Coca Cola Cake

Have you met my mother in law?  Her name is Kathy.  Here is a pretty picture of Kathy.  Everyone say "Hi, Kathy!" 

Now that we have all been introduced allow me to share with you a fun fact about Kathy. 

She LOVES Coca Cola cake.

I haven't checked with her on this but I'd say if Kathy had to list her top 5 favorite people/things  it would go something like this.

1.  God
2.  Coca Cola Cake
3.  Her Husband
4.  Her grandchildren
5.  Her children

I didn't know about Kathy's love for this cake until a few months after Allen and I were married.  We were at cracker barrel (home of the sacred coca cola cake) and Kathy almost lost her marbles because they were supposed to be serving this manna from heaven and for some reason they were all out.  I was so happy to be outside of our small apartment and so very happy to be eating something other then hamburger helper that the whole ordeal didn't bother me.  Allen lives to tease his mom over that trip to cracker barrel...and I think she lives to be teased about it.  It's one of those neat mother son things that no one is able to understand unless you are a mother and you have a son.

Even though we all get a good laugh over the cracker barrel and coca cola cake fiasco let it be known that not just any coca cola cake will do.  Some cakes tend to be on the dry side.  No one likes a dry cake.  So it became my mission in life to find a suitable version of this cake for dear ole mom-n-law.  She is constantly going out of her way for us, and I'm always on a look out for ways to show our gratitude.  So after I searched high and low I found this recipe and decided to make it for her. 

Ready for the verdict?
SHE LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Score!  I love cooking for others.  I think it's my mission in life.  Want me to cook for you?  OK!  I live to please.

Here is the best version of Coca Cola cake out there.  Go make it for your mother in law!

This cake hails from my kitchen...NOT google.  I'm proud.

Ingredients

• 1  cup  Coca-Cola
• 1/2  cup  buttermilk
• 1  cup  butter or margarine, softened
• 1 3/4  cups  sugar
• 2  large eggs, lightly beaten
• 2  teaspoons  vanilla extract
• 2  cups  all-purpose flour
• 1/4  cup  cocoa
• 1  teaspoon  baking soda
• 1 1/2  cups  miniature marshmallows
• Coca-Cola Frosting
• Garnish: 3/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted

Preparation

Combine Coca-Cola and buttermilk; set aside.
Beat butter at low speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar; beat until blended. Add egg and vanilla; beat at low speed until blended.
Combine flour, cocoa, and soda. Add to butter mixture alternately with cola mixture; begin and end with flour mixture. Beat at low speed just until blended.
Stir in marshmallows. Pour batter into a greased and floured 13- x 9-inch pan. Bake at 350° for 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from oven; cool 10 minutes. Pour Coca-Cola Frosting over warm cake; garnish, if desired.
Note: Don't make the frosting ahead--you need to pour it over the cake shortly after baking.

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You MUST make THIS frosting for the cake!  Don't put a nasty store bought icing on this cake!  If you do please don't give it to your mother in law.  We are trying to impress her.  Store bought icing on THIS cake is not impressive. 

Ingredients

• 1/2  cup  butter or margarine
• 1/3  cup  Coca-Cola
• 3  tablespoons  cocoa
• 1  (16-ounce) package powdered sugar
• 1  tablespoon  vanilla extract

Preparation

Bring first 3 ingredients to a boil in a large saucepan over medium heat, stirring until butter melts. Remove from heat; whisk in sugar and vanilla.

A few side notes:
I didn't add the marshmallows or nuts to the cake.  It turned out just fine.
As soon as your cake comes out of the oven take a fork and poke a whole lotta wholes in the top.  That way when you add your icing it will soak into the cake.  This makes it a ooeey gooeey treat.  Not a dry drab yuck fest. 
Pour your icing on the cake when it's hot.  I know that this goes against everything you have ever been taught.  This cake does not need to cool.  Pour that icing on there when it's piping hot.  Everyone will be happy you did.   Especially your mother in law!