best copycat cracker barrel coca cola cake recipe (Double Fudge Style)

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Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time : 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

coca cola cake from cracker barrel ingredients

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cracker barrel recipe for coca cola cake ingredients

How to Make Cracker Barrel Coca-Cola Cake

Get the oven and pan ready

Set the 2 large eggs and ½ cup buttermilk on the counter so they can come closer to room temperature. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with cooking spray or a little butter, then set it aside.

Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan

Mix the dry ingredients

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 cups granulated sugar, 1¼ teaspoons baking soda, and ½ teaspoon kosher salt.

Give everything a good stir so the baking soda and salt are spread evenly through the flour and sugar.

Mixing 2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 cups granulated sugar, 1¼ teaspoons baking soda, and ½ teaspoon kosher salt in a bowel

Make the chocolate-Coca-Cola mixture

Add 1 cup regular Coca-Cola, ½ cup unsalted butter, ½ cup vegetable oil, and ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder to a medium saucepan.

Set the pan over medium heat and stir as the butter melts. Once everything is smooth, bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then take it off the heat.

Making the chocolate-Coca-Cola mixture

Combine the batter

Carefully pour the hot chocolate mixture over the dry ingredients. Stir gently until the flour is incorporated and you have a smooth, thick chocolate batter.

pouring the hot chocolate mixture over the dry ingredients.
whisking the mixture

Let the mixture cool for about 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, whisk together the 2 eggs, ½ cup buttermilk, and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract in a small bowl or measuring cup.

whisking together the 2 eggs, ½ cup buttermilk, and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract in a small bowl

Pour the egg mixture into the chocolate batter and gently stir just until everything is combined. Don’t keep mixing once you no longer see streaks of flour.

Combining egg mixture into the chocolate batter

Bake the cake

Pour the batter into your prepared pan and spread it into an even layer. Place the pan on the center rack of your oven.

Bake for 30–35 minutes, starting to check around the 30-minute mark. Insert a toothpick into the center of the cake. It should come out with a few moist crumbs attached, but no wet batter.

Baking the batter

Make the Coca-Cola frosting

While the cake is baking, prepare the frosting so it’s ready to go when the cake comes out.

Add ½ cup unsalted butter, ¼ cup Coca-Cola, and ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder to a medium saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring until the butter melts and the mixture is smooth.

Remove the pan from the heat. Gradually whisk in 3 cups sifted powdered sugar, then stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.

Keep whisking until the frosting is smooth and spreadable. If it seems too thick, add a tiny splash of Coca-Cola. If it’s a little loose, let it sit for a few minutes to thicken.

frosting the cake

Frost the cake

Take the cake out of the oven and keep it right in the baking pan. While the cake is still warm, pour the frosting over the top.

Use a spatula to gently spread it from the center toward the edges until the whole cake is covered.

If you like an extra-fudgy finish, you can poke a few shallow holes across the top of the warm cake with a fork before adding the frosting.

copycat cracker barrel coca cola cake recipe ready to serve

Let it cool and set

Leave the cake in the pan and let it cool for about 30–60 minutes, giving the frosting time to set.

Once the topping has firmed up enough to cut cleanly, slice the cake into squares and serve.

That first bite is soft, rich, and wonderfully fudgy—the kind of chocolate dessert that makes it mighty hard to stop at just one piece.

Pro Tips for the Best Coca-Cola Cake

This cake doesn’t take much fussing, but a few little tricks can help you get that soft chocolate crumb and rich, fudgy topping just right. These are the little things I keep in mind whenever I make it for family or a table full of folks.

  • No buttermilk in the fridge? No worries. Mix ½ cup whole milk with 1½ teaspoons lemon juice or white vinegar and let it sit for about 5 minutes. Give it a gentle stir, and it’s ready to use.
  • Want an easier cleanup? Line the bottom of your baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a little overhang on two sides. Give the uncovered sides a light coating of cooking spray, too.
  • Pecans make a mighty fine topping. For a little Southern crunch, sprinkle some finely chopped pecans over the frosting. Walnuts work just fine, too, but pecans are my first pick for this cake.
  • Making it for company? You can bake the cake ahead of time and keep it covered in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve. Just give it enough time to cool completely before covering it.
  • Don’t rush those slices. I know that chocolate smell coming from the kitchen makes it mighty tempting to grab a fork right away, but letting the frosting set gives you cleaner squares and a nicer fudgy layer on top.
  • Put a scoop of vanilla ice cream beside it. There’s something special about that cold, creamy ice cream melting against a rich piece of chocolate cake. It’s a simple little touch, but it makes this dessert feel right at home on a Southern supper table.

What to Serve with Cracker Barrel Coca-Cola Cake

This Coca-Cola Cake is plenty rich on its own, but it fits right in after a good old-fashioned Cracker Barrel-style supper. If you’re cooking for family or have a few folks coming over, these favorites make a mighty fine spread.

A slice of this cake is especially good after a hearty Cracker Barrel Meatloaf dinner with creamy Cracker Barrel Mashed Potatoes on the side. Add some Cracker Barrel Mac and Cheese to the table, and you’ve got the kind of comforting meal that makes everybody want to linger a little longer.

If you’re planning a bigger meal, Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings makes a cozy main dish, while Cracker Barrel Fried Apples add a little sweetness to the table.

Then comes dessert. Set out this chocolate cake, grab a serving spoon, and let folks help themselves. Don’t be surprised if that first piece turns into a second one before the night is over

What Makes This Cracker Barrel Coca-Cola Cake So Good

You’re going to love this cake when you want something that feels special without making a big production out of dessert. You get that soft chocolate cake, a rich fudgy topping, and that familiar Coca-Cola flavor in every bite, all without a long list of fussy steps.

What really makes it special is how easily it fits into your day. Bake it for Sunday supper, set it out when family comes over, or keep a few slices tucked away for when you’re craving something sweet after dinner. Once you see everyone reaching for another piece, you’ll know you’ve got a dessert worth keeping in your recipe box.

How to Store Cracker Barrel Coca-Cola Cake

Once the cake has cooled completely, cover it well and refrigerate it at 40°F (4°C) or below for up to 4 days. The FDA’s food-safety guidance recommends refrigerating prepared foods and other perishables within 2 hours, or within 1 hour when temperatures are above 90°F (32°C), so I wouldn’t leave this cake sitting on the counter for days. If you’re saving some for later, wrap individual slices tightly and freeze them for up to 3 months.

One bite of Cracker Barrel’s Coca-Cola Cake and you’ll understand why folks keep coming back for it. That rich, chocolatey cake, topped with a warm, fudgy Coca-Cola frosting, makes one mighty fine dessert—especially when you’re sitting around the table with family and friends.

I’ve always loved the way this cake feels like more than just dessert. It has that old-fashioned Southern charm that makes you want to grab a fork and settle in for another bite. Since you can’t always make a trip to Cracker Barrel when the craving hits, I worked on this copycat recipe so you can enjoy that same cozy chocolate treat right at home.

The cake comes out soft and moist, while the Coca-Cola frosting melts into the top and gives every bite that rich, fudgy finish. Serve it after Sunday supper, bring it along to a potluck, or keep a pan handy when you’ve got folks coming over. Trust me, nobody’s likely to turn down a slice.

Frequently Asked Questions

For this copycat recipe, I stick with regular Coca-Cola. The sugar in the soda isn’t just there for sweetness—it becomes part of the cake’s overall balance and helps give it that familiar, rich flavor. Diet and Zero Sugar versions have a different makeup, so I wouldn’t swap them in when you’re trying to get that old-fashioned Coca-Cola Cake taste.

You can make the cake with Pepsi, but if you’re after that classic Cracker Barrel-style flavor, I’d reach for a bottle of regular Coca-Cola. The difference is subtle once it’s baked, but when you’re making a copycat recipe, those little details are what help bring the flavor closer to the dessert you’re trying to recreate.

You can take the shortcut with a boxed chocolate cake mix, but that’s not the route I take for this recipe. Starting from scratch gives you more control over the texture and lets the Coca-Cola, cocoa, and buttery frosting shine through. If you’re making this for a family gathering, I’d stick with the scratch version when you have the time—it has that homemade touch that’s hard to beat.

A 9×13-inch baking pan is the sweet spot for this recipe because it gives the batter plenty of room to bake into an even, fairly thin cake. A metal pan works nicely and heats quickly, while a glass pan can also be used. Whichever one you reach for, keep an eye on the cake toward the end of the baking time since different pans can cook a little differently.

Reach for unsweetened cocoa powder rather than hot cocoa mix or sweetened cocoa. That’s what gives you the deep chocolate flavor without adding extra sugar to the batter. I keep a good-quality unsweetened cocoa in my pantry for cakes like this because it comes in handy for both the cake and the frosting.

This is one of those little steps that makes a big difference. A warm cake gives the frosting a chance to settle nicely over the surface instead of sitting on top like a thick layer of icing. I like to get the frosting ready while the cake is baking, so it can go on while the cake is still warm and the kitchen smells like chocolate.

You’ll find some copycat recipes and reader discussions that mention marshmallows, while other versions leave them out. One reader commenting on a copycat recipe even claimed to have worked at Cracker Barrel and said marshmallows were used. Since I haven’t found official Cracker Barrel documentation confirming that detail, I don’t treat it as a settled fact. This version keeps things simple with the chocolate cake and fudgy Coca-Cola frosting.

Absolutely, and it’s actually a handy dessert when you know company is coming. I like that you can have the cake baked and frosted ahead of time, then keep it covered in the refrigerator until the meal is over. Take it out before serving and give it a little time to lose that deep chill—the frosting softens up and the chocolate flavor comes through much better.

Pecans are a natural fit if you enjoy a little crunch with your chocolate. Finely chopped pecans sprinkled over the frosting give the cake that extra Southern touch without taking away from the Coca-Cola flavor. I’d add them while the frosting is still soft so they settle into the top instead of rolling off when you cut the cake.

Don’t go by the clock alone. Start checking around the 30-minute mark and insert a toothpick into the center of the cake. You’re looking for a few moist crumbs, not wet batter. Pulling it from the oven at that point helps keep the cake soft instead of letting it dry out around the edges.

Yes, this is a good one to tuck away when you’ve got more cake than the family can finish in a day or two. Cut it into individual pieces, wrap them well, and place them in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to 3 months. When a chocolate craving rolls around, thaw a piece and let it come closer to room temperature before serving.

I’d love to hear how your Cracker Barrel Coca-Cola Cake turned out!

⭐ Leave a star rating below and share your experience in the comments. Did you keep it classic, or add a handful of pecans on top?

If you snapped a photo of your cake, tag @crackerbarrelrecipes on Instagram so I can see your delicious creation.

Happy baking! 🍫🥤

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I’m Kim Nguyen, a former Cracker Barrel cook who loves sharing the kind of comforting, homestyle food that brings folks together. My time working in the Cracker Barrel kitchen taught me that simple ingredients, careful preparation, and a few good cooking tips can make all the difference.

Here, I share Cracker Barrel-inspired recipes that are easy to follow and made with everyday home cooks in mind. From breakfast to dessert, my goal is to help you recreate those familiar comfort-food favorites and bring a little Southern warmth to your own kitchen.