This old-fashioned Coca-Cola Cake is a classic sheet cake recipe that’s packed with nostalgia. The combination of moist chocolate cake and rich fudgy frosting makes it an easy dessert that’s always a hit.
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Pin ItWhat Makes Coca-Cola Cake So Special?
Many people know Coca-Cola Cake from Cracker Barrel, but this classic Southern dessert has been a favorite at potlucks, family gatherings, and church suppers for generations. You might be surprised to hear that this cake doesn’t have a very strong Coke flavor. Instead, the soda works behind the scenes to create an exceptionally moist, tender chocolate cake while adding subtle flavor.
But the warm chocolate icing is what really sets it apart. Poured over the cake right out of the oven, it partially soaks into the surface before setting into a shiny, crackly layer that makes every bite rich, fudgy, and completely irresistible.
Like this Coca-Cola Cake, my One Bowl Chocolate Cake and Chocolate Peanut Butter Sheet Cake are topped with a simple cooked icing. These are no fuss, easy cakes that everyone loves!
Ingredient Notes
- Dry Ingredients: You’ll need all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Wet Ingredients: The cake batter is made with regular Coca-Cola, butter, vegetable or canola oil, buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla extract. You’ll need a total of 16 ounces of Coca-Cola for the cake and glaze. Avoid Diet Coke or Coke Zero, which won’t produce the same flavor and texture. I usually grab two 8-ounce bottles so I don’t have leftover soda after opening them.
- For the Glaze: The rich chocolate glaze is made with Coca-Cola, butter, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, powdered sugar, and a little buttermilk. Pouring it over the warm chocolatey cake creates the signature fudgy icing.
How to Make Coca-Cola Cake
- Whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl.
- Combine the Coca-Cola, butter, and oil in a saucepan and bring the mixture to a boil. Pour it over the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Mix in the buttermilk, then add the eggs and vanilla and beat until smooth.
- Transfer the batter to a greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish and bake as directed.
- Bring the Coca-Cola to a boil and cook until reduced. Add the butter and stir until melted.
- Whisk in the cocoa powder and vanilla until smooth.
- Add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, whisking until smooth. Stir in the buttermilk until the glaze is thick but pourable.
- Immediately pour the warm glaze over the warm cake and spread it evenly over the top with an offset spatuala or knife.
Storage Tips
Cover the cake pan tightly and store it at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, refrigerate it for up to 5 days and allow it to come to room temperature before serving for the best texture.
To freeze, wrap the cooled cake tightly in plastic wrap and a layer of foil and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or at room temperature before serving.
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Coca-Cola Cake
Ingredients
Coca-Cola Cake
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup Coca-Cola
- ½ cup vegetable or canola oil
- ½ cup butter, cubed
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Coca Cola Icing
- 1 cup Coca-Cola
- ½ cup butter, cubed
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 4 cups powdered sugar, or as needed
- 2 tablespoons buttermilk, or as needed
Instructions
For the Cake
- Preheat oven to 350 °F. Coat a 13- x 9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In a small saucepan over MEDIUM heat, combine the cola, oil, and cubed butter and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, until the butter has melted. Pour the hot cola mixture over the dry ingredients and using an electric mixer, mix until just moistened.
- Mix in the buttermilk until well combined. Then, add the eggs and vanilla and beat again, until combined.
- Transfer the batter to the prepared baking dish. Bake for 28 to 32 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- About 15 minutes before the cake is done, prepare the icing.
For the Icing
- In a large saucepan over HIGH heat, bring cola to a full boil. Reduce to MEDIUM (or MEDIUM-HIGH if needed) and cook, at a steady boil, for 10 minutes or until the liquid is reduced to about ½ cup.
- Reduce heat to LOW, add the butter, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the butter is melted. Whisk in the cocoa powder and vanilla until smooth. Remove from the heat and whisk in the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, whisking vigorously after each addition until smooth, then whisk in the buttermilk. The icing should be smooth, glossy, and pourable but thick enough to coat the cake. You can adjust the consistency, if needed, with additional powdered sugar or buttermilk, whisking vigorously until smooth.
- Remove the cake from the oven and immediately pour the icing over the top, spreading it out with an offset spatula.
- Allow to set for a few minutes before slicing and serving the cake.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated using generic ingredients, and is an estimate not a guarantee. For more accurate results, please refer to the labels on your ingredients at home.
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