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Southerners love their Coca Cola Chocolate Cake! Marshmallows and soda pop may seem like odd ingredients to use in a cake, but in the South, they are the real thing. This moist and rich chocolate sheet cake is a regular staple for social gatherings and celebrations. The addition of the cola adds an additional sweetness and the carbonation adds an airiness to the texture of the cake. Since I love all things chocolate, I was ready to dive in head first to try this cake.
The traditional recipes for Coca Cola cakes that I found, use marshmallows and an icing that is supposed to be spread on the hot cake straight out of the oven. The icing partially melts into the hot cake to help create the sticky texture. I found this cake easy to make and after enjoying my first piece, I can definitely see why Southerners love this chocolate, gooey goodness!
Basic Rules For Baking and Secrets Of A Successful Cake. Also check out more great Cake Recipes.
History of Coca-Cola Cake:
In the deep South, drinking Coca-Cola soda pop is a religion. It is such a staple in the Southern culture that most Southerners refer to Coca-Cola and all soda pop for that matter as just “co*ke.” Because of this Coca-Cola love, it seems natural that the Coca-Cola cake also finds its origins in the south. It is very common to go to a church social or family reunion and find a Coca-Cola sheet cake on the dessert section of the buffet table.
“Of all the recipes, the most widespread, according to the Coca Cola Company, is one for a gooey chocolate cake with miniature marshmallows, pecans and probably more calories per square inch than anyone can count.”
It is unclear to researchers if Coca-Cola cake was a created in a home kitchen or a clever way for The Coca-Cola Company to market their soda. Historians have found newspaper articles to confirm that using cola in cake recipes originated in the Southern United States. The earliest reference to a Coca-Cola Cake recipe appears in 1950’s Cookbooks and was brought to the forefront again in the 1990’s.
1952 – First reference found to a published recipe: Chocolate Cola Cake recipe published in the Charleston Gazette, August 8, 1952 (p.20), “Unusual’ dishes awarded second, third place in contest“ Mrs. E.D. Greer or Lillybrook, W.VA. supplied the recipe
1997 – Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, founded in the south, was looking for ways to further incorporate Coca-Cola into their menu. They came across the classic Coca-Cola cake recipe, increased the cocoa ratio and reintroduced it as Double Chocolate Fudge Coca-Cola Cake. They decided to offer this dessert for limited periods on their menu. The cake became so popular with customers that Cracker Barrel would continue to receive requests, letters and phone calls asking for the cake to be on the regular menu all year. Finally in 2009, Cracker Barrel made the Double Chocolate Fudge Coca-Cola cake a permanent menu item and it has become their signature dessert. When you mention Cracker Barrel, people strongly associate the Coca-Cola Cake.
Coca Cola Chocolate Cake Recipe:
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
40 mins
Total Time
1 hr
Course:Dessert
Cuisine:Southern
Keyword:Coca Cola Chocolate Cake Recipe
Servings: 8 to 10 servings
Author: What's Cooking America
Ingredients
Coca Cola Chocolate Cake:
- 1cupCoca Cola soda
- 1/2cupbuttermilk*
- 2teaspoonspure vanilla extract
- 2cups all-purposeflour
- 1/4cup unsweetenedcocoapowder
- 1teaspoonbaking soda
- 1cupsalted butter,softened
- 1 3/4cups granulatedsugar
- 2eggs
- 1 1/2cupsminiature marshmallows
Coca Cola Chocolate Icing:
- 1/2cupbutter,room temperature or softened
- 1/3cupCoca Cola soda
- 3tablespoons unsweetenedcocoapowder
- 4cupspowdered sugar(confectioners' sugar)
- 2teaspoonspure vanilla extract
Instructions
Coca Cola Chocolate Cake Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil and dust with flour a 13- x 9-inch baking pan.
In a small bowl, combine coca-cola soda, buttermilk and vanilla extract; set aside.
In medium-sized bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, and baking soda; set aside.
In large bowl, on low speed, beat together the butter and sugar until combined. Add eggs, one at a time, and beat until blended. Starting with the flour mixture, beat in a little at a time alternating with the Coca-Cola mixture until you have ended with the flour mixture. Continue to beat for 2 additional minutes until the batter is light and fluffy. Stir in the marshmallows. Pour the cake batter into the prepared baking dish. It is normal for the marshmallows to float to the top of the cake batter when cooking.
Bake approximately 30 to 35 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through the cooking (once you reach 30 minutes, check cake every few minutes until done). Cake is done when a toothpick inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean or when theinternal temperatureregisters approximately 205 to 209 degrees F. on yourcooking thermometer.
While the cake is baking, prepare the Coca Cola Chocolate Icing. Do not make the frosting in advance, as you you need to pour it over the cake shortly after baking.
Remove cake from the oven to a cooling rack. While the cake is still hot, pour the prepared Chocolate Icing over cake and spread evenly to cover the cake. Let cake cool completely before serving. Serve alone or accompanied by vanilla ice cream.
Topping Suggestion: Coarsely-chopped Pecans sprinkled on top of chocolate icing (optional).
Makes 8 to 10 servings.
Coca Cola Chocolate Icing Instructions:
In a large saucepan over medium heat, stir together the butter, Coca-Cola soda, and cocoa powder until butter has melted. Whisk in the powder sugar, one cup at a time, and then add the vanilla extract. Stir until icing is smooth.
Recipe Notes
*For buttermilk substitute: In liquid measuring cup, add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar, pour in milk to the 1 cup line. Let stand for 5 minutes then use the amount you need for your recipe.
I get many readers asking what cooking/meat thermometer that I prefer and use in my cooking and baking. I, personally, use the Thermapen Thermometer.Originally designed for professional use, the Super-Fast Thermapen Thermometer is used by chefs all over the world. I only endorse a few products, on my web site, that I like and use regularly.
You can learn more or buy yours at:Super-Fast Thermapen Thermometer.
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History References:
FAQs: Cakes- Cola Cakes, by the Food Timeline, Colacake – Yes it’s true, Cooking with co*ke, by Dena Kleinman, New York Times, June 6, 1190 (p.C6)
History of Cracker Barrel’s Double Chocolate Fudge Coca-Cola Cake, by Nora Zelevansky, May 30, 2013
Recipe Source:
I slightly adapted this Coca-Cola cake recipe featured on the Coca-Cola Company website. Recipe contributed by Lee Avery Catts to Atlanta Cooknotes, published by The Junior League of Atlanta.
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Categories:
Baking Cakes History Chocolate Cakes Chocolate Recipes Deep South Dessert Recipes
