Pioneer Woman Coca-Cola Cake
Description
Fudgy, old-fashioned Coca-Cola cake with a warm poured cola frosting. This Pioneer Woman–style Southern sheet cake is made in one pan with pantry staples and ready in under an hour.
Ingredients
Cake
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon fine salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup unsalted butter, 2 sticks
- 1 cup Coca-Cola, regular, not diet
- 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1½ cups mini marshmallows
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Coca-Cola Frosting
- ½ cup unsalted butter, 1 stick
- 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 6 tablespoons Coca-Cola
- 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- 1 cup chopped pecans, optional
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda.
- Make cola-cocoa mixture: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine butter, Coca-Cola, and cocoa powder. Stir until butter melts, then bring to a gentle boil. Remove from heat and stir in mini marshmallows until mostly melted.
- Combine: Pour the hot cola mixture over the dry ingredients and whisk until smooth. Add buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla; whisk just until combined. Batter will be thin.
- Bake: Pour batter into the prepared pan. Bake 28–32 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
- Make frosting: About 5 minutes before the cake is done, melt butter with cocoa powder and Coca-Cola in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, remove from heat, and whisk in sifted powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt until glossy. Stir in pecans if using.
- Frost while hot: Pour warm frosting over the cake straight from the oven. Tilt the pan to spread evenly. Cool at least 30 minutes before slicing.
Equipment
- 9x13-inch baking pan
- Medium Saucepan
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Whisk
- Wire cooling rack
Notes
- Use regular Coca-Cola; diet or zero-sugar versions change the texture and flavor.
- Sift the powdered sugar for a smooth, non-grainy frosting.
- Don't overbake; the cake continues to set in the pan.
- Storage: Cover and keep at room temperature up to 3 days, refrigerate up to 5 days, or freeze individual squares up to 3 months.
- Variations: Swap the cola for Dr Pepper, root beer, or Cherry Coke. Top with toasted coconut or flaky sea salt instead of pecans.
Nutrition
Serving: 1ServingCalories: 408kcalCarbohydrates: 60gProtein: 3gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 54mgSodium: 132mgPotassium: 79mgFiber: 1gSugar: 48gVitamin A: 462IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 22mgIron: 1mg