I didn’t have high expectations for a cake laced with soda pop. But this Classic Coca Cola Cake with Marshmallows was moist, scrumptious and beloved by all who were lucky enough to get a slice.
Classic Coca Cola Cake with Marshmallows
I had a vague recollection of seeing this classic Coca Cola cke recipe once upon a time, but it sounded a bit odd. As a former Diet Coke addict, I can understand the appeal of an icy cold cola. But in cake? When my hair stylist raved about this cake (he and I both have a huge fondness for Jacques Torres’ Chocolate Chip Cookies), I took notice. We had Coke in the fridge (the high octane regular version, not diet) and mini-marshmallows on hand. I had no excuse not to give it a try. Note the color differentiation in that forkful—the top is where those marshmallows melted into the batter. This Coca Cola cake with marshmallows one exceptionally moist cake!
A Surprise Hit
I made the recipe pretty much as written except that I sprinkled the marshmallows over the batter and smoothed them into the top of the batter using an offset spatula. A couple reviews (this same recipe can be found all over the Internet) mentioned the cake was ugly due to the lumpy marshmallows, so I did my best to make it a little more attractive. Plus I did omit the sprinkling of pecans over the frosting so my family wouldn’t snub it. They went nuts for this (despite the lack of said nuts), as did my girlfriends who were over for lunch the next day. Not heavy on chocolate, even the picky daughter ate her fair share. I think your family will adore this classic Coca Cola Cake with marshallows, too!
Coca Cola Cake
A tender, moist chocolate cake with cola as the secret ingredient
Ingredients
- 1 cup Coca-Cola
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup butter, at room temperature
- 1 3/4 cups sugar
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup cocoa
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows
Frosting
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/4 tablespoons cocoa
- 1/3 cup Coca-Cola
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º. Spray a 9 x 13 pan with Baker's Joy or butter and flour pan. Set aside.
- Combine Coca-Cola and buttermilk and set aside.
- Beat butter with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar and beat until blended. Add egg and vanilla and beat till combined.
- Combine flour, cocoa, and soda. Add to butter mixture alternately with cola mixture, starting and ending with flour mixture. Beat just until blended, scraping sides of the bowl with a spatula as needed.
- Pour batter into prepared pan. Sprinkle marshmallows over top of batter and press into the top of the cake with an offset spatula so that marshmallows are flush with or below the surface.Bake for 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from oven and cool 10 minutes.
- While cake is cooling, make frosting. Bring first 3 ingredients to a boil in a saucepan stirring until butter melts. Remove from heat; whisk in sugar and vanilla until smooth.
- Pour Coca-Cola Frosting over warm cake. Let cool to room temperature before serving.
Recipe Notes
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Serving Size | |
| Amount Per Serving | As Served |
| Calories 563kcal Calories from fat 219 | |
| % Daily Value | |
| Total Fat 24g | 37% |
| Saturated Fat 15g | 75% |
| Transfat 1g | |
| Cholesterol 92mg | 31% |
| Sodium 147mg | 6% |
| Carbohydrate 85g | 28% |
| Dietary Fiber 1g | 4% |
| Sugars 65g | |
| Protein 4g | |
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs:
| Calories | 2000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Fat | Less than | 65g |
| Sat Fat | Less than | 25g |
| Cholesterol | Less than | 300mg |
| Sodium | Less than | 2,400mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 300g | |
| Dietary Fiber | 25g | |
What a lovely idea! I’ve never been using coke as a cake ingredient! Must give it a try!
i’ve heard about coca cola cake but never tried it – the texture looks sublime!
I only tried Coca cola cupcakes 🙂 cake looks as good 🙂
Wow, it looks similar to a Texas Sheet Cake, bet it’s great! I need to make more cakes:@)
Now you have got me wanting to go get a bottle of coke to try this out. It looks really moist and divine! 🙂
I’ve tried a coca-cola cake before – 4 years ago- but my version was without the marshmallows. It was really good very moist and delish. Thanks for reminding me :)… your cake looks so perfect.
That looks like a super sweet cake with the coke and all the sugar. I’ve never been a pop drinker so we only ever have ginger ale in the house for upset tummies. I’ve seen coca cola used in quite a few recipes but never in cake! Good for you for trying it and making it so lovely!
Liz, I have always wanted to try a coca cola cake!!!! I need to make this! I’m so curious about the taste and this cake looks delicious!!!!
How funny I posted coke cupcakes today!
I’ve always wanted to give the coca cola chocolate recipe a try but have been skeptical about it. Good to know it’s worth trying, I’ll have to give it a go!
You amaze me every time Liz ! I never understood from a Coke cake ! This one looks terrific and it’s a nice deal for the coca cola addicts !
I absolutely adore coke cake! One of the things that I love about this cake is that it keeps getting better and better because it caramelizes over a day or two and is actually better two days after (if it lasts that long)!
Lizzy ! Always I heard about a coca cola cake and always all the people say is amazing!
Looking yours Im sure!!!! Look delicious Lizzy!!
I have never heard of this cake…now that I have, I am curious…it sure looks great Liz!
Have a great week 🙂
If we had a taste of this, we know this will be a hit flavour for us, too! Coke-tasting cake sounds fab, Liz!
Julie & Alesah
Gourmet Getaways xx
I have seen this recipe but honestly didn’t pay much attention, but you have convinced me to try it Liz. We love a moist chocolate cake and that fantastic poured on frosting.
The cake looks surprisingly moist and tempting that I even want to give it a try!
That looks fantastic Liz, so moist. Looks like you had great restraint. I think I might have had a hard time taking pictures without helping myself.
Looks lovely and moist! Hard to resist!
Coco cola in both the frosting and the cake? Oh…this has got to be good! What a lovely cake and one that this coke lover would love!
Sounds yummy. I do believe I have seen this recipe around the web too.
Recipes made with soda always boggle my mind, but I always end up loving them! This looks so scrumptious!
Coca-Cola Cake just sounds fun! I will give this a try, I’m sure the guys will love it. Thanks for the tips on the marshmallows.
I remember this cake and it was a good one! Can’t wait to try!
I have heard about this cake but have never tried it! It looks like it’s totally worth a try!
Now I am intrigued…If the elegant gourmet at TSCCB (and fellow diet Coke fan) says thumbs up to Coca-Cola and marshmallows; well, I’m game to take the Coke Cake challenge!
I’ve heard of a coco cola cake and have always wanted to try it. Yours looks perfect, Liz! So chocolaty and delicious! I can’t wait to try this!
I think this is the first time I hear of a coca cola cake.
I love drinking cola, and it does sound strange to add it into a cake, but very intriguing and your cake looks amazing!
This is one of those cakes that I have seen around but never dared to give it a go. Yours certainly is attractive, I may just be tempted to head out and buy some coca cola!
Lizzy,
I’ve never made coca cola cake. It certainly looks delicious. I don’t usually have mini marshmallows on hand but maybe I could cut up the large ones.
Annamaria
I too have heard of this before but never tried it. No doubt it would be big hit with my dessert lovers. Your perfectly cut serving is gorgeous!
Wow! That’s the first I’ve heard of coca cola cake, Liz. Although I’ve made coca cola macarons I’d never thought of making a cake with it. Tell me, is the cocoa powder more for the colouring or does it help to highlight the coke flavour? I’m intrigued. Love how there are squelchy marshmallows in there too!
I have been making this cake for a considerable length of time and its one of my top picks. I add slashed pecans to the icing. It’s yummy!
Liz I haven’t had this cake since the 70s. I recall it being a huge hit then. How fun to recreate it. I love it and will have to make it for my kids. Thanks for bringing me back down memory lane. Wish my dad was here to sample it – he loved it!