Coca Cola Cake

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Hi Bold Bakers!

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE: My moist Coca-Cola Cake is a rich, ultra-tender Southern chocolate cake with a fudgy icing and a secret ingredient! This nostalgic dessert is quick to make, easy to serve, and is always a crowd-pleaser. 

• Wonderfully moist: Coca-Cola, buttermilk, and oil add moisture, creating an exceptionally soft, tender crumb.
• Rich chocolate flavor: Cocoa and Coca-Cola combine to create a deep chocolate flavor with subtle caramel notes.
• Fudgy frosting: The warm frosting is poured over warm cake, creating its signature glossy finish.
• Easy one-pan cake: You bake, frost, and serve from one pan, so it’s perfect for potlucks, family celebrations, and parties.
• Great make-ahead cake: The flavor gets even better after resting.

I’ll admit it—I was skeptical the first time I heard about making a cake with Coca-Cola! But after testing the recipe, I completely understand why it’s become such a beloved Southern classic. The combination might sound strange, but chocolate and cola are surprisingly natural partners. They both have notes of caramel, vanilla, and subtle spice, so rather than making the cake taste like soda, the cola deepens the chocolate flavor. As a professional chef, I love discovering recipes that sound surprising but deliver incredible results.

My best tip for this recipe is, when making the cake, simmer the Coca-Cola, butter, oil, and cocoa together before mixing them with the other ingredients. This step (simmering the mixture—you don’t want a full boil) blooms the cocoa, bringing out its full, deep flavor, dissolves the sugar, and creates a silky texture that blends beautifully into the batter and contributes to the dessert’s unique, moist crumb. For more delicious Southern desserts, you’ll love Buttermilk Pie, Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars, Gooey Butter Cake, and Chocolate Chess Pie.

Table of Contents

• What is Coca-Cola Cake?
• Tools You Need
• Key Ingredients and Substitutes
• How to Make Coca-Cola Cake
• Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips
• Make-Ahead and Storage Instruction
• FAQs
• More One-Layer Cake Recipes 

What is Coca-Cola Cake?

Coca-Cola Cake is a rich, ultra-moist chocolate sheet cake made with Coca-Cola in the batter and the frosting. The cola adds caramel flavor and sweetness, giving the cake a tender texture without making it taste like Coke. After Coca-Cola became a worldwide phenomenon in the 1950s and 60s, Coca-Cola Cake recipes started appearing around the Southern U.S., and the cake became a classic Southern desserts at parties, church picnics, and family celebrations.

Tools You Need

• Mixing bowls
• Measuring spoons
• Measuring cups
• Glass measuring jug
• Kitchen scale (optional)
• 9×13-inch (23×33-cm) pan
• Parchment paper
• Whisk
• Medium saucepan
• Cake tester
• Offset spatula

Key Ingredients and Substitutes

For the Coca-Cola Cake

Granulated sugar

• Granulated sugar sweetens the cake.
• Importantly, sugar contributes to the cake’s moisture.
• It’s important not to cut back on the amount of sugar in this recipe, as it will adversely affect the texture.
• Substitute: You can use the same amount of light brown sugar if you prefer. Note that it will add a molasses flavor and will taste less chocolatey.

All-purpose flour

• All-purpose flour gives the cake enough structure while still creating a soft crumb.
• Substitute: Use an equal amount of cake flour for a finer, more delicate crumb.
• For a gluten-free alternative, use the same amount of a 1:1 gluten-free blend, like my Easy Almond Flour Baking Mix or another gluten-free flour.

Baking soda

• Baking soda reacts with acidic ingredients, like the cola and buttermilk in this recipe, to help the chocolatey cake rise and give it a light texture.

Salt

• Salt enhances the cocoa flavor and balances the sweetness of the cake.

Eggs

• Eggs bring the ingredients together into a cohesive, smooth batter.
• Importantly, eggs add richness and moisture.
• Room temperature eggs will give you the best results. Here’s how to safely take the chill off eggs. 
• Substitute: You can use flax eggs instead of regular eggs. For each egg, mix 1 tablespoon of ground flax meal with 3 tablespoons of water. Let it sit for 5 minutes before mixing it into the batter.

Buttermilk

• Buttermilk contributes to a moist and tender texture in this Coke cake recipe.
• Buttermilk’s acidity activates the baking soda, leavening the cake.
• Additionally, buttermilk adds a deliciously tangy note.
• Make your own buttermilk substitute with my two-ingredient recipe.

Vanilla extract

• Vanilla extract enhances the chocolate flavor and the cola’s caramel notes.
• Substitute: Use the same amount of Vanilla Bean Paste.

Coca-Cola

• Coca-Cola adds moisture and gives the cake a deeper flavor, with its notes of caramel, vanilla, citrus, and warm spices.
• Note that the dominant flavor of this cake is chocolate. The cola enhances and deepens the chocolate flavor. 
• Additionally, the soda’s carbonation adds some aeration and helps create a tender crumb.
• As the soda simmers, it blooms the cocoa, enhancing the flavor.
• Use regular Coke (not Diet Coke or Coke Zero). 
• Substitute: You can use any regular cola, like Pepsi or another brand.

Butter

• Butter contributes to a rich, tender texture.
• Additionally, butter adds flavor.
• Substitute: In place of butter, you can use 1/2 cup (4 oz/115 g) of coconut oil, though it won’t give the cake the same buttery richness.

Vegetable oil

• Vegetable oil contributes to the cake’s moist texture.
• Substitutes: You can use the same amount of any neutral-flavored oil.

Unsweetened cocoa

• Unsweetened cocoa gives the cake a deep chocolate flavor.
• Simmering the unsweetened cocoa with cola blooms it, enhancing its taste.
• I recommend using natural unsweetened cocoa for the best texture and a classic chocolate flavor.

For the Coca-Cola Frosting

Coca Cola

• Coca Cola gives the frosting sweetness, helps create a fudgy texture, and contributes to the glossiness.
• Simmering and reducing the cola for the frosting concentrates and brings out the flavors.

Butter

• Butter adds richness and flavor, giving the frosting a silky finish.
• I don’t recommend using a butter substitute in the frosting—butter helps it set and develop the proper consistency. 

Powdered sugar

• Powdered sugar sweetens and thickens the frosting.
• Make your own powdered sugar with my quick recipe.

Unsweetened cocoa powder

• Unsweetened cocoa powder gives the frosting a deep, old-fashioned chocolate flavor.
• Additionally, the cocoa powder balances the frosting’s sweetness.

How to Make Coca-Cola Cake

Make the Coca-Cola Cake

1. Prepare to bake. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Butter and line a 9 x 13-inch (23 x 33 cm) pan with parchment. Set aside.
2. Mix dry ingredients. In a large bowl, combine the sugar, flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

3. Whisk wet ingredients. In a medium jug, whisk the eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla extract. Set aside.

4. Simmer cola mixture. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring the Coca Cola, butter, oil, and cocoa powder to a simmer, stirring constantly.

5. Add mixture to dry ingredients. Pour the hot mixture over the dry ingredients and mix until smooth. Let cool for 5 minutes.

6. Add egg mixture. Whisk in the egg mixture until fully combined, then pour batter into the prepared pan.

7. Bake cake. Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean.

8. Cool cake. Leave in the pan to cool.

Make the Coca-Cola Frosting

9. Simmer cola mixture. Simmer the Coca Cola in a large saucepan over medium-high heat until reduced to ½ cup (4 fl oz/120 ml), about 10 minutes.

10. Whisk in remaining ingredients. Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter, powdered sugar, and cocoa powder until smooth.

Frost and Serve

11. Frost cake. Pour the warm frosting over the warm cake and spread evenly, then decorate with sprinkles.

12. Let sit. Let it set for at least 1 hour before slicing into 12 squares.

13. Serve and enjoy! Enjoy with a dollop of whipped cream!

FULL (PRINTABLE) RECIPE BELOW!

Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips

• Use any brand of cola. Just be sure you use regular (full-sugar) soda, not diet, for the proper flavor.
• When making the cake, simmer cola mixture. You just want to heat it to a simmer to melt the butter, bloom the cocoa, dissolve the sugar, and create a smooth mixture.
• Note that the batter will be thin. This is correct and yields a moist cake.
• When making the frosting, do not over-reduce the cola. It will make the frosting grainy.
• Measure reduced mixture. The only way to check whether you have reduced the cola long enough is to occasionally pour it into a heatproof measuring cup. If you accidentally over-reduce, add a splash of Coke to make up the difference.
• Pour the frosting over the cake while both are warm. The warm cake absorbs some of the frosting, creating a moist layer, and as the frosting cools, it firms into a fudgy, glossy topping.
• Let frosting set completely before cutting. This will help make cutting easier. For the neatest slices, use a long, sharp knife, and wipe clean between cuts.
• Serve with unsweetened whipped cream. This cake is quite sweet, and the plain, softly whipped cream sets it off perfectly.

Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions

Make-ahead tips

• Coca Cola Cake is an excellent make-ahead dessert—it’s even better the next day!
  • Bake, frost, cover tightly, and store at room temperature.
• You can also freeze the frosted cake in the pan. Bake and frost the cake, and let it sit for an hour so the frosting sets.
• Wrap well in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Store in freezer for up to two months.
  • Thaw overnight in the fridge or for 2 hours at room temperature.

How to store leftovers

• Store well-wrapped leftovers at room temperature for up to two days.
• For longer storage, wrap well in plastic wrap and aluminum foil and freeze for up to 2 months.
  • Thaw overnight in the fridge or for 2 hours at room temperature.

FAQs

Does this cake taste like Coke?

• No, this cake doesn’t taste like Coke—it tastes like chocolate.
• The Coke in the cake serves as a flavor enhancer, deepening the chocolate taste.

Flavor variations and mix-ins

• Instead of regular Coke, use regular Cherry Coke or Vanilla Coke (of half of each!)
• For a spicier variation popular in the South, use Dr. Pepper instead of regular Coke.
• Make a mocha Coca-Cola Cake by dissolving 2 teaspoons of instant espresso powder into the simmering Coke mixture.
  • When making the frosting, add 1 teaspoon of instant espresso powder into the Coke mixture as it’s reducing.
• Top the cake with chocolate sprinkles or rainbow sprinkles.
• You can also dust with icing sugar.
• For a hot chocolate vibe, sprinkle mini marshmallows on the frosting.
• Sprinkle toasted, chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds on the frosting before letting it set.
• This cake is perfectly offset by unsweetened whipped cream.
• For a sweeter pairing, serve with a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream.
• To make Coca Cola Cupcakes using this recipe, line 24 standard muffin cups with paper liners.
  • Fill each liner 2/3 full (about 3 tablespoons).
  • Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 18–22 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  • Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
  • Drizzle or spoon the frosting onto the cupcakes.

How do I make a gluten-free Coca-Cola Cake?

• To make a gluten-free Coca-Cola Cake, replace the all-purpose flour with an equal amount of a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend, such as my Easy Almond Flour Baking Mix or another gluten-free flour.

Can I make this chocolate cake without eggs?

• Yes, you can make this chocolate cake without eggs. Use flax eggs instead. 
• For each egg, use 1 tablespoon of ground flaxmeal mixed with 3 tablespoons of water.
  • Let sit for 5 minutes before using.

More One-Layer Cake Recipes

• Coconut and Jam Cake
• Texas Sheet Cake
• Maple Gooey Butter Cake
• Red Velvet Sheet Cake
• One-Bowl Chocolate Cake

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