Coca-Cola Cake

This Coca-Cola Cake is one of those recipes that surprises you in the best way. It bakes up incredibly soft, rich, and chocolatey with a deep, almost caramel-like flavor from the cola. Then comes the magic, a warm, glossy frosting poured right over the hot cake so it melts into every bite. It’s simple, nostalgic, and absolutely irresistible.

Prep Time15

Cook Time35

Total Time50

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: chocolate cake, coca-cola

Servings: servings

Author: Elena Davis

Ingredients

Cake

1 ½ cups Coca-Cola 12 oz
1 cup unsalted butter
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
1 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon optional for extra flavor
½ cup buttermilk room temperature
2 large eggs room temperature
1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Frosting

1 cups Coca-Cola
¾ cup unsalted butter
⅓ cup unsweetned cocoa powder
¼ teaspoon salt
Pinch cinnamon optional, but highly recommended
4 cups powdered sugar more if needed

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Prep the oven and pan: Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
Make the chocolate cola mixture: In a medium saucepan, combine the Coca-Cola, butter, and cocoa powder. Heat over medium, stirring until the butter is fully melted. Bring the mixture just to a gentle boil, stirring often, then remove from the heat and let it cool slightly while you prepare the dry ingredients.
Mix the dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon (if using), and salt.
Combine batter: Pour the coca-cola mixture over the dry ingredients and stir until smooth and fully combined.
Add eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla to the batter: stir again until the batter is smooth.
Bake and Cool: Pour batter into prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake for about 30 minutes (glass pan will take up to 38 minutes), or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
While the cake bakes, make the frosting. In a medium saucepan, combine the butter, Coca-Cola, and cocoa powder over medium-high heat. Bring to a gentle boil, stirring until smooth. Remove from the heat and gradually whisk in the powdered sugar until silky and lump-free.
Pour the warm frosting directly over the hot cake and gently spread to the edges if needed. Let the cake cool at room temperature until the frosting sets, then slice into squares and serve.

Notes

Do not overbake, this cake should stay soft and tender
Pour frosting while both cake and frosting are warm, this is key
Use real Coca-Cola, not diet, for best flavor
A pinch of cinnamon in the frosting makes a big difference

Nutrition