Delicious Cola Cake: A Southern Sweet Treat
If you love rich, chocolatey desserts with a twist, you’ll adore cola cake. This classic soda cake from the Southern United States is a true gem. It mixes the deep flavor of carbonated beverage with the moist, chocolatey taste of homemade cake.
Cola-infused baked goods are a favorite in Southern kitchens. They win over dessert lovers everywhere. The pop cake or coke cake shows off Southern bakers’ creativity and skill.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Coca-Cola Cake is a beloved Southern classic that combines the rich flavor of cola with moist, chocolatey goodness.
- The cake is made moist and flavorful thanks to the addition of Coca-Cola, and the fudgy, pecan-studded frosting is simply irresistible.
- The recipe is surprisingly easy to make, appealing to beginners in baking.
- The cake is typically baked in a 9×13-inch pan and requires preheating the oven to 350°F before baking.
- Serving the Coca-Cola cake with vanilla ice cream or hot black coffee is recommended for enhanced flavors.
Cola Cake: A Beloved Southern Tradition
The southern cola cake, also known as the classic coca-cola cake, holds a special place in Southern hearts and kitchens. It’s a traditional carbonated beverage treat loved by many. Its moist, chocolatey crumb and rich, fudgy frosting make it a favorite.
Embracing the Quirky Soda-Infused Dessert
Despite using Coca-Cola, the cola cake is a cherished classic. It’s loved for its comforting flavors and nostalgic feel. With a 4.81 out of 5 stars rating from 42 votes, its popularity is clear. It serves up to 10 people, perfect for family gatherings or events.
The cake’s moist texture comes from ingredients like 100% pure cocoa and Coca-Cola. Buttermilk and baking soda add to its richness. Marshmallows, eggs, and vanilla enhance its taste. The frosting, with powdered sugar, butter, Coca-Cola, and cocoa powder, is a perfect match for the chocolate cake.
“The Coca-Cola Cake is a classic dessert often served at a pig pickin’ in the Southern United States, with a taste similar to a traditional chocolate sheet cake, but with a Coca-Cola icing resembling the rich chocolate glaze on a Texas Sheet Cake.”
The southern cola cake is a staple at Sunday suppers, church potlucks, and backyard parties. It shows the unique and tasty side of baking with soda.
Key Ingredients for the Moist and Decadent Cake
The secret to a perfect cola cake is in its ingredients. These ingredients come together to make a moist, decadent, and irresistible dessert. At the heart is the iconic Coca-Cola, giving the cake a unique flavor.
The recipe includes all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, and ground cinnamon. It also has unsalted butter, unsweetened cocoa powder, and buttermilk. Baking soda, miniature marshmallows, large eggs, and pure vanilla extract are also key. These ingredients balance sweetness with the rich flavor of Coca-Cola.
The carbonation in the Coca-Cola makes the cake light and fluffy. This results in a moist and decadent dessert that will delight your taste buds.
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| All-purpose flour | 2 cups |
| Granulated sugar | 1 1/2 cups |
| Ground cinnamon | 1 teaspoon |
| Unsalted butter, softened | 1/2 cup (1 stick) |
| Coca-Cola | 1 1/2 cups |
| Unsweetened cocoa powder | 1/4 cup |
| Buttermilk | 1/2 cup |
| Baking soda | 1 teaspoon |
| Miniature marshmallows | 1 cup |
| Large eggs | 2 |
| Vanilla extract | 1 teaspoon |
These ingredients, when combined, make a moist and decadent cola cake. It’s sure to delight your taste buds and take you to the heart of the South.
Step-by-Step Baking Instructions
Making the cola cake is easy and results in a moist, rich dessert. Start by mixing the dry ingredients in a big bowl. You’ll need sugar, all-purpose flour, and ground cinnamon. Then, heat the butter, Coca-Cola, and unsweetened cocoa powder in a saucepan until boiling. Pour this over the dry ingredients and mix until it’s all combined.
Now, it’s time for the wet ingredients. In another bowl, mix the buttermilk and baking soda. Add the marshmallows, eggs, and vanilla extract to the cake batter. Mix until the batter is smooth and everything is well mixed.
Baking the Cake to Perfection
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan. Pour the cola cake batter into it and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
After baking, let the soda cake cool completely before frosting and serving. This step-by-step guide ensures a moist and tasty carbonated beverage dessert that will impress your taste buds.
The Irresistible Cola Frosting
No Cola Cake is complete without its signature frosting. This frosting is rich, fudgy, and perfect for the moist, chocolatey cake. It’s made by mixing butter, unsweetened cocoa powder, and Coca-Cola on the stovetop.
Once it boils, the mixture is removed from the heat. Then, powdered sugar and vanilla extract are whisked in. This makes the frosting spreadable and ready to use.
The frosting’s decadence comes from the cola. The cola cake frosting gets a unique flavor and a smooth, soda cake icing-like texture. For an extra treat, chopped pecans can be added to the frosting or sprinkled on top.
This frosting adds a special touch to the Cola Cake. It has rich, chocolatey notes and a hint of cola fizz. Whether it’s for a special occasion or just a sweet treat, the cake and frosting together are a delight. They will surely make you want more.
Serving and Presentation Ideas
There are many ways to serve your cola cake. You can enjoy it alone, with cold milk, or with coffee. For a special treat, try it with vanilla ice cream or chocolate sauce.
To make it look great, serve it from the pan or cut it into slices. A dusting of powdered sugar or maraschino cherries can make it look fancy. These touches can turn your soda cake into a stunning dessert.
How you serve your carbonated beverage dessert is up to you. It’s all about enjoying the unique taste and texture of this Southern favorite. Whether it’s a special treat for yourself or a share with friends, the cola cake will always be a hit.
“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is serving cola cake all year round.”
Cola Cake
The name “Cola Cake” might make you think it tastes like soda. But, the Coca-Cola in this recipe adds a special touch. It makes the cake light and fluffy, with a sweet and chocolatey taste. This cake has a unique flavor that’s different from regular chocolate cake.
This recipe uses two 12-ounce cans of cola, one for the cake and one for the glaze. Mix the batter just until it’s moist to keep it light. Cook the glaze until it’s reduced to 1/2 cup, which takes about 12 to 15 minutes. Bake the cake for 25 to 30 minutes until it’s done.
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Sugar | 1 3/4 cups |
| All-purpose flour | 2 cups |
| Butter or margarine | 1 cup |
| Coca-Cola | 1 cup |
| Cocoa powder | 3 tablespoons |
| Buttermilk | 1/2 cup |
| Baking soda | 1 teaspoon |
| Miniature marshmallows | 1 1/2 cups |
| Eggs, beaten | 2 |
| Vanilla extract | 1 teaspoon |
The cola cake flavor is what makes this Southern classic special. The Coca-Cola adds a unique taste that’s both light and sweet. It’s a flavor that will surprise and please your taste buds.
Variations and Substitutions
The classic Cola Cake recipe uses regular Coca-Cola. But, home bakers have tried other sodas too. Cherry Coke and Sprite have made tasty variations, each with its own special flavor. This means you can use different carbonated drinks to make your own version of this Southern favorite.
Experimenting with Different Soda Flavors
There are countless ways to change up the recipe. You can cut down the sugar by 1/4 cup if you prefer it less sweet. If you can’t find buttermilk, mix regular milk with a bit of lemon juice or vinegar as a substitute.
You don’t need marshmallows to enjoy the cake. Adding 1/2 cup of chocolate chips with the marshmallows can make it even better. A little cinnamon in the dry ingredients adds a warm flavor to the cake.
To serve it like a pro, cut the cake into squares while it’s still in the pan. Pour the frosting over the cake when it’s almost done baking. This makes the frosting stick perfectly.
| Variation | Substitution |
|---|---|
| Cherry Coke | Reducing sugar by 1/4 cup |
| Sprite | Buttermilk substitute (milk + lemon juice/vinegar) |
| Boxed cake mix + soda | Marshmallow exclusion |
| Carbonated water | Chocolate chips addition |
| Diverse soda flavors | Cinnamon addition |
By trying different sodas and making a few tweaks, you can make your own special Cola Cake. This way, you can enjoy a variety of carbonated beverage dessert alternatives that suit your taste and dietary needs.
Storage Tips for Leftover Cake
Enjoying a slice of Cola Cake is a delight. But what about leftovers? Don’t worry, you can store it to enjoy later. Here are some tips to keep your Cola Cake fresh and tasty.
First, keep your cake in an airtight container or wrap it tightly. This stops it from drying out or picking up bad smells. If your kitchen is warm or humid, refrigerate the cake. This keeps the frosting from getting too soft.
At room temperature, your Cola Cake stays good for up to 5 days. For longer storage, freeze it for up to 3 months. Wrap the whole cake or slices in plastic or foil before freezing. To thaw, let it sit at room temperature or in the fridge overnight.
| Storage Method | Storage Duration |
|---|---|
| Room Temperature | Up to 5 days |
| Refrigerator | Up to 5 days |
| Freezer | Up to 3 months |
Follow these tips to keep your Cola Cake moist and tasty. Enjoy this Southern treat for days to come.
The History of Cola Cake
The Cola Cake has its roots in the American South. It’s a dessert loved for its unique taste. The exact start is unknown, but using Coca-Cola added moisture and flavor to chocolate cakes when other ingredients were hard to find.
Over time, Cola Cake became a staple in Southern cooking. It’s known for its rich, fudgy texture and the caramel taste from the Coca-Cola. This dessert is loved all over the American South.
Tracing the Origins of This Southern Delight
The first recipe for a Coca-Cola cake was in the 1920s or before. It started when Coca-Cola became popular in the South. Bakers mixed it into their chocolate cakes, creating the Cola Cake.
Now, Cola Cake is a favorite in Georgia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas. It’s a big part of Southern cooking. The mix of chocolate and Coca-Cola’s caramel taste has won many hearts.
“Coca-Cola cake has a rich Southern history, dating back to the 1920s or earlier.”
The Cola Cake’s lasting appeal comes from its flexibility and Southern bakers’ creativity. It uses Coca-Cola to rise and adds marshmallows for extra moisture. This has made the Cola Cake a classic.
Today, the Cola Cake is still a favorite in the South. It brings a taste of history and tradition with every bite.
Conclusion
The Cola Cake is a beloved Southern classic. It has a moist, chocolatey crumb and a fudgy frosting that’s irresistible. This dessert shows the South’s love for using unusual ingredients, making it a timeless treat.
Enjoying a slice of Cola Cake is like a trip back in time. It’s a sweet reminder of Southern baking’s charm. The Cola Cake proves that Southern desserts are here to stay.
When you finish a Cola Cake, you’ll love its simple yet amazing taste. It shows how Coca-Cola can make baking exciting. So, next time you want something sweet, try making a Cola Cake. It’s a Southern treat that will take you back in time.
The Cola Cake’s lasting popularity shows its special place in Southern baking. It’s a celebration of the South’s culinary traditions. It reminds us that the best discoveries often come from unexpected places.
FAQ
What is Cola Cake?
What are the key ingredients in Cola Cake?
How do you make Cola Cake?
What is the frosting for Cola Cake?
How do you serve Cola Cake?
Does the Coca-Cola in Cola Cake overpower the flavor?
Can you use other soda flavors in Cola Cake?
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Where does Cola Cake come from?
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