Coca-Cola Cake

According to Atlanta-based food writer John Kessler, this is the best recipe for classic Coca-Cola cake. “The cake gets a nice, light texture from the bubbly Coke and buttermilk, and the addition of mini-marshmallows that melt into the batter,” he says. “Plus, unlike some other versions, this one really tastes like Coke.”

Cake
2 cups granulated sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ cups mini marshmallows
½ cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
1 ½ cup vegetable oil
3 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa
1 cup Coca-Cola
1 tsp. baking soda
½ cup buttermilk
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Frosting
½ cup (1 stick) butter
3 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa
6 Tbsp. Coca-Cola
1 (16-oz.) box confectioners sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans

To make the cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a bowl, sift together sugar and flour. Add marshmallows. In a saucepan, mix butter, oil, cocoa and cola. Bring to a boil and pour over dry ingredients; blend well. Dissolve baking soda in buttermilk just before adding to batter along with eggs and vanilla extract, mixing well. Pour into a well-greased 9-by-13-inch pan and bake 35 to 45 minutes. Remove from oven and frost immediately.

To make the frosting: Combine butter, cocoa and cola in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and pour over confectioners sugar, blending well. Add vanilla extract and pecans. Spread over hot cake. When cool, cut into squares and serve.

From Great Cooks of the South Entertain Southern Style published by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution