This Old Fashioned Coca Cola Cake recipe uses the classic Coke soda we all love to create a super simple, classic recipe. This Coca Cola Cake is very similar to a Texas Sheet cake and has been adapted over the years to create an easy to throw together, super moist cake for any occasion!
INGREDIENTS
You probably already have the ingredients to this Coca Cola Cake in your pantry already.
For the cake you will need:
- All purpose flour
- Granulated sugar
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Coca Cola
- Butter, unsalted
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- Eggs
- Buttermilk
- Vanilla extract, pure vanilla is best.
For the frosting you will need only 5 ingredients:
- Coca Cola
- Butter
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- Vanilla extract
SUBSTITUTIONS
If you find that you don't have certain ingredients on hand, here are a few substitutions you can make to still produce a delicious cake:
- While Coke is ideal, you can substitute this ingredient out for diet soda, off brand, or even other soda types like root beer or Dr. Pepper.
- Buttermilk: You can use regular milk if you have it on hand, or you can make your own buttermilk by adding 1 ½ teaspoons vinegar to ½ cup regular milk.
HOW TO MAKE OLD FASHIONED COCA COLA CAKE
STEP ONE: First you want to preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. and prepare a 9x13 baking dish by spraying with non-stick spray and set aside.
STEP TWO: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
STEP THREE: In a small saucepan, simmer the entire can of coca cola over medium heat until it reduced to about ½ cup. Use a measuring cup to get accurate measurements.
STEP FOUR: Add the butter and cocoa powder and whisk until the butter is melted and the mixture is smooth. Allow to cool for 5 minutes
STEP FIVE: Once cooled, add the Coca Cola mixture to the flour mixture. Add the eggs, buttermilk and vanilla and use an electric mixer on medium speed to blend until well combined.
STEP SIX: Pour the cake batter into the prepared cake pan. Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick or knife inserted in the center comes out clean. While the cake is cooling prepare the frosting.
STEP SEVEN: In a small saucepan over medium heat, reduce the second can of Coca Cola by simmering over medium heat until reduced to a ½ cup. Use a measuring cup to accurately measure and discard any extra.
STEP EIGHT: Add the butter, vanilla and cocoa to the mixture and whisk until butter is fully melted and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat.
STEP NINE: Sift in the powdered sugar ½ cup at a time, whisking together until dissolved. Repeat until all four cups are incorporated.
STEP TEN: Pour the frosting over the baked cake. Allow the cake to cool before serving.
STORAGE
Store left over cake in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days and at room temperature up to three days.
If you wish to make this in advance and freeze. I would recommend freeze the cake WITHOUT frosting, then frost when you are ready to serve. Make sure you cover the cake very very in a freezer safe container before freezing.
TIPS AND FAQ'S
Make sure you reduce each can of cola to ½ cup. Be sure to measure out exactly half a cup. Don't just "eyeball" it.. I see you...
Pour the frosting over the warm cake right away so it will be easier to spread.
Sift the powdered sugar into the frosting to be sure there are no hard lumps of sugar. Nobody likes that.
Get creative with the toppings. You can top with ice cream, sprinkles, maraschino cherries, whipped cream, hot fudge sauce, etc. Really the sky is the limit here. Have fun with it!
CAN I USE DIET SODA FOR THIS RECIPE?
Yes, if that is your soda of choice, you can make it with diet or you can even switch it up and use root beer or Dr. Pepper
WHAT IF I DON'T HAVE BUTTERMILK? CAN I USE REGULAR?
Yes, you can use regular milk, OR you can make your own buttermilk by adding 1 ½ teaspoons vinegar to ½ cup milk.
CAN I USE A PREMADE FROSTING OR MIX?
The Country Cook has an awesome recipe that uses a boxed cake mix! You can find that HERE. As far as frosting, I wouldn't hurt to use a premade frosting. I would recommend melting it and pouring it over the cake.
MORE CHOCOLATE CAKE RECIPES!
- GERMAN BLACK FOREST CAKE
- FERRERO ROCHER CAKE
- INSTANT POT CHOCOLATE CAKE
- GERMAN CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES
- GUINESS CUPCAKES
- OREO POKE CAKE
Old Fashioned Coca Cola Cake
Equipment
- 9x13 baking dish
- electric mixer
- small saucepan
- sifter
Ingredients
Cake
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 2 cups white granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 12 oz can Coca Cola
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup powdered baking cocoa
- 2 eggs lightly beaten
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Frosting
- 1 12 oz can Coca Cola
- ½ cup butter
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- ½ cup powdered baking cocoa
- 4 cups confectioners sugar sifted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and prepare a 9x13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the all purpose flour, white granulated sugar, baking soda and salt until fully incorporated. Set aside.
- In a small saucepan, simmer the entire can of coca cola over medium heat until it reduces to about ½ cup. Use a measuring cup to accurately measure and discard the extra.
- Add the unsalted butter and baking cocoa and whisk until the butter is melted and the cocoa is completely dissolved. Remove from heat and cool for 5 minutes.
- Once cooled, add the Coca Cola mixture to the flour mixture. Add the eggs, buttermilk and vanilla and use an electric mixer on medium speed to blend until well combined.
- Pour the cake batter into the prepared cake pan. Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick or knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
- While the cake is baking, prepare the frosting.
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, reduce the second can of Coca Cola by simmering over medium heat until reduced to a ½ cup. Use a measuring cup to accurately measure and discard any extra.
- Add the butter, vanilla and cocoa to the mixture and whisk until butter is fully melted and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat.
- Add the powdered sugar ½ cup at a time, whisking together until dissolved. Repeat until all four cups are incorporated.
- Pour the frosting over the baked cake. Allow the cake to cool before serving.
- Optional: Serve with ice cream, whipped topping, chocolate syrup or cherries for an extra special presentation.
Notes
- Pour the icing over the cake right away. It sets pretty quickly and can be difficult to spread if you wait too long.
- Don’t eyeball the coke reduction. Measure out and only use ½ cup. If you ever get a comment on the icing, it was likely due to the cola not being reduced, or not measured out correctly.
- Reducing the coke enhances the flavor and decreases the water content - for optimal flavor, don’t skip this step!
- If you have a sifter, use it! It will ensure a super smooth icing. If your readers don’t have one…remove powdered sugar chunks immediately after pouring before the icing sets. Otherwise, the chunks will be there to stay!
Jess
This looks so fun! Now I feel like I need to host a 1950's themed party and pull out my red and white checkered napkin holder, make a whole theme of it.