Coca Cola Cake: A Southern Classic Born in Atlanta
If you grew up in the South, there’s a good chance you’ve had this historic dessert at a family reunion, potluck, or church supper. Rich, moist, and topped with an old-fashioned shiny fudge icing, this iconic dessert is more than just a novelty—it’s a time-honored tradition. But did you know the original Coca Cola Cake was developed by The Junior League of Atlanta?
That’s right! While many people associate Coca Cola Cake with Southern diners or cafeteria menus, its roots trace back to the 1950s and 60s, when The Junior League of Atlanta published community cookbooks packed with beloved regional recipes. Among them was a chocolate sheet cake that called for a generous pour of Coke in both the batter and the frosting.
Why Coca-Cola, you ask? Well, in addition to being Atlanta’s hometown soda, the carbonation and sugar in the cola helped create a tender crumb and added a subtle, caramel-molasses depth to the chocolate. It was a creative way to make a cake that was both rich and uniquely Southern.
Original Coca Cola Cake Recipe
The original Coca Cola Cake recipe likely appeared in one of the Junior League’s “True Grits” or “Atlanta Cooknotes” style cookbooks, which were locally produced collections filled with everything from tomato aspic to pralines. Over the years, home bakers began to adapt and pass down their own versions. Some added marshmallows, others made the frosting with pecans. But the essence of the cake remained the same: Coca-Cola in the mix, chocolate in every bite, and that signature pour-over frosting that sets into a sweet, crackly shell.
Made Famous by Cracker Barrel
In 1997, Cracker Barrel famously brought Coca Cola Cake to its restaurant menu, sparking a resurgence in popularity. Suddenly, a new generation discovered this nostalgic treat, and recipes began circulating again in newspapers, magazines, and online food blogs.
Tips for Making the Perfect Coca Cola Cake
- Use full-sugar Coca-Cola. Diet just won’t do.
- Don’t skip the frosting. The warm, pourable icing is half the magic.
- Serve slightly warm. A scoop of vanilla ice cream makes it even better.
- Try pecans! Chopped pecans in the frosting give it an extra Southern flair.
Coca Cola vs. Texas Sheet Cake
If you are from Texas or familiar with Texas Sheet Cake, you may wonder how the two cakes are different. There's some crossover, but they are not the same. Both recipes have similar ingredients (give or take a few spoonfuls of sugar), but Cola Cake has marshmallows. They are added to the batter at the end, and they melt into the cake and disappear.
Well, eventually they disappear. You can see the marshmallows when the cake comes out of the oven, but after the cake cools and the icing is poured and set, the marshmallows disappear. Or at least mine did! You could never guess they were in this cake, but I wouldn't recommend leaving them out because the melted marshmallows must play a role in overall structure and texture.
Sweetness Level
Finally, this cake is sweet, but not cloyingly so -- at least if you let it set up for a while. I don't like warm, gooey, things served out of the pan so I almost always let the cake sit or chill it before serving, but my extended family has been known to dig into this type of cake minutes after the icing is poured.
Whether you make yours with buttermilk, marshmallows, or just stick to the classic, Coca Cola Cake is a perfect example of Southern ingenuity and the power of community cookbooks. It’s rich but approachable, sweet but never cloying, and always welcome at a gathering.
So next time you’re craving something sweet, whip up a Coca Cola Cake and enjoy a slice of Atlanta history.
Recipe
Coca Cola Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup Coca-Cola not diet
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups miniature marshmallows
Frosting
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ⅓ cup Coca-Cola
- 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted (480 grams)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup chopped pecans optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or spray a 9x13-inch baking pan.
- In a saucepan, combine butter, Coca-Cola, and cocoa powder. Bring to a boil, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine sugar, flour, and salt. Pour in the hot cola mixture and stir until smooth.
- In a small bowl, mix buttermilk and baking soda. Stir in eggs and vanilla, then add to the batter and mix well.
- Fold in miniature marshmallows. Batter will be thin.
- Pour into prepared pan and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- While the cake bakes, prepare the frosting. In a medium saucepan, combine butter, cocoa powder, and Coca-Cola. Bring to a boil.
- Remove from heat and stir in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth. Stir in chopped pecans if using.
- Pour warm frosting over the warm cake and spread evenly. Allow to cool and set before serving.
Notes
Anna says
Stephanie, so do I. I froze a piece of Texas sheet cake today. As the cake thawed, the icing became soft and very loose again, but as it sat out exposed to the air, it developed the characteristic flaky texture it had at the beginning. So yes, this type of cake (and icing) does freeze well.
Stephanie says
I didn't know cola cakes freeze well! I always love desserts I can make-ahead and freeze, but I am always unsure of what recipes fare well.
Christine from Cook the Story says
Every potluck needs this cake! YUM!
Beth says
Wow. I had no idea all the things I could make with coke!
Sue says
I looked it up. My recipe does have marshmallows. It only calls for 3T cocoa and 1tsp vanilla. The frosting is different. Yours sounds better.
Sue says
My kids used to love cola cake. They would ask for it every year for their birthdays. I never thought it was as special as they did. I don't recall my recipe having marshamallows in it. I'll have to look it up. To be sure.