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Moist Chocolate Cola Cake

This recipe for Chocolate Cola Cake is moist and so easy to make. Full of chocolaty flavor and covered in a sweet cola frosting everyone will love.

fork sticking out of piece of chocolate cola cake with crushed can and cake pan in background


 

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Years ago my hubby, who was my boyfriend at the time, took me on a trip to Charleston, SC. I won’t bore you with the details of the entire trip but we visited a restaurant called Jestine’s. We had to wait in a line that was wrapped around the building so once we got inside, I ordered a whole bunch of things from the menu. For dessert, I had Coca Cola Cake. It was so darn delicious. 

Now this isn’t Jestine’s recipe because I’m sure hers is made from scratch. For my recipe, I use a boxed chocolate cake mix (why not) and add a can of cola (You can use coca-cola or any budget brand) and 2 eggs. Yes, you read that right, the base of this cake only has 3 ingredients and it comes out so moist and chocolate. Let’s get to the recipe.

How to Make Chocolate Cola Cake

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a 13×9 pan. Set aside. In a large bowl, add boxed cake mix, 2 large eggs, and a whole can of cola. The mixture will foam up like crazy when you pour the cola in, allow it to settle down a bit and start stirring until the mixture is thoroughly combined. 

Pour mixture into your prepared pan and bake in preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. 

finished cola cake without frosting

Prepare the Cola Frosting

While your cake is baking, prepare the frosting by melting ½ cup of butter in a saucepan. Add cola and cocoa powder and bring the mixture to a slight boil. It won’t be a rapid boil, just slight bubbles popping in the mixture. Remove from heat and stir in powdered sugar until fully combined. You will notice the mixture thicken as your stir in the powdered sugar. 

whisk with chocolate frosting dripping from it over sauce pan

Pour-over the cake once it’s done baking. Allow the frosting to cool on the cake for about 5-10 minutes before serving. 

cola frosting being poured over chocolate cake

And there you have it, rich and chocolaty cola cake.  

Finished Chocolate Cola Cake cut into pieces with one piece missing

Notes

  • Sooo….I tested this recipe in an airfryer because why not! Prepare the cake batter as instructed and pour it into an 8 inch air fryer cake pan. All the batter will fit. I used the same pan I used in my Air Fryer Brownie recipe. Cook on 320 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Cut the frosting in half for the smaller air fryer cake. 
  • If you’d like a bit of crunch, add some chopped pecans to the frosting after you add the powdered sugar. 
  • This cake is best served warm but we eat it cold and still love it. 

Looking for other yummy cake recipes? Try these out:

slice of cola cake on white plate
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4.54 from 28 votes

Easy Chocolate Cola Cake Recipe

This easy and delicious Chocolate Cola Cake recipe is moist and delicious and covered in a delicious cola infused chocolate frosting.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword chocolate cola cake, coca cola cake, cola cake
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Resting time 5 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 15 people
Calories 323.95kcal
Author Tanya

Ingredients

  • 15.25 oz box chocolate cake mix
  • 2 large eggs
  • 12 oz can Cola soda

Chocolate Cola Frosting

  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • 3 Tablespoons cocoa powder
  • 6 Tablespoons Cola soda
  • 4 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a 13×9 pan. Set aside. In a large bowl, add boxed cake mix, 2 large eggs, and a whole can of cola. Stir mixture until combined.
  • Pour mixture into your prepared pan and bake in preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove from oven and set aside.

Chocolate Cola Frosting

  • Meanwhile, prepare your frosting by placing butter, cocoa powder, and cola in a sauce pan and heat over medium heat until it begins to boil slightly (you'll notice bubbles popping). Remove from heat and whisk in powdered sugar until thoroughly combined. Pour mixture over cake.
  • Allow frosting to cool on cake for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Suggested Tools

13×9 Baking Dish

Notes

  • Sooo….I tested this recipe in an airfryer because why not! Prepare the cake batter as instructed and pour it into an 8 inch air fryer cake pan. All the batter will fit. I used the same pan I used in my Air Fryer Brownie recipe. Cook on 320 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Cut the frosting in half for the smaller air fryer cake. 
  • If you’d like a bit of crunch, add some chopped pecans to the frosting after you add the powdered sugar. 
  • This cake is best served warm but we eat it cold and still love it.

Nutrition

Calories: 323.95kcal | Carbohydrates: 56.49g | Protein: 2.72g | Fat: 11.33g | Saturated Fat: 5.09g | Cholesterol: 38.09mg | Sodium: 302.03mg | Potassium: 118.38mg | Fiber: 1.02g | Sugar: 45.11g | Vitamin A: 220.77IU | Calcium: 49.58mg | Iron: 1.58mg
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4.54 from 28 votes (22 ratings without comment)
Recipe Rating




Maggi

Wednesday 30th of October 2024

Just recently started looking at the recipes on line, normally just look at the cook books but it has been great to watch and the tips you mention. I have saved a few and will try them soon. Thank you for emailing them over.

Many thanks Tanya from Maggi (UK)

Tanya

Wednesday 30th of October 2024

Thanks so much, Maggi! Glad I can help :)

Denise T

Sunday 4th of August 2024

I'm wondering if this would work in a bundt pan and if so how long it should bake.

Tanya

Friday 9th of August 2024

Hi Denise T, it would. You would just need to bake it a little longer based off the dimensions of the bundt pan. I'd bake it for around 50 minutes.

teresa

Friday 26th of April 2024

this is the silliest question but what size box cake mix did you use? i'm seeing 13.25 oz. and 16.5 oz. thx!

Tanya

Saturday 27th of April 2024

Great question. I use the 15.25 oz ones.

Dee

Wednesday 15th of November 2023

Followed your recipe to a T. It was perfect!!! Thanks for sharing this!

Tanya

Thursday 16th of November 2023

Thanks, Dee! So glad you liked it.

Amy

Monday 17th of April 2023

I'm going to make this today. I've tried many different cola cake recipes, all are from scratch, but I was looking for an easier alternative. Just so you know, it doesn't matter what type of soda you use as long as it's a dark color, it's the caramelized sugar that is needed, hence why diet or zero won't work.

Tanya

Tuesday 18th of April 2023

Thank you Amy :)