Nigella Coca Cola Cake Recipe

This decadent Nigella Coca Cola Cake is made with Coca-Cola, unsweetened cocoa powder, buttermilk, miniature marshmallows, and crunchy pecans. This recipe creates an incredibly moist, rich, and fudgy sheet cake with a unique boiled frosting that soaks right in. It’s a classic Southern dessert perfect for potlucks or family gatherings, easily serving 12-16 people.

Nigella Coca Cola Cake Ingredients

For the Cola Cake:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup Coca-Cola
• 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 ½ cups miniature marshmallows
• ½ cup buttermilk
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Cola Frosting:

• ½ cup unsalted butter
• 6 tablespoons Coca-Cola
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 4 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 1 cup chopped pecans

How To Make Nigella Coca Cola Cake?

1. Preheat and prepare pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. Combine dry ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and granulated sugar. Set it aside.
3. Make the cola mixture: In a medium saucepan, combine the butter, Coca-Cola, and cocoa powder over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally.
4. Mix the batter: Carefully pour the hot cola mixture over the flour and sugar. Whisk until everything is well combined and the batter is smooth.
5. Add final ingredients: Stir in the miniature marshmallows, buttermilk, eggs, baking soda, and vanilla extract until the batter is uniform. The marshmallows will melt into the batter.
6. Bake the cake: Pour the cake batter into the prepared baking dish. Bake in the preheated oven for about 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
7. Prepare the frosting: While the cake is baking, prepare the frosting. In a saucepan, combine the butter, Coca-Cola, and cocoa powder. Bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and pour over the confectioners’ sugar in a large bowl. Whisk until smooth, then stir in the chopped pecans.
8. Frost the warm cake: As soon as the cake comes out of the oven, pour the warm frosting evenly over the top. The frosting will set into a delicious, fudgy glaze as the cake cools.

Recipe Tips

• Frost the Cake While Hot: It’s essential to pour the warm frosting over the cake right after it comes out of the oven. This allows the frosting to slightly melt into the top layer, creating its signature thin, crackly glaze.
• Don’t Worry About the Marshmallows: The miniature marshmallows will completely melt into the hot batter, adding extra moisture and sweetness. You won’t see them in the finished cake, but they contribute to its tender texture.
• Use Full-Fat Buttermilk: For the richest flavor and most tender crumb, use full-fat buttermilk. If you don’t have any, you can make a substitute by adding ½ tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to ½ cup of milk and letting it sit for 5 minutes.
• Toast the Pecans: For a deeper, nuttier flavor, spread the chopped pecans on a baking sheet and toast them in the oven for 5-7 minutes at 350°F (175°C) before adding them to the frosting.

What To Serve Coca Cola Cake

This rich and sweet Coca Cola Cake is fantastic on its own, but it pairs wonderfully with a few simple additions. Serve a warm slice with a big scoop of classic vanilla bean ice cream to balance its chocolatey flavor. A dollop of unsweetened whipped cream also works perfectly. For beverages, a cold glass of milk, a cup of black coffee, or even an extra glass of Coca-Cola makes for a perfect pairing.

How To Store Coca Cola Cake Leftovers

• Refrigerate: Cover the cake tightly with plastic wrap or store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The frosting will keep it moist, and it will stay fresh for up to 5 days.
• Freeze: You can freeze the cake for longer storage. Cut it into individual slices, wrap each slice in plastic wrap, and then place them in a freezer-safe bag. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw slices at room temperature before serving.

Nigella Coca Cola Cake Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 465 kcal
• Total Fat: 21g
• Saturated Fat: 11g
• Cholesterol: 55mg
• Sodium: 210mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 68g
• Sugars: 52g
• Protein: 4g

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can I use a different soda? Yes, while Coca-Cola is traditional, this cake works well with other dark sodas. Dr. Pepper or root beer are excellent substitutes that will add their own unique flavor notes to the cake and frosting.
• Do I have to use pecans? No, the pecans are optional. If you have a nut allergy or simply don’t care for them, you can leave them out of the frosting entirely. The frosting will still be delicious and smooth. You could also substitute them with chopped walnuts.
• Can I make this recipe in a different pan? This recipe is designed for a 9×13-inch pan. You could also make it in two 9-inch round pans to create a layer cake, but you will need to reduce the baking time to about 25-30 minutes and check for doneness.

Try More Recipes:

• Nigella Creme Brulee Recipe
• Nigella Tiffin Recipe
• Nigella Baked Egg Custard Recipe

Nigella Coca Cola Cake

Author: Clara Bennett Cooking Method:Baking Cuisine:British American Courses:Dessert Breakfast Sides

Difficulty:BeginnerPrep time: 15 minutesCook time: 40 minutesRest time: 15 minutesTotal time:1 hour 10 minutesServings:8-10 servingsCalories:465 kcal Best Season:Summer

Description

This decadent Nigella Coca Cola Cake is an incredibly moist and fudgy Southern classic. Made with Coca-Cola, buttermilk, and cocoa, it’s topped with a unique boiled frosting mixed with chopped pecans that is poured over the cake while it’s still warm.

Ingredients

For the cake:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups granulated sugar
  
• 1 cup unsalted butter
  
• 1 cup Coca-Cola
  
• 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  
• 1 ½ cups miniature marshmallows
  
• ½ cup buttermilk
  
• 2 large eggs
  
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
  
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Cola Frosting:

• ½ cup unsalted butter
  
• 6 tablespoons Coca-Cola
  
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  
• 4 cups confectioners’ sugar
  
• 1 cup chopped pecans

Instructions

For the cake:

1. Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch pan.
   
   
   
2. Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch pan.
   
3. Make Batter Base: In a saucepan, bring butter, cola, and cocoa to a boil. Pour over a mixture of flour and sugar in a large bowl and mix well.
   
4. Finish Batter: Stir in marshmallows, buttermilk, eggs, baking soda, and vanilla until combined.
   
5. Bake: Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake for 40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
   
6. Make Frosting: While the cake bakes, bring butter, cola, and cocoa to a boil. Remove from heat, pour over confectioners’ sugar, and whisk until smooth. Stir in pecans.
   
7. Frost and Cool: Pour the warm frosting over the hot cake immediately after taking it out of the oven. Let it cool before serving.

Keywords:Nigella Coca Cola Cake