state, one state at a time. I also have a Coca-Cola Jello Salad that came straight from one of those old community cookbooks that I picked up while visiting my college roommate in Georgia a few years ago. This is a wonderful and unique cake because it actually has 2 bottles of Coca-Cola in it. Every bite of decadent chocolate cake is rich with the an enhanced flavor thanks to the classic American cola (sorry Pepsi-lovers). The soda gets reduced on the stove to concentrate the flavor, then some of it goes in the cake batter itself while the rest is used to make the fudgy coca-cola cake frosting that you will recognize and love if you also enjoy Texas sheet cake. It’s more of a chocolate cake with a sticky-sweet something special that you might not identify right away as Coca-Cola. But it’s always a guaranteed crowd-pleaser at birthdays or potlucks and perfect with a scoop of ice cream and maraschino cherries on top!
Why this Soda Cake Recipe works
Buttermilk in the batter! I love to use buttermilk in cakes because it keeps them moist and adds so much depth and interest to the flavor with it’s signature tanginess. The fudge icing! I’m obsessed with pourable fudge icing. It’s cooked first and firms up into a deliciously fudgy texture that makes every bite of this cake extra special. It also keeps the moisture sealed into the cake so it’s fresh for days. Extra light texture. The carbonation from soda gives the cake a bit of a lift for a delicious soft texture. The molasses notes in the coca-cola also adds a deep flavor that most people recognize as something different, but can’t quite tell what it is.
Coke Cake Recipe ingredients
This is a quick overview of some of the important ingredients you’ll need for this recipe. Specific measurements and full recipe instructions are in the printable recipe card below.
Coca-Cola: Feel free to use original, diet, or even sugar free Coca-Cola if that’s what you have on hand. Cocoa powder: Regular unsweetened cocoa powder works great here. You can use any brand you like, but I tested the recipe with Hershey’s which is widely and readily available to most home bakers. Flour: This cake does well with regular all-purpose flour so no need to go out and buy cake flour for a lighter crumb. Buttermilk: If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, simply add 1 teaspoon of vinegar or lemon juice to a ½ cup measuring cup, then fill it the rest of the way with milk. Let this sit for 5 minutes before using in place of the buttermilk.
How to make a Cake with Soda
Coke Cake tips & tricks
Decorate with cherries or nuts for extra flair. Some folks like to decorate the top of each slice of coca-cola cake with whole English walnuts. I tend to keep it plain or just garnish with a cherry instead, but the choice is yours! Serve warm. If the cake has cooled completely, I like to pop individual slices in the microwave to warm them for just a few seconds before serving. Don’t wait to pour the chocolate icing over the cake. It sets pretty quickly and can be difficult to spread if you wait too long. Don’t eyeball the coke reduction. Measure out and only use ½ cup for the cake batter batter and another ½ cup for the icing. If you just eyeball it, there’s a good chance you might end up with frosting that doesn’t set up right or a cake that is just too wet and takes longer to bake. Sift the powdered sugar for the icing. This is my top tip for a super smooth pourable icing because sometimes powdered sugar likes to clump when it is stored. If you don’t have a sifter, I recommend removing any powdered sugar chunks immediately after pouring before the icing sets. Otherwise, the chunks will be there to stay!
Storing Coca Cola Cake
How to store: This cake keeps well at room temperature in an airtight container or covered with plastic wrap for up to 3 days, or in the fridge for up to 5 days. How to freeze: You can freeze the cake with or without the fudge icing, but sometimes when it is thawed the icing doesn’t hold up well. If your plan is to bake the cake ahead and freeze it, I recommend skipping making the icing until the day or day before you plan to serve it and adding it over the thawed cake.
More Cake Recipes
Red Velvet Earthquake Cake Bumpy Cake Checkerboard Cake Best Homemade Strawberry Cake Gooey Butter Cake
More States I Have Visited in my American Eats Series
Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • New Jersey • New York • Oregon • Puerto Rico • South Carolina • South Dakota • Texas • Utah • Wisconsin
Pineapple Poke Cake
Strawberries and Cream Sheet Cake
Chocolate Texas Sheet Cake
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