Moist Chocolate Coca-Cola Cake Recipe for Every Occasion

Coca-Cola Cake is a Southern classic — fudgy, moist, and packed with deep chocolate flavor. You’ll find yourself making it again and again.

Coca-Cola Cake is a beloved Southern dessert in the same tradition as Old Fashioned Red Velvet Cake, Texas Sheet Cake, and Coconut Cake. This version is simple and quick to prepare, so it’s perfect when you want a moist, chocolatey dessert without a lot of fuss. You can certainly turn it into a layer cake or decorate it more elaborately, but this easy sheet-cake approach delivers incredible flavor in minimal time.

Easy Coca-Cola Cake Recipe

If you’ve never tried Coca-Cola Cake before, you’re in for a treat. The cola in the batter keeps the cake tender and fudgy, while a cola-infused chocolate glaze poured over the hot cake seals in moisture and adds a subtle soda note. It’s an ideal choice for birthdays, potlucks, or any time you want a reliable, crowd-pleasing dessert.

Ingredients

See the recipe card below for exact quantities and step-by-step instructions.

For the cake

• All-purpose flour
• Sugar
• Baking soda
• Salt
• Ground cinnamon
• Coca‑Cola (regular, not diet)
• Butter (unsalted recommended)
• Baking cocoa
• Eggs
• Buttermilk
• Vanilla extract

For the glaze

• Coca‑Cola
• Butter
• Baking cocoa
• Confectioners’ sugar (sift first to avoid lumps)

How to make Coca‑Cola Cake

1. Prepare

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 13×9-inch baking pan with cooking spray or butter.

2. Make the batter

In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon). In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the cola, cubed butter, and cocoa. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, then pour the hot cola mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined.

3. Add wet ingredients

Whisk the eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla together in a small bowl, then add to the batter and mix until smooth and well blended.

4. Bake

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake 25–30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to remain hot in the pan while you prepare the glaze.

5. Make the glaze and finish

In a small saucepan, bring the cola to a boil and simmer 12–15 minutes until reduced to about 1/2 cup. Remove from heat, stir in the butter and cocoa until the butter melts, then whisk in the sifted confectioners’ sugar until smooth. Pour the glaze immediately over the hot cake, spreading gently so it covers the surface. Let the cake cool before slicing.

Storage

Let the cake cool completely before wrapping tightly in plastic wrap, aluminum foil, or placing in an airtight container. Store at room temperature for 3–4 days. For longer storage, freeze well-wrapped cake for up to 3 months; thaw in the refrigerator or at room temperature.

FAQ

What is Coca‑Cola Cake made of?

It’s a chocolate cake made from standard ingredients — flour, cocoa, eggs, butter — with Coca‑Cola added to the batter and the glaze to create extra moisture and a subtle cola note.

Where did Coke cake come from?

Recipes using cola in baking have appeared in Southern newspapers and cookbooks for decades. Versions resembling the modern Coca‑Cola Cake appeared in mid‑20th‑century cookbooks and became a regional favorite.

Does Coca‑Cola Cake taste like Coke?

The cake itself tastes like a rich chocolate cake, not a soda. The glaze carries more of the cola flavor, so the finished cake has a faint, pleasant cola accent rather than a strong soda taste.

Recipe card

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