Is there anything better than a cake that tastes like a slice of your childhood? This recipe for Old Fashioned Coca Cola Cake is an updated version of a classic favorite, made into a layer cake to dress it up a bit. The combo of Coke and buttermilk in the batter turns out a light, tender cake that stays moist for days.
I don’t know about you, but I love homemade chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and pecans on top. Pour me a glass of cold milk and I’m a happy girl.
Old Fashioned Coca Cola Cake
Ingredients
- 1 cup Coca-Cola
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup butter room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 2 cups flour
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
- 1 1/2 cups chopped nuts I used pecans
Frosting:
- 3/4 cup butter room temperature
- 4-5 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
- pinch of salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 cup coke
- 2-3 tablespoons milk or cream as needed
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees and place rack in middle of oven.
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Mix Coke and buttermilk together in a measuring cup, set aside.
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In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugars together until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients all at once. Mix and add the coke mixture all at once. Fold in the marshmallows.
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Spoon mixture into two greased and lined 9 inch cake pans or one greased 9×13 cake pan.
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Bake 30-35 minutes for layer cake and about 35-40 minutes for 9×13. Cake is done when a few moist crumbs are attached to a toothpick.
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Remove from oven and if using layer pans, run a butter knife around edges and invert onto a rack to cool, placing the parchment side down so it won’t stick to the rack. Make sure to peel parchment paper off before frosting cakes.
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Cool completely.
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Frosting: Mix the butter in a bowl with powdered sugar and cocoa. Add salt, vanilla and coke. Beat until creamy. Add milk until desired spreading consistency.
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Place cake on a platter. Spread 1/3 of frosting on layer. Top with other layer. Spread frosting on top and sides. Place chopped nuts on top of cake.
Recipe Notes
-This cake is very tender, or falls apart easily because it is so moist. Be careful to not over bake. The first time I experimented with this recipe, it came out dry. I think I baked it for 40-45 minutes. I found that about 35 minutes worked perfect in my oven.-The cake will come out with little indents where the marshmallows have melted and sunken into the batter. No worries. The frosting will fill in the indents.-You may add up to another cup of marshmallows to the cake batter if you wish. Only use fresh marshmallows.-Don’t use Diet Coke. Or I’ll have to come hurt you.
This is my kind of cake Si, and I don't even like cake. Chocolate and Coke, two of my favorite things.
It looks beautiful too.
Does it taste like Coke? Or does it just help keep it moist?
Oh boy! My Aunt Patty used to make this cake when I was little. She gave me the recipe once and then I promptly lost it. I am so glad I found your recipe because it is exactly the same as my aunt’s.
BTW, this cake does not taste like Coca Cole; the soda only helps it stay moist and keeps it from being heavy (which chocolate cakes can sometimes suffer from). And it is very important to pay close attention to doneness and baking time because it can get dry if over baked. A little care and it will not disappoint.