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Cherry Coca Cola Cake

This Cherry Coca Cola Cake recipe is a twist on a long held beloved cake in the South. Coca Cola Cake can be found at potlucks, family and holiday gatherings all year long. It’s a chocolate cake with a rich and fudgy pecan filled topping that takes it over the top.

Cherry Coca Cola Cake

Easy Cherry Coca Cola Cake Recipe

Southerners will often ask the question, “Would you like a coke?”  It’s then closely followed by “What kind?” That’s right, we often use the term “coke” to mean any soft drink. Coca Cola cake has several variations, and every Southern baker has their own little sweet twist that they add to make theirs extra special. This version, takes advantage of cherry flavored coke making it a super fun cake to make for any occasion. How to make Southern Coca Cola Cake: (Scroll down for full printable recipe.)

  • Prepare Pan – Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 13×9-inch pan with baking spray.
  • Dry Ingredients – Use a whisk to sift together the all purpose flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
  • Creamed Ingredients – In a medium size mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, pure vanilla and pure almond extract. Cream until light beige in color.
  • Eggs – Add the eggs one at a time beating well after each addition.
  • Wet Ingredients – Whisk together the Cherry Coca Cola and buttermilk. Set aside and allow the foam to die down.
  • Combine – Add to the creamed mixture alternately with the dry ingredients. Stop and scrape the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat just until blended.
  • Marshmallows – Mix-in the marshmallows by hand.
  • Transfer to Pan – Spread evenly into the prepared pan. Bounce on the counter a few times to remove air bubbles.
  • Bake – Bake per the recipe until a toothpick inserted into the center shows moist crumbs.
  • Chocolate Frosting – Boil together butter, cherry coke and cocoa in a small saucepan.
  • Powdered Sugar – Remove from the heat and stir in the powdered sugar, almond extract and toasted pecans. Mix well.
  • Frost Cake – Pour frosting over the warm cake immediately.
  • Cool – Allow the cake to cool completely before cutting or chill.
  • Garnish with whipped cream and a cherry.
ingredients to make Cherry Coca Cola Cake

How to Make Southern Cherry Coca Cola Cake Recipe

This cake is not for the sugar shy, it’s rich, fudgy and sweet. It’s designed for sharing hence the reason this cake is often served at the holidays, picnics and church potlucks.

  • Ingredients to make this easy Coca Cola Cake recipe: All purpose flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda, salt, butter, vanilla extract, almond extract, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, cherry Coca Cola, buttermilk, large eggs and mini marshmallows.
  • For the fudgy chocolate icing you’ll need: Cocoa powder, Cherry Coca Cola, butter, powdered sugar, almond extract and toasted chopped pecans.
  • Kitchen tools you’ll need: A stand mixer or hand mixer, sheet pan, measuring cups and spoons, nut chopper, 13×9 inch baking pan, small saucepan and cooling rack.
  • How does using coca cola affect the cake batter? Coca cola cakes in general tend to have a light and airy batter, due to the carbonation in the coke and how the baking soda reacts with the buttermilk.
  • Please note, you can use regular coca cola in place of cherry coca cola in this recipe in the same amount.
  • Are there other variations of Southern cocoa cola cake recipes? Yes, I’ve seen some recipes that actually melt the marshmallows, cocoa and butter on the stovetop making a sort of syrup to add to the batter. My favorite way is just as I demonstrate in this recipe, creaming the butter and sugars then mixing in whole marshmallows into the batter.
  • Do I have to use a sifter to sift together the dry ingredients? You can if you have one. That said, I typically grab a whisk. Using a whisk is convenient and it works like a charm to distribute the dry ingredients together.
  • Can I make this chocolate coca cola cake in a bundt pan? This cake is designed to be made as a sheet cake.
  • Storing tips: I prefer to store this Cherry Coca Cola Cake covered and chilled for up to one week. You can store it at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
  • You may also enjoy this recipe for  Cherry Cola Floats from Cravings of a Lunatic.
Coca cola cake in a pan with fudgy pecan frosting

More Southern Style Homemade Cake Recipes to Make

Julia Child is credited for say that a party without a cake is just a meeting. I completely concur. Other Southern cake recipes to add to the menu:

chocolate-cake-recipes

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

Cherry Coca Cola Cake

Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Cooling time2 hours
Total Time3 hours 5 minutes
Course: Cakes, Dessert
Cuisine: American, Southern
Keyword: cherry-coca-cola-cake, coca-cola-cake-recipe
Servings: 16 pieces
Calories: 492kcal
Author: Melissa Sperka

Ingredients

  • 2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup cocoa
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup butter softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla
  • 1/2 tsp pure almond extract
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup Cherry Coca Cola
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 1 1/2 cup miniature marshmallows
  • Frosting:
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 3/4 cup Cherry Coca Cola
  • 1/2 cup cocoa
  • 4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 tsp pure almond extract
  • 1 cup chopped pecans toasted
  • Whipped cream and maraschino cherries for garnishing

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 13×9-inch pan with baking spray.
  • Toast the Pecans: Spread in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Toast in a preheated 350°F oven for 6-8 minutes. Cool completely.
  • In a medium bowl use a whisk to sift together the all purpose flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl use an electric mixer to cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, pure vanilla and pure almond extract. Cream until light beige in color.
  • Add the eggs one at a time beating well after each addition.
  • Whisk together the Cherry Coca Cola and buttermilk. Set aside and allow the foam to die down then add to the creamed mixture alternately with the dry ingredients with the mixer on low speed. Beat just until blended.
  • Once fully moistened, mix-in the marshmallows by hand. Spread cake batter evenly into the prepared pan.
  • Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center shows moist crumbs.
  • Frosting: Place butter, cherry coke and cocoa in a small saucepan. Over medium high heat on the stovetop bring to a boil. Cook just until the butter has completely melted.
  • Remove from the heat and stir in the powdered sugar, almond extract and toasted pecans. Mix well.
  • Pour over the warm cake immediately. Allow the cake to cool completely before cutting or chill.
  • Garnish with whipped cream and a cherry.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 492kcal | Carbohydrates: 76g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 67mg | Sodium: 318mg | Potassium: 154mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 58g | Vitamin A: 578IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @melissassk or tag #melissassk!

10 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Have you ever done this as recipe in a sheet pan? I am going to omit the marshmallows, as I’m not a fan. It looks delicious! Thanks for sharing.

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