Old Fashioned Coca-Cola Cake

This old-fashioned Coca-Cola cake is sweet and moist with homemade chocolate icing that seeps into every bite. It’s rich and the Cola adds extra moisture for the best vintage Southern cake!

I recommend making this cake to end the night after a savory dinner. It’s delicious with a hot cup of coffee to cut the sweetness. And if you’re not a fan of nuts, the walnuts can easily be left out, so feel free to customize it to your liking!

If you’re a fan of classic, old-fashioned cakes, you’ll also love this hummingbird cake and Kentucky butter cake. And this old-fashioned carrot cake is perfect for the holidays!

Why I Love This Recipe

• Surprisingly Easy: Despite its impressive results, this recipe is surprisingly easy to make. The simple ingredients come together to form a spectacular dessert.
• Incredibly Flavors: The addition of cola in both the cake and the icing may sound unusual, but trust me, it works. There’s a reason why this is a Southern classic!
• Supremely Moist: Thanks to the unique combination of cola and buttermilk, this cake is unbelievably moist. It’s a texture you won’t find in any other dessert.
• Easy to Make: This vintage cake looks really impressive and yet it’s so simple to make! Even beginners can make it easily at home.

Key Ingredients

• All-Purpose Flour: This is the base of the cake, providing structure and stability.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the cake and helps to give it a golden brown color when baked.
• Butter: Adds a rich, buttery flavor and a moist, tender crumb to the cake. It’s also used in the chocolate icing for the same reasons.
• Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: Gives the cake a deep, chocolatey flavor and a dark color.
• Cola: The secret ingredient! It reacts with the cocoa powder to enhance the chocolate flavor and adds a subtle caramel note to the cake.
• Buttermilk: This acidic ingredient reacts with the baking soda to leaven the cake and also adds a tangy flavor and moist texture.
• Mini Marshmallows: These melt into the cake as it bakes, leaving behind sweet, gooey pockets.
• Eggs: They add structure and stability to the cake and also help it to rise.
• Vanilla: Enhances the chocolate flavor and adds a sweet, floral aroma.
• Chopped Nuts (optional): They add a crunchy texture and a nutty flavor to the chocolate icing.

Equipment

• 9×13-inch baking pan – You’ll need this to bake the cake. Make sure to oil and flour it to prevent the cake from sticking.
• Large Bowl – This is for combining the dry ingredients and mixing the cake batter.
• Medium Saucepan – You’ll use this to melt the butter, cocoa powder, and cola for the cake, and to make the chocolate icing.

How to Make Old Fashioned Coca-Cola Cake

Preparation

To start, preheat your oven to 350˚ F and prepare your 9×13 baking pan by greasing it with oil and dust it with flour.

Step 1 – Mix the Dry Ingredients

Combine the sift flour and sugar in a large bowl. This will be the base for your cake.

Step 2 – Combine the Wet Ingredients

In a saucepan, mix the butter, cocoa powder, and cola. Bring this mixture to a boil, then pour it over the flour and sugar mixture. Add the buttermilk, baking soda, eggs, vanilla, and salt to the bowl.

Step 3 – Add Marshmallows

Stir in the marshmallows. They’ll float to the top, but that’s normal. This will make your batter thin, but don’t worry, that’s how it’s supposed to be.

Step 4 – Bake the Cake

Pour your cake batter into the prepared baking pan. Place it in the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Step 5 – Make the Icing

While your cake is baking, you can prepare the icing. In a bowl, mix together the powdered sugar and vanilla. In a saucepan, combine the cocoa powder, cola, and butter. Bring this mixture to a boil, then pour it into the bowl with the powdered sugar. Whisk it all together until the sugar is melted. Stir in the chopped nuts.

Step 6 – Ice the Cake

When your cake is hot out of the oven, pour the icing over it. The hot cake will help the icing spread evenly. Let the cake cool down, and the icing will set.

Step 7 – Serve

Once the cake is completely cool, it’s ready to serve. The combination of the chocolate cake and the fizzy cola in both the cake and the icing gives this cake a unique flavor that’s sure to be a hit.

Expert Tip

To help the butter melt efficiently, cut it into squares before adding it to the saucepan. This will speed up the melting process and prevent the butter from burning, giving your cake a rich and delicious flavor.

Recipe Variations

• Different Cola: While this recipe traditionally calls for Coca-Cola, feel free to experiment with different cola flavors like Dr. Pepper or Root Beer. It’s the sugar content that makes this a delicious recipe.
• Nuts: The recipe includes chopped nuts in the icing, but if you’re a fan of nuts in your cake, try adding a cup of chopped pecans or walnuts to the batter for some extra crunch.
• Marshmallows: If you’re a fan of toasted marshmallows, consider adding a layer of mini marshmallows on top of the cake before it goes into the oven. This will give it a deliciously gooey, toasted finish.

What to Serve With

• This old fashioned coca-cola cake is a rich, chocolatey dessert that pairs perfectly with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The creamy, cool ice cream is a great contrast to the warm, fudge-like cake.
• If you’re a coffee lover, serve this cake with a cup of hot, black coffee. The slight bitterness of the coffee is a great match for the cake’s sweetness, making for a satisfying afternoon treat.
• Hosting a brunch? This cake is a great addition to the usual spread of muffins and scones. Your guests will love the unexpected twist and it’s perfect with a glass of cold milk.

Recipe FAQs

Storing and Reheating

• Storing: Once you’ve enjoyed your Coca-Cola cake, store any leftovers in an airtight container. It will keep at room temperature for up to 3 days.
• Freezing: This cake also freezes well. If you’d like to store it for longer, place it in a freezer-safe container and pop it in the freezer. It will keep well for up to 3 months.
• Thaw: When you’re ready to enjoy your frozen cake, simply let it thaw at room temperature. This will take a few hours, but it’s worth the wait!

Serving Size

• What to Expect: This old-fashioned Coca-Cola Cake recipe yields a deliciously moist cake, enough to serve 18 generous slices.
• How to Scale: If you’re planning to serve a larger crowd, you can easily double the recipe and follow the instructions as directed. Use a larger mixing bowl to accommodate the increased quantity of batter. Follow the remaining instructions as directed, and keep an eye on the baking time as it may be slightly longer due to the larger size of the cake.