Cracker Barrel Double Chocolate Fudge Coca-Cola Cake

The first time I tasted Cracker Barrel’s Double Chocolate Fudge Coca-Cola Cake, I knew I had discovered something magical. It was a rainy Sunday afternoon, and my family had stopped at Cracker Barrel after a long road trip. Exhausted and hungry, we ordered dessert, and when that massive slice of chocolate cake arrived with its glistening fudge frosting, my mood instantly lifted. The cake was impossibly moist, intensely chocolatey, and had a unique depth of flavor that I couldn’t quite place. When I discovered the secret ingredient was Coca-Cola, I was determined to recreate this masterpiece at home.

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After multiple attempts and tweaks, I’ve finally perfected this copycat recipe that captures everything wonderful about the original. The combination of dark cocoa, buttermilk, and Coca-Cola creates a cake that’s incredibly moist with a complex chocolate flavor that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This isn’t just any chocolate cake. The addition of Coca-Cola creates a unique flavor profile and incredible texture that sets it apart from other chocolate cakes:

• Exceptional moisture – The Coca-Cola and buttermilk work together to create an incredibly moist crumb that stays fresh for days
• Rich chocolate flavor – Double the chocolate with cocoa powder and semi-sweet chocolate in both the cake and frosting
• Crowd-pleaser – Perfect for birthdays, potlucks, or holiday gatherings
• Simple ingredients – Uses pantry staples you likely already have on hand
• Make-ahead friendly – Tastes even better the next day as the flavors meld

Ingredients for the Cracker Barrel Double Chocolate Fudge Cola-Cola Cake

Here’s what you need to make Coca-Cola chocolate cake:

For the Cake:

• Butter – Creates a tender crumb and adds richness to the cake
• Coca-Cola – Adds moisture, subtle flavor, and helps activate the leavening agents
• Semi-sweet baking chocolate square – Provides deep chocolate flavor and richness
• Miniature marshmallows – Melt into the batter to create incredible moistness and texture
• Shortening – It creates a soft, tender texture that stays moist longer than butter alone
• Vegetable oil – This keeps the cake moist and helps prevent it from drying out
• Sugar – Sweetens the cake and contributes to its tender structure
• Large eggs – Provide structure, leavening, and richness
• Vanilla extract – Enhances and balances the chocolate flavors
• Buttermilk – Adds tanginess and moisture while activating the baking soda
• All-purpose flour – Forms the structure of the cake
• Baking soda – Reacts with the acidic ingredients (buttermilk and Coca-Cola) to help the cake rise
• Baking powder – Provides additional leavening for a lighter texture
• Salt – Enhances all the flavors and balances sweetness
• Cocoa powder – Gives the cake its rich chocolate flavor (dark cocoa is recommended for more intensity)

For the Frosting:

• Butter or margarine – Creates a creamy, spreadable texture
• Cocoa powder – Provides rich chocolate flavor
• Powdered sugar – Sweetens and creates structure in the frosting
• Heavy cream – Creates a smooth, silky texture
• Vanilla extract – Enhances and rounds out the chocolate flavor

You can use regular cocoa, but you may want to try dark cocoa like this King Author Double Dark Cocoa.

How to Make Cracker Barrel Coca-Cola Cake

1. Place butter, coke, and chocolate square in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
2. Remove from heat and add marshmallows. Stir until marshmallows are completely melted, and all is blended. Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature.

3. Blend the shortening, oil, vanilla, and sugar in a large bowl until fluffy.
4. Add eggs and buttermilk and beat until smooth.
5. In another bowl, whisk the flour with baking soda, cocoa, baking powder, and salt.
6. Add half of the flour mixture to the shortening and egg mixture, and beat until well blended.
7. Add cooled Coca-Cola mixture and beat well.
8. Add the rest of the flour and beat until completely smooth.

9. Pour batter into a 13 X 9 X 2-inch greased and floured baking pan.
10. Bake at 350°F for 35 to 40 minutes.
11. Cream margarine, cocoa, and powdered sugar in a large mixing bowl.
12. Slowly add cream or milk. Add in vanilla.
13. Spread frosting over warm cake.
14. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and enjoy.

Tips For Making Cracker Barrel Coca-Cola Cake

• You can freeze buttermilk. Don’t waste any of your buttermilk. Freeze the buttermilk in an ice cube tray and store it in a freezer bag. A standard ice cube is about one ounce. Defrost in the microwave or allow to thaw overnight in the fridge.
• Make sure the double chocolate Coca-Cola cake is done. Double-check by sticking a toothpick in the cake center. If the toothpick comes out clean, the cake is ready.
• You may want to use the frosting for other chocolate cakes and cupcakes. This frosting is super easy to make.
• Add about 1 1/2 cups of pecans to the frosting recipe if you like.

I know you are bound to fall in love with this just as much as my family has. This cake is great for birthday parties, potlucks, and holiday celebrations.

How to Store Double Fudge Chocolate Cake

You can leave this cake loosely wrapped with plastic on your counter. You do not need to refrigerate this cake. It will stay fresh for two to three days.

Love Cracker Barrel desserts? Try these copycat recipes!

• Pumpkin Custard
• Banana Pudding
• Chocolate Pecan Pie

Popular Homemade Cake Recipes

• Pineapple Angel Food Cake Recipe
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• Texas Sheet Cake

Look at my easy cake recipes and the best Cracker Barrel copycat recipes.

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Cracker Barrel Double Chocolate Fudge Coca-Cola Cake

A rich, moist chocolate cake with fudgy frosting that tastes just like the beloved Cracker Barrel dessert. The secret ingredient? Coca-Cola!

5 from 12 votes

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Coca-Cola Cake, Cracker Barrel Coca Cola Cake, Cracker Barrel Recipes

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes minutes

Servings: 12

Calories: 747kcal

Author: Stephanie Manley

Ingredients

Cake Ingredients

• 4 ounces butter
• 1 cup Coca Cola
• 1 ounce baking chocolate 1 square
• 3/4 cup miniature marshmallows
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 2 1/3 cup all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup cocoa

Frosting Ingredients

• 1/4 pound butter
• 3 tablespoons cocoa
• 1 pound powdered sugar
• 6 tablespoons heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place in a saucepan butter, coke, semi-sweet baking square and bring to a boil remove from heat and add marshmallows and stir until all is blended and the marshmallows are disappear. Set aside to cool enough to tepid or room temperature. 
• In mixing bowl blend the shortening, oil, vanilla, and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs and buttermilk and beat until smooth. In another bowl mix flour with baking soda, cocoa, baking powder and salt, add half of the flour mixture to shortening, egg mixture, and beat. Scrape bowl time to time to clean the sides off so ingredients are blended in the batter. Add cooled coca-cola mixture and beat. Add remainder of flour and beat until completely smooth about 3 – 4 minutes. The batter will be thick. Place batter into a 13″ x 9″ x ” 2 greased and floured baking pan. Set pan on top shelf in a preheated 350 degrees oven for 35 – 40 minutes. Check for completed baking time with a toothpick. If the toothpick comes out clean by sticking in the middle of the cake its time to come out of the oven and cool.
• Frosting In a bowl cream together margarine, cocoa, and powdered sugar. Slowly add the 6 tablespoons of cream or milk. Add in vanilla. Frost warm cake. Serve with natural vanilla bean ice cream and enjoy.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 747kcal | Carbohydrates: 99g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Cholesterol: 79mg | Sodium: 359mg | Potassium: 233mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 74g | Vitamin A: 645IU | Calcium: 67mg | Iron: 2.7mg