Monday, January 2, 2012

Coca Cola Cake

 Here I go with yet another cake recipe.
Please forgive me, I just love cake. It's in my genetic make-up. I'm predisposed to loving cakes.
And this cake is so good y'all, I can barely contain myself from going to make another one as I type this.

Most folks in the south are familiar with this beloved cake.
 It's basically a good ole chocolate-y cake with Coca Cola as one of the ingredients.
Now, most people can't really taste the Coke as a separate ingredient in this. It just adds
 that extra little something special that you can't quite put your finger on. Is it a little sweeter? Is it spongier? Is it smoother?
It's all of those things and more. It's just plain ole goodness on a plate.

I suppose there are a few recipes for this cake floating around. Some have marshmallows in them and some are made totally from scratch. My cake takes it's cues from the Double Fudge Coca Cola Cake at Cracker Barrel. 
It's a seasonal cake that they carry and oh heavens is it good!

This cake is simple, it's chocolate-y, it's fudgy, it is so incredibly moist and the frosting will make you wanna slap your Momma. 
Okay, not really, I'd have to smack ya if you ever thought about smacking your Momma.

You get what I'm saying. My husband just adores this cake.
If you've never tried this, I hope you'll give it a whirl. 
I'm thinking you'll be coming back for seconds...
 Ingredients:
1 box (15.25 oz) Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix
1 small box (4 oz.) Instant Chocolate Pudding
Ingredients listed on back of cake mix box (eggs & oil - water not needed)
1 1/3 cups Coca Cola
1 stick unsalted butter
3 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa
4-6 tbsp. heavy cream or milk* (see notes below)
2 cups (packed) powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)
I like the Chocolate Fudge cake mixes but Devil's Food Cake mix works good too.
Don't worry, we aren't using that whole bottle of Coke.

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350F degrees
Spray 9x13 baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
Prepare cake mix according to package directions. 
But instead of adding water, you will replace that amount with Coca-Cola.
Add in dry instant pudding mix to the batter as well.
With this mix, it called for 1 1/3 cups of water, I substituted that with 1 1/3 cups of Coca Cola.

Pour batter into baking dish and bake according to package directions (usually 35-39 minutes).
Just before cake is ready to come out of the oven, start making frosting.
In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, start melting one stick of butter/margarine.
 Add in cocoa powder and heavy cream (or milk, if using) and stir.
 Then stir in confectioners sugar.
 At this point I'll grab a whisk and stir briskly to get all the lumps out.
Take mixture off heat and add in vanilla extract
 Once cake comes out of oven, pour frosting over warm cake. Do your best to spread it out evenly.
 You can see my cake has a little dip in the middle. Don't worry, just spread the frosting away from the center as best you can. 
 Mmmmm....chocolate-y goodness.
Can you tell which side is mine? My hubby, Gene, does not like nuts at all.
Hmmmm, makes you wonder why he married me, don't it?
Here is the best way to serve it. A warm slice of cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Cook's Note: If you are using milk instead of heavy cream, you will probably only need about 3-4 tbsp. of it because milk is thinner than heavy cream. Just use your judgement on it. Or, you can always add a bit more powdered sugar to the frosting to make it thicker if you like.

Enjoy!

47 comments:

  1. I do believe I am going to have to make this. My youngest daughter was just telling me about the Cracker Barrel cake, I haven't tried it yet but this looks fabulous. Maybe I will make it for the Clemson game on Wednesday night! Thanks for the inspiration.

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  2. This is so funny! We had breakfast at cracker barrel yesterday morning and my husband saw this cake on the menu and asked if I could make it for him. Now I have a recipe!

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  3. I love this cake!! It's also one of my husband's birthday favorites that I make for him! I made it as a layer cake this year which looks pretty, but I think the moistness and gooey factor of this sheetcake tastes better! :) I guess, either way you can't go wrong with chocolate!
    Blessings
    Leslie

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  4. I have to make a birthday cake for a friend this week . . . gonna do this. Thanks. (And best wishes for a happy new year, Brandie!)

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  5. I was going to make this on Christmas. I ened up making the three day coconut cake. I forgot how yummy and chocolaty it was until I saw your picture. Thanks for sharing with us.

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  6. I have never had this cake but I keep seeing it pop up on blogs here and there. It looks so tasty... I am just going to have to make it already. YUM!

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  7. I've never had the cake at Cracker Barrel (who has room for dessert?!), but this sure does look good. I'd go with a slice of the cake WITH nuts. But my husband would like to have what your husband is having. ;)

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  8. Mmm this cake looks amazing, what a great recipe! Happy New Year! xoxo

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  9. Oh yum, look at all that chocolate! Aren't we all predisposed to like cake? Or at least you and I have something in common :)

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  10. This looks so delicious. I cannot wait to give it a try. Come visit. We have a wonderful low fat blue cheese dip to use on veges or crackers. Delicious.

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  11. I love this recipe! It's so moist and chocolaty! If you happen to be in a part of the country that sells Cheerwine, sub the Cheerwine for the Coca-Cola. It has a hint of cherry flavor. You can even make the glaze with the Cheerwine in it - just sub it for the milk/cream. Yummy!

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  12. You can never have too many cake recipes and this looks insanely moist!

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  13. Oh Baby! I have to admit...I'm really not a cake person..unless you dress it up...like you seem to do with all your cake recipes! This looks awesome and I'm sure it's just as tasty as all your others. SO glad you shared. Pinning!

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  14. OKAY...I'll admit that when I saw your email today I thought, "not another dessert recipe....I've had so much sugar during the holidays!" Then I made the mistake of LOOKING at the recipe & the picture of the cake! Let's just say that I will be buying the ingredients to make it today!!!

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  15. Thank you for this recipe, I think I'll make it for my mom's birthday this weekend. I have a question though....are you using regular or salted butter?

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  16. Hi Cindy! Hope you like it! I use unsalted butter :)

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  17. Wow this cake looks wonderful!! I never thought to put coca cola in cake!

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  18. How about cherry coke and maybe a little almond extract? That sound good to me.

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  19. I had a recipe that you used cherry coke and mini chips and egg beaters. This looks so much yummier!! Plus the frosting makes it almost like Texas Sheet cake :)

    Do you think that it would be good with flat soda? I had some in the fridge that I didn't know what to do with it.

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  20. Alison, ya know, that's a good question. I don't suppose I've ever made it with flat Coke now that I think about it. I'm not really sure if the carbonation affects the recipe at all. I know it helps with flavor (although you can't really taste the Coke in this - it just adds some good flavor). I say give it a whirl, I bet it will taste great!

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  21. Just keep these cakes comin'! chocolate cake with coke, Yum!

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  22. This looks fantastic! I would never think to use soda.

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  23. could you use this to make a marble cake? Birthday coming up.Thanks, Wendy

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  24. Wendy - coca cola cake is traditionally a chocolate cake and that's the only way I've made it. Not sure I would want to do it with a marble cake to be honest. The coke really adds to the chocolate flavor (although you don't really taste it as a separate ingredient). But lots of great recipes come from experimenting with different flavors. :o)

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  25. I love this blog <3
    I don't actually cook, but I like to bake. I made this cake for my family and it is so moist and delicious. A big hit with everyone and I will definitely make it again. Thank you for all of the fantastic recipes!

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  26. macawsj - thank you so much for taking the time to comment! I really appreciate it. I am so happy y'all liked this one!! :)

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  27. Thi cake just like the 7up lemon cake was incredible...this was one of the moistest cakes i've ever had..another great recipe thanks.. Made this for family & they loved it... Will be making again

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  28. Duncan Hines Dark Chocolate Fudge cake mix is the best in the world!!!

    Wow, I'm so glad I found your site. Lots of good recipes!

    Thank you.

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  29. Does this need refrigerated? I wasn't sure since it had the heavy cream in the icing? Can you please tell me what you usually do? I made it today and turned it into cake balls with marashino cherries stuffed in each ball!! I can't wait to try them!! Thanks for the recipe, from what I tasted while making the cake balls, it's delicious!!!

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  30. Does the pudding play a big factor in how the cake turns out? Halfway through the cake baking, I found the pudding box pushed behind the toaster oven! And I was also curious about the refrigeration aspect.

    Thanks!

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  31. I've made this cake twice now and everyone loves it. it taste great! I did add milk chocolate morsals to cake mix, to make it a little richer and added pecans to icing before pouring onto cake. Thanks for a delicious cake!!

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  32. Awesome cake me and my husband loved this ! :)

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  33. Thank you for sharing this wonderful, delicious, yummy recipe. I found your recipe on Pinterest. The cake was easy to make and has great favor. The cake came out perfect and moist. I made the cake twice and every time it's been a big hit.

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  34. Made this yesterday and it was the best cake ever! Making it again for a friend next week, it is going to be my favorite cake to make. Thank you! So easy with the cake mix! barb

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  35. My boys loved this cake as did I. My oldest is not really a cake eater and I think he ate the most...Awesome recipe, defintley will use again!

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    1. Diane, thank you for coming back to let me know how it turned out! Somehow I missed your comment when you posted this.

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  36. Just made this cake & put the icing on it, now I'm wondering what a couple others are wondering, refrigerate or not??

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    1. I don't usually refrigerate it if we are going to eat it within a day. Anything longer than that and I will :)

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  37. I have never been a cake eater, but one of my friends on facebook posted it, and I could just hear it calling my name. After doing an extensive search on the web for the recipe, I found yours to look and sound the best. I am right now in the process of making it, and will let you know how well it turned out, and since my grandkids live across the street, I will be able to include their opinion as well. I even have a feeling my diabetic hubby might sneak a bite too, even though it is a no-no. Thank you for sharing your recipe with me!

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    1. Gail, I hope this one turned out good for you!!

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  38. Thank you for posting this recipe. Cracker Barrel is one my favorite places to eat and this cake is often hard to resist! I am glad I can make it at home now for a fraction of the cost per serving. Thank you for posting!

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  39. Will make this for Bible study tonight. Thanks! Kim

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