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a spatula lifting a square slice of homemade coca cola cake out of a pan
5 from 20 votes

Coca Cola Cake

A Southern classic, Coca-Cola Cake is always a hit. A rich chocolate cake with chocolate frosting is easy to make with this recipe.
Author Diana
Servings 12 Servings
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Cooling time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Ingredients

For the cake:

  • 8 oz (250 ml) Coca Cola
  • 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter
  • ½ cup (50 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 ¾ cups (350 g) granulated sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs at room temperature
  • ½ cup (120 ml) sour cream at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the frosting:

  • 8 oz (250 ml) Coca Cola
  • ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter cut into pieces
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 4 cups (500 g) powdered sugar sifted (very important!)
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C), or 160°C for a fan oven. Spray a 9x13 inch (22x33 cm) baking dish with non-stick baking spray.
  • In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients: flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt until well combined. Set aside.
  • In a medium saucepan, over medium heat combine a can of Coca-Cola with cocoa powder, butter, and salt. Let the butter melt completely, then bring to a boil and remove from heat. Allow it to cool for a few minutes.
  • After the Coca-Cola mixture has cooled, pour it into the dry ingredients and whisk until combined. Add the eggs, sour cream, and vanilla extract. Mix well using a whisk until all ingredients are well incorporated. The batter will be relatively thin.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
  • While the cake is baking, prepare the frosting. In a separate saucepan, add the Coca-Cola. Simmer over medium heat until it is reduced to half.
  • Add the butter, salt, cocoa powder, and vanilla extract. Set over medium heat, whisking continuously until the butter is fully melted and the mixture is smooth. Remove from heat.
  • Gradually add the powdered sugar, whisking in between each addition until the sugar is fully dissolved.
  • Once the cake is done baking, allow it to cool for a few minutes, then pour the frosting over the warm cake. If the frosting has thickened, you can add a splash of milk and warm it up while whisking on the stovetop over medium heat to become spreadable.
  • Let the cake cool completely and allow the frosting to set before serving.

Notes

  • Measuring is important: Baking a cake requires accurate measurements. If you need a refresher, see my post on How to Measure Ingredients for Baking.
  • Make Sure to Sift the Powdered Sugar! Unsifted sugar will create a lumpy frosting. If you forget to sift it, you can rescue the frosting by mixing it with your electric mixer until the lumps are gone.
  • Add the Frosting to a Warm Cake: You only need to let the cake cool for 5-10 minutes before pouring the frosting over it. The heat from the cake will melt the frosting, allowing it to seep into the top layer of the cake.
  • Try Other Sodas! Dr. Pepper or Root Beer can also be used in this recipe and will give you a slightly different, but still delicious flavor. You can also try vanilla or cherry Coke instead of the original.
  • Add Toppings: Try sprinkling your cake with chopped nuts or chocolate chips. 
  • To Store: Store this cake in an airtight container either in the fridge or at room temperature for up to 4 days. You can also freeze servings of Coca-Cola Cake for up to 4 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 606kcal | Carbohydrates: 92g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 401mg | Potassium: 154mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 72g | Vitamin A: 814IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 2mg