Copycat Cracker Barrel Coca-Cola Cake

I am so excited to share this Copycat Cracker Barrel Coca-Cola Cake Recipe with you! This has been one of my favorite things to eat for many many years!

I have always loved Cracker Barrel restaurants. They're one of my favorite places to eat.

A long time ago, Cracker Barrel introduced me to a southern classic dessert called Coca-Cola cake. It was literally the best chocolate cake I had ever tasted up to that point in life. Think Texas sheet cake on steroids.

This moist chocolate cake had an intense chocolate flavor that was amazing. And the top of the cake was covered in the most wonderful chocolate icing. I personally think the rich frosting is the best part.

I was so disappointed that it was one of their seasonal items and only on the menu part of the year. I lived for that part of the year and ate there as often as possible until they took it off the menu til the next year.

Out of desperation, I played around at home searching cake recipes online and trying them until I found a Coca-Cola cake recipe that I liked. The only problem is that it wasn't simple and it required a ton of ingredients.

There were tons of dry ingredients and tons of wet ingredients…a flour mixture, cocoa powder, a cup buttermilk…and the list went on and on.

But since it was a labor of love, I made it anyway. And by the time it was done, my kitchen looked like a bomb had gone off.

And then I wised up…I decided to experiment and started using a boxed cake mix as the base!

What followed is seriously the best chocolate cake recipe ever!!! And believe me, I should know. I've tried lots of recipes.

This Coca-Cola Cake recipe makes the best cakes!

I make this easy recipe at least once a month around here. It is seriously the best coca cola cake!

Best Chocolate Cake Recipe Ever!

Coca Cola Cake Ingredients:

• 1 Box Chocolate Cake Mix
• 1 Cup Coca Cola
• 8 Tablespoons Melted Butter (1 stick)
• 1/2 Cup Milk (I use skim)
• 2 Large Eggs
• 2 cups miniature marshmallows

Coca Cola Cake Icing Ingredients:

• 8 Tablespoons Butter (1 stick)
• 1/2 Cup Coca Cola
• 3 Tablespoons Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
• 5 cups powdered Sugar (also known as confectioners sugar)

Best Chocolate Cake Recipe

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease a 9×13 inch pan.

{Pro-tip: Use butter wrappers to grease your pan. My grandmom saved all her butter wrappers in a plastic ziplock bag in the fridge and when it was time to grease anything she pulled out that bag and used one of the wrappers to grease her pan. I use this same method and it works like a charm!}

If you don't have old butter wrappers, you can use baking spray to grease your pan.

Combine butter, eggs, milk, cake mix and your cup of coca-cola.

While you can combine the ingredients in any order, I have found that if you start with the eggs, you can pick out shells if you need to. This is super important if making a cake with kids.

I then add the liquid ingredients so the cake mix is less likely to stick to the bowl.

When cake batter is thoroughly mixed, add mini marshmallows.

Pour into prepared pan.

Bake for 40 minutes (I usually poke holes in the cake about 30 minutes in so it cooks more thoroughly, but you don't need to do this)

While cake is cooling, make the frosting.

Easy Chocolate Frosting Recipe

Once you make this easy homemade chocolate frosting recipe, you'll never want store-bought frosting again!

Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. {Do not use a small saucepan. Between the frothiness of the cola mixture and the cups confectioners' sugar, you will find a small pan is too small.

Once your butter melts, add Coke and cocoa and bring to a frothy boil while stirring constantly.

Remove from heat and add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, stirring thoroughly after each cup is added.

Mix well until your frosting is the consistency you desire.

Pour on top of hot cake and spread well.

We like our Coca-Cola cake best slightly warm with vanilla ice cream. It's messy…and it's not pretty, but it's the best chocolate cake you'll ever taste!

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to use regular coke in this coca cola cake recipe?

No. You can experiment and use diet coke, root beer, or even cherry coke to give it a unique flavor.

Do I have to use a 9 x 13-inch pan?

No, you don't have to use a 9×13 pan, but just be aware that if you're using a round pan or smaller size cake pan, you may need to make 2 cakes or you'll have leftover cake batter.

How do I store this cake?

I like to store this coca cola chocolate cake in an airtight container in the fridge. Make sure to let your frosted cake cool before storing…and make sure to allow the cake to return to room temperature before serving. Or better yet, heat that baby up.