No need to head to one of the Cracker Barrel restaurants for your favorite chocolate dessert! This copycat recipe of the southern classic is even better!
Table of Contents
❤️ Why you'll love it
- The combination of Coca-Cola and buttermilk in the batter makes it incredibly moist.
- Gooey and rich double chocolate cake makes this the best!
- Simple to make; no special baking skills required.
I love the Cracker Barrel Double Chocolate Fudge Coca Cola cake. In fact, the first time I tried it I had to admit that I liked it better than my old faithful recipe - the one I had made for decades.
Plus it's made in a sheet cake pan so it's SO much easier than a layer cake! Be sure to add this to your collection of southern dessert recipes along with buttermilk pie.
🧾 Ingredients
This is an overview of the ingredients. The measurements and full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of this page.
🔪 Instructions
- Blend the flour and sugar together until combined.
- In a saucepan mix, cola, butter, oil, and cocoa powder, and whisk until smooth. Pour over the dry ingredients.
- Add the eggs and yolk, buttermilk, baking soda, and vanilla.
- Pour batter into a prepared pan and bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 30 minutes. Spoon glaze over hot cake.
Hey, if you really love a rich chocolate glaze as much as I do give this Boston cream poke cake a try. It's another one dish dessert!
🥫 Storage
Coca-Cola cake should be stored tightly covered at room temperature for up to five days.
You can freeze it for up to 3 months.
📖 Variations
- If you want a kick of spice add a pinch cayenne pepper. Trust me.
- Change up the flavor by using cream cheese frosting or a vanilla glaze instead of chocolate.
- You can make this with root beer or Dr Pepper instead of Coke.
- You may prefer my chocolate frosting recipe instead of the glaze.
- Garnish with whipped cream or shaved chocolate for some extra flare.
- Top with salted peanuts or crushed peanut brittle for a sweet and salty kick.
- Try making this with Vanilla Coke for a subtle difference.
💭 Things to know
Expert Tip: If you don't have buttermilk, add half a tablespoon of white vinegar to regular milk and let sit for 5 minutes.
- Don't over mix your cake batter. Mix until it is just combined.
- Spread the spread chocolate Coca-Cola icing over the warm cake - don't let it cool too much.
- When melting the butter, be sure to whisk often so that the mixture doesn't clump or scorch.
- Do not use Diet Coke to make this recipe, it will not turn out as well.
👩🍳 FAQs
Freezing this cake is not recommended. The texture of the cake will change after freezing and thawing.
Yes, it is important you use original Coca-Cola for this recipe.
I used a 9x13 glass baking dish. I suggest glass to prevent your edges from browning too much.
📚 Related recipes
Here are more great cake recipes!
- Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake is an old-fashioned cake recipe that your entire family will love.
- Mexican Hot Chocolate Cupcakes are the perfect blend of spice and chocolate and makes for a crave-able dessert.
- Holy Cow Cake recipe is filled with sweet candy flavor, and rich chocolate poke cake recipe.
- Texas Sheet Cake is a moist and dense with a fudgy topping.
- This Chocolate Spice Cake is sometimes called devil's food spice cake. It's like a combination of a chocolaty layer cake and your favorite spice cake!
🍽️ Serve with...
- Stuffed Bell Peppers are with filled delicious flavor that will be become a family-favorite recipe.
- These Cloverleaf Rolls are flaky, sweet, buttery, and go with just about any meal.
- Keto Creamed Spinach is creamy, flavorful, and makes for a delicious side dish.
- Easy Summer Fruit Salad is filled with ripe and sweet fruit and then topped with a tangy citrus dressing.
- And don't forget to top your Coca Cola chocolate cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
📞 The last word
This decadent cake with its swoon-worthy fudgy icing is unbelievably easy to make. As far as I'm concerned it's one of the best cakes ever to have been invented in the history of southern cooking.
It's also way better than the Cracker Barrel coca cola cake.
So there's that.
If I'm looking for comfort food for dinner I gravitate to meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and this cake!
Love this recipe? Try this creamy old fashioned fudge!
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Double Chocolate Coca Cola Cake
Print Pin Recipe SaveIngredients
- 1 cup Coca Cola not diet
- ½ cup vegtable oil
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 egg
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
- 1 cup chocolate chips
Glaze
- ½ cup butter
- ⅓ cup cocoa powder
- ⅓ cup Coca Cola
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 4 cups powdered sugar
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Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Spray a 9x13 dish with nonstick spray or grease with butter.
- Blend the flour and sugar together in a large bowl of an electric mixer. Set aside.
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat whisk together Coca Cola, butter, oil, and cocoa powder until smooth.
- Bring to a boil and remove from heat.
- Pour over the flour mixture and beat on low for about 1 minute, or until well blended.
- Add the egg and yolks, buttermilk, baking soda, and vanilla.
- Beat on low for about 1 minute or until blended.
- Stir in the chocolate chips.
- Spoon into the prepared pan and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. (This will be about 200° with an instant read thermometer).
- Remove from oven and spoon the glaze over the cake while it is still warm.
- Let cool completely before cutting.
Glaze
- About 10 minutes before the cake is ready to come out of the oven melt the butter in a heavy saucepan and add the Coca Cola, cocoa powder, and vanilla.
- Whisk smooth.
- Remove from heat and add the powdered sugar.
- Whisk until smooth.
Notes
- Don't over mix your cake batter. Mix until it is just combined.
- Spread the spread chocolate coca-cola icing over the warm cake - don't let it cool too much.
- When melting the butter, be sure to whisk often so that the mixture doesn't clump or scorch.
- Do not use Diet Coke to make this recipe, it will not turn out as well.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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First published August 28, 2014. Last updated September 5, 2022 for better readability.
Debbi
I made this cake 3 days ago & was not disappointed, it was great! My friends/family loved it & by request, making another one today!
Thanks
Sherri Jo
coke and peanuts!!! I love this idea Marye... shared! I might just have to make this one. And then give it away because I would eat the whole thing!
Renée J. (RJ Flamingo)
Oh. My. Word. You just took me back to the 70's. You know, except for the car part. I am loving this cake. I may have to have a baking week, next week. Psssst! I've got a small bottle of "Mexican" Coca Cola in the fridge that I've been saving. I think I have to go drink it now. 😉