December 29, 2022
Review RecipeCoca Cola Cake

Table of Contents
This classic southern Coca Cola cake is everything you want in a decadent dessert. It’s wonderfully rich, flavorful, chocolatey, and oh-so-satisfying, thanks to the unexpected addition of a bubbly can of Coca Cola.

Coca Cola Cake Ingredients

You’ll need:
For the Cake
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup vegetable or canola oil
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 7.5-ounce can of Coca Cola (1 mini can or 1 cup)
- 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 2 large eggs
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
PRO TIP:
Make sure to use regular Coke, not a reduced sugar or diet variety, for this cake recipe.
For the Frosting
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 6 tablespoons heavy cream (or milk)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3¾ cups powdered sugar
SUBSTITUTIONS AND ADDITIONS
COCA-COLA: For this easy recipe, any brand of cola, whether generic or name brand, will work equally well.
How to Make This Coca Cola Cake Recipe
STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13 baking pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
STEP TWO: In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the sugar, salt, and flour. Set the dry ingredients aside.
STEP THREE: In a medium saucepan, combine the oil, butter, Coca Cola, and cocoa powder. Bring mixture to a boil over medium heat.

STEP FOUR: Once the Coca Cola mixture boils, carefully dump the flour mixture into it. Beat with a hand mixer or using a large wooden spoon until well combined.

STEP FIVE: Mix in the buttermilk, eggs, vanilla extract, and baking soda. The batter will form small bubbles.
OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS
The cake batter forms lots of tiny bubbles from the Coca Cola and the baking soda. The baked cake will also have those tiny bubbles across the surface.

STEP SIX: Pour batter into the prepared pan.
STEP SEVEN: Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out with just a few moist crumbs.
PRO TIP:
Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to check your cake at the lower end of the recommended baking time.

STEP EIGHT: Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool for 5 to 10 minutes before preparing the frosting.
STEP NINE: To make the frosting, combine the butter, cocoa powder, and cream (or milk) in a saucepan. Heat over medium until the butter melts. Add the vanilla and powdered sugar to the pan and beat with a hand mixer until well combined.

STEP TEN: Pour the frosting over the warm cake and spread it with an offset spatula.
PRO TIP:
The frosting is a non-traditional consistency. It is delicious, with almost a caramel-like chew to it. Pouring the hot frosting over the warm cake adds a bit of extra moisture at the top of the cake and is really delicious.

How To Serve
Serve this super moist chocolate cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side. Add a drizzle of hot fudge sauce or caramel sauce on top and a warm mug of hot chocolate on the side for even more decadence.
If you enjoy this cake, our orange soda cake and Pepsi cupcakes are two more recipes for soda cakes that result in a fantastic light and fluffy dessert.
MORE CAKE RECIPES
Storage
ON THE COUNTER: Cover your chocolatey cake with plastic wrap and store it on the countertop at room temperature for 3 to 4 days.
IN THE FRIDGE: This delicious cake can also be stored in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
IN THE FREEZER: Freeze the Coca Cola chocolate cake in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

This recipe creates an ultra-moist cake that will surely hit the spot. It has a light chocolate flavor and stays moist for days, even on the countertop. All you need is a can of your favorite soda and a few pantry staples, and you’ll end up with the perfect dessert.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
You could use diet soda in this recipe, but we would recommend sticking to regular soda to avoid any artificial sweeteners.
The unfrosted cake can be frozen for up to three months. Wrap it well in plastic wrap and then a layer of aluminum foil before storing it in the freezer.
If you’d like to try using another type of dark soda in this recipe, you certainly can. Try root beer or Dr Pepper for subtle flavor variations.
More Recipes You’ll Love
- Busy Day Chocolate Cake
- Caramel Apple Dump Cake
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- Banana Bread
- Apple Crisp
- Carrot Cake Recipe

Coca Cola Cake
Ingredients
Cake
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup vegetable oil, or canola oil
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 7.5 ounces Coca Cola, 1 mini can or 1 cup
- 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 2 large eggs
- 1½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
Frosting
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 6 tablespoons heavy cream, or milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 ¾ cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13 baking pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the sugar, salt, and flour. Set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, combine the oil, butter, Coca Cola, and cocoa powder. Bring mixture to a boil over medium heat.
- Once the Coca Cola mixture boils, carefully dump the flour mixture into it. Beat with a hand mixer or using a large wooden spoon until well combined.
- Mix in the buttermilk, eggs, vanilla extract, and baking soda. The batter will form small bubbles.
- Transfer the batter into the prepared baking pan.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out with just a few moist crumbs.
- Remove the cake from the oven and allow to cool for 5 to 10 minutes before preparing the frosting.
- To make the frosting, combine the butter, cocoa powder, and cream (or milk) in a saucepan. Heat over medium until the butter melts. Add the vanilla and powdered sugar to the pan and beat with a hand mixer until well combined.
- Pour the frosting over the warm cake and spread with an offset spatula.
Notes
- Make sure to use regular Coke, not a reduced sugar or diet variety, for this cake recipe.
- The cake batter forms lots of tiny bubbles from the Coca Cola and the baking soda. The baked cake will also have those tiny bubbles across the surface.
- Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to check your cake at the lower end of the recommended baking time.
- The frosting is a non-traditional consistency. It is delicious, with almost a caramel-like chew to it. Pouring the hot frosting over the warm cake adds a bit of extra moisture at the top of the cake and is really delicious.
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