I knew my son would love this cake when I saw the recipe. The buttermilk in CokeCola Cake makes it moist and flavorful, while the Coke gives richness to the cake and the frosting. Serve this cake with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream and your family will love it. This cake is so rich and decadent!

CokeCola Cake

This cake is very SWEET! If you want to reduce the sugar in this cake, you can use 1 1/2 cups of sugar instead of 2 cups. You can also reduce the powdered sugar in the frosting to 2 cups instead of 4 cups. It is really your preference. We have enjoyed the cake made either way. I also used Coke Zero to further reduce the sugar content of the cake. The recipe, contributed by Heidi Jobe of Carrollton, Georgia, is printed below as it appears on tasteofhome.com

CokeCola Cake

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 ground cinnamon
  • 1 can cola, 12 ounces
  • 1 cup butter (2 sticks), cubed
  • 1/4 cup cocoa
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk*
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the glaze:

  • 1 can cola, 12 ounces
  • 1/2 cup butter, cubed
  • 1/4 cup baking cocoa
  • 4 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted

How to make buttermilk?

If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, add 1 teaspoon of white or apple cider vinegar to 1/2 cup of regular milk and stir. Allow to sit for 10 minutes. This will give you a substitute for buttermilk.

How to make CokeCola Cake?

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13×9 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk the first 5 ingredients. In a small saucepan, combine cola, butter and cocoa; bring just to a boil, stirring occasionally.
  • Add to flour mixture, stirring just until moistened.
batter for CokeCola Cake
  • In a small bowl, whisk eggs, buttermilk and vanilla until blended; add to flour mixture, whisking constantly.
  • Transfer to prepared pan. Bake 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
  • About 15 minutes before cake is done, prepare glaze. In a small saucepan, bring cola to a boil; cook 12-15 minutes or until liquid is reduced to 1/2 cup. Stir in butter and cocoa until butter is melted; remove from heat. Add confectioners’ sugar; stir until smooth. Pour immediately over hot cake.
CokeCola Cake

COCA-COLA CAKE TIPS

What does adding soda to cake do?

In addition to being a time-saver, the carbonation in soda gives a boxed cake mix extra lift and lightness when baked. Adding soda also results in a cake that’s lower in fat without the addition of eggs and oil that most cake mixes call for. And cakes aren’t the only dish that can benefit from a little soda—some meat recipes, like these cola burgers, also call for it.

What does Coca-Cola cake taste like?

The cola imparts such a subtle flavor that you’ll be hard-pressed to identify it. The acid in the soda balances out the cake’s sweetness. Colas pair well with chocolate cake mixes—you can also use root beer, cherry cola or Dr. Pepper. White sodas work best with white, vanilla, orange and lemon cakes and desserts. For example, these Pumpkin Doughnut Drops have lemon-lime soda.

Can you bake with diet soda?

You can substitute diet cola for full-sugar soda with good results in cakes. However, for the best flavor, look for one without artificial sweeteners.

Research contributed by Catherine Ward, Taste of Home Prep Kitchen Manager