This Double Fudge Coca Cola Cake tastes even better than the one at Cracker Barrel and is easy to make since it starts with a boxed cake mix!
A RICH, CHOCOLATE-Y FUDGE CAKE
This Double Fudge Coca Cola Cake tastes even better than the one at Cracker Barrel and is easy to make since it starts with a boxed cake mix! It has a delicious boiled chocolate frosting that is ridiculous! Most people can't 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. Most folks in the south are familiar with this beloved cake. It's basically a good ole chocolate cake with Coca Cola as one of the ingredients.
TIPS FOR MAKING COCA-COLA CAKE:
- You can substitute with other dark sodas. Dr. Pepper, Cherry Coke or Pepsi can all be used as substitutes. Even root beer!
- Want to make them into cupcakes with a Coca Cola Frosting? Try my recipe for Coca Cola Cupcakes!
- Want to make a homemade cake? Try my One Bowl Chocolate Cake Recipe and instead of the hot water in the recipe, use hot Coca Cola!
- Or, if you like dark chocolate, try making it with my Homemade Dark Chocolate Cake Recipe and substituting the coffee with Coca Cola.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST:
- chocolate fudge cake mix
- instant chocolate pudding
- eggs
- vegetable oil
- Coca-Cola
- salted butter
- unsweetened cocoa
- heavy cream or milk* (see notes below)
- powdered sugar
- vanilla extract
- chopped nuts (optional)
HOW TO MAKE CRACKER BARREL COCA-COLA CAKE:
Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Spray 9x13-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. See photo below: we won't be adding water. Instead we will replace it with Coca Cola.
In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, stir together cake mix, dry pudding mix, eggs, oil and Coke for about 2 minutes on medium speed.
Pour batter into prepared baking dish and bake according to package directions (usually 35-40 minutes). Note: The cake will have a slight dip in the center. This is normal. When it is done, a toothpick will come out clean. In a medium saucepan, over medium-low heat, gently melt butter. Whisk in cocoa powder and heavy cream (or milk, if using) and stir.
Then whisk in confectioners sugar. Whisk briskly to get all the lumps out. Take mixture off heat and stir in vanilla extract.
Pour frosting over warm cake and gently spread it evenly over cake.
Sprinkle with chopped nuts (if using.)
I think this cake is best served warm 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.
CRAVING MORE? GIVE THESE RECIPES A TRY!
Double Fudge Coca-Cola Cake
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 15 ounce box chocolate fudge cake mix
- 4 ounce (small box) instant chocolate pudding
- 3 large eggs
- ⅓ cup oil
- 1 cup Coca-Cola
For the frosting:
- 1 stick (½ cup) salted butter,
- 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
- 4-6 tablespoons heavy cream or milk *see notes below
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts, optional
Instructions
For the cake:
- Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Spray 9 x 13 baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, stir together cake mix, dry pudding mix, eggs, oil and Coke for about 2 minutes on medium speed.
- Pour batter into prepared baking dish and bake according to package directions (usually 35-40 minutes). Note: The cake will have a slight dip in the center. This is normal. When it is done, a toothpick will come out clean.
For the frosting:
- In a medium saucepan, over medium-low heat, start melting butter.
- Add in cocoa powder and heavy cream (or milk, if using) and stir.
- Then whisk in confectioners sugar. Stir briskly with a whisk to get all the lumps out.
- Take mixture off heat and stir in vanilla extract.
- Pour frosting over cake and evenly spread it out over cake.
- Sprinkle chopped nuts on top, if using. I think this cake is best served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Video
Notes
- If you are using milk instead of heavy cream, you will probably only need about 3-4 Tablespoons of it because milk is thinner than heavy cream. Just use your judgement on it. Start with less and add a little at a time to get the right consistency. Or, you can always add a bit more powdered sugar to the frosting to make it thicker if you like.
- Other chocolate cake mix flavors can be used.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Originally published: June 2011
Updated & republished: February 2021
Vicki
Made this....it was delicious, and what I especially love is the icing. I'm not a fan of cakes loaded with several inches of teeth-achingly sweet frostings, it's the cake I go for, and a thin layer of icing to compliment it is just fine. This is the icing I'll use from now on for chocolate sheet cakes.
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Love hearing that so much Vicki - thank you!
Nawal
This recipe looks very interesting and I am dying to try it out but unfortunately we don't get chocolate pudding in the country where I live, can you think of any replacement?
Kimberley
The heavy cream states to whisk in a cold bowl. Do I need to do that and measure it out from there or use like a liquid out of container?
Brandie @ The Country Cook
No - just measure it like a liquid. 🙂
Lola
Wow!! What a amazing cake this is!!
I made it yesterday and I had one piece and my husband has half gone already! He loves it. This cake is so delicious and easy to make. The frosting is as easy and soo yummy! We now have a new sweet that we both love! Thank you for sharing!
The Hanna’s in North Dakota.♥️
Mary
Don't EVER apologize for loving cake!!
Beverly
Do I have to use cooking spray? When a recipe calls for greasing the pan, I usually use shortening. I'm planning on baking this on Saturday for my husband's birthday.
Alicia
Can't wait to try...I'm trying this for Bunco tomorrow... can you make it with Diet Coke and use a bundt pan? would the icing work for a bundt drizzle?
Thanks!
Alicia
Flo
Can you use diet Coke in this recipe or does it have to be regular Coke?
Regina
I've made this cake two times within the last three weeks. My husband's not a big chocolate cake fan, but he has proclaimed this cake as his favorite cake of all time! It's my favorite, too, and I love chocolate cake. I just make it for the second time this morning, which prompted me to come on here and leave a comment about how wonderful (and easy!) this recipe is! Thank you! You're my favorite food blogger! <3
Judy
I would love to make this can I use unsalter butter als can I make this in a bandit pan will let you know how it turns and by the way I will be making your 7 up bandit cake next week looking forward hearing from you thank for your great recipes you go girl keep them coming my way hope you have a great weekend
Cindy
I would like to make this cake for a party this weekend and wanted to know if this would work in a Bundt pan? I look forward to your reply.
Cindy
Would this recipe work in a Bundt pan? Just a thought, would love to know what you think.. I cant wait to make this cake!
Kate Swanson
I made it in a bundt cake as directed and it was amazing. It came out a little underdone so that it was nice and moist and gooey too. Highly recommend.
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Love getting feedback like that Kate! It's always super helpful to others. Thank you!!
Sharon Rasmussen
Hey Brandie - first of all THANKS SO MUCH for using a cake mix! I can't tell you how many times I've discarded tasty sounding cake recipes because they were "scratch" cakes and I don't keep all those ingredients on hand! And second - I got tickled reading your icing directions directions to "whisk" in the cocoa powder; "whisk" in the cream, "whisk" in the confectioners sugar; and "whisk" it good to get the lumps out. Whew! Thankfully the vanilla just gets stirred in, haha! Just teasing you honey. ☺
Can't wait to make this cake for my son next time he visits. He loves homemade desserts and this one will knock his socks off. Thanks for sharing Brandie.
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Ha! With all that whisking, it sounds like I'm selling my own brand of whisks, huh? LOL. Thanks so much Sharon!!
Steph S
Thanks for sharing! I normally make my Coca Cola cake from scratch and being so pressed for time , I'm definitely gonna try this TODAY!1 Thanks!
Sue
I have a Willams Sonoma 'Great Cupcake Pan' and wonder what modifications I would have to make. Please help. Love your recipes
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Hi Sue! I'm so sorry - I have never baked with that pan so I can't really say. It might just need to be an experiment with the timing. Perhaps someone else on here will know! 🙂
Anonymous
Amazingly moist! It tastes like brownies and it light and fluffy. Frosting is amazing!
~Chrissie~
Thank you for posting a cola recipe that doesn't use buttermilk and uses a simple box mix! I was talking with my sister-in-law and got to thinking if this recipe could be made using a yellow cake mix and vanilla pudding instead. I'm only asking because my Coke of choice is vanilla Coke, but I'm sure the vanilla Coke could very easily be used instead of regular Coke in this chocolate cake! Thanks again for the easy recipe!
Dia
Thank you SO much. I ate this cake years ago and thought it was awesome with the best icing ever. I will definitely be making this soon. We have four generations living under one roof, food is slim at times but this seems affordable with ingredients I usually have on hand. My elderly Mother loves cake, as does my Granddaughter. Can't wait!
Heather Fletcher
You're missing one key ingredient in the cake batter and that's marshmallows.
Heather
Cracker Barrel Employee 😀
Sylvia Anderson
Do you think I could use Almond milk, mixed with some half and half for the whipping cream portion, or just half and half?