Y’all, we’re about to talk about a cake that’s basically Southern comfort food royalty dressed up for a special occasion. This Coca-Cola Fudge Layer Cake is what happens when classic Southern Coca-Cola cake meets rich chocolate fudge and decides to get fancy with multiple layers. We’re talking about incredibly moist chocolate cake made with actual Coke (yes, the fizzy drink), layered with the most decadent fudge frosting that’ll make you question everything you thought you knew about chocolate cake. The Coca-Cola doesn’t just add sweetness — it creates this unique depth and keeps the cake ridiculously tender. It’s the kind of dessert that stops conversations and has people asking “wait, there’s Coke in this?” This isn’t just cake; it’s an experience that’ll transport you straight to a Southern front porch where everything’s sweet and life moves a little slower.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Coca-Cola makes the cake incredibly moist and adds unique flavor
- Rich, fudgy frosting that’s basically candy you can spread
- Impressive layer cake that looks bakery-professional
- Perfect for birthdays, celebrations, or Tuesday because you deserve it
- Uses pantry staples plus one fizzy surprise ingredient
- Stays moist for days (if it lasts that long)
- Guaranteed conversation starter at any gathering
The Good Stuff You’ll Need
For the Coca-Cola Cake:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
- 1 cup Coca-Cola (not diet — you need the real thing)
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the Fudge Frosting:
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 cup Coca-Cola
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 lb powdered sugar (about 4 cups), sifted
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional but very Southern)
- Pinch of salt
For Assembly:
- Extra pecans for decorating
- Chocolate shavings or curls (optional)
- A cold Coke to sip while you admire your masterpiece
Let’s Do This
Step 1: Prep Your Pans
Preheat your oven to 350°F.
Grease two 9-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
Lightly dust with cocoa powder (instead of flour) for extra chocolate vibes.
Step 2: Mix the Dry Squad
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
Make sure there are no lumps — sift if you need to.
Step 3: Wet Ingredient Magic
In another bowl, whisk together eggs, buttermilk, Coca-Cola, oil, and vanilla.
The mixture might look a little weird with the Coke, but trust the process.
Step 4: Bring It All Together
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
Whisk until just combined — don’t overmix or your cake will be tough.
The batter will be quite thin, which is exactly what we want.
Step 5: Bake Those Beauties
Divide batter evenly between your prepared pans.
Bake for 28-32 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs.
Don’t overbake — the Coke keeps it moist, but we don’t want dry cake.
Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.
Step 6: Make That Fudge Frosting
In a medium saucepan, combine butter, Coca-Cola, and cocoa powder.
Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, then remove from heat.
Gradually whisk in the sifted powdered sugar until smooth.
Stir in vanilla, pecans (if using), and a pinch of salt.
Let it cool for 15-20 minutes until it’s spreadable but not too thick.
Step 7: Assembly Time
Place one cake layer on your serving plate.
Spread about 1/3 of the frosting over the top.
Place the second layer on top and press gently.
Spread the remaining frosting over the top and sides.
Work quickly — this frosting sets as it cools.
Step 8: Make It Pretty
Sprinkle with extra pecans or chocolate shavings if you’re feeling fancy.
Let it set for about 30 minutes before slicing.
Serving Suggestions
Serve with a tall glass of ice-cold milk or, naturally, an ice-cold Coke.
A scoop of vanilla ice cream alongside never hurt anyone.
Perfect with coffee for those who like their dessert with caffeine.
Switch It Up
Different Soda: Try Dr Pepper or root beer for different flavor profiles.
Nut Variations: Use walnuts or omit nuts entirely if that’s not your thing.
Cream Cheese Twist: Add 4 oz softened cream cheese to the frosting for tanginess.
Mini Cakes: Make this as cupcakes — bake for 18-20 minutes instead.
Extra Fudgy: Add 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips to the batter.
Make-Ahead Magic
This cake actually gets better after a day — the flavors meld beautifully.
You can make the cake layers up to 2 days ahead and wrap them tightly.
The frosted cake keeps covered at room temperature for up to 4 days.
Individual slices freeze beautifully for up to 3 months.
Questions People Actually Ask
Q: Can I really taste the Coke in the cake? A: You won’t taste “Coke” exactly, but it adds a unique depth and sweetness that’s hard to pinpoint. It’s subtle but magical.
Q: Can I use diet Coke? A: Nope! You need the sugar and real ingredients in regular Coke for the chemistry to work properly.
Q: What if my frosting is too thick/thin? A: Too thick? Whisk in a tablespoon of Coke. Too thin? Add more powdered sugar gradually.
Q: Can I make this as a sheet cake? A: Absolutely! Use a 9×13 pan and bake for 35-40 minutes. Make 1.5x the frosting recipe.
Q: Why does the batter look so thin? A: The Coke makes it thin, but that’s what creates the incredibly moist texture. Don’t worry!
Q: How do I store this cake? A: Cover with a cake dome or plastic wrap and store at room temperature for up to 4 days.
Print
Coca-Cola Fudge Layer Cake
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 12–16 1x
Description
Y’all, we’re about to talk about a cake that’s basically Southern comfort food royalty dressed up for a special occasion. This Coca-Cola Fudge Layer Cake is what happens when classic Southern Coca-Cola cake meets rich chocolate fudge and decides to get fancy with multiple layers. We’re talking about incredibly moist chocolate cake made with actual Coke (yes, the fizzy drink), layered with the most decadent fudge frosting that’ll make you question everything you thought you knew about chocolate cake. The Coca-Cola doesn’t just add sweetness — it creates this unique depth and keeps the cake ridiculously tender. It’s the kind of dessert that stops conversations and has people asking “wait, there’s Coke in this?” This isn’t just cake; it’s an experience that’ll transport you straight to a Southern front porch where everything’s sweet and life moves a little slower.
Ingredients
For the Coca-Cola Cake:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
- 1 cup Coca-Cola (not diet — you need the real thing)
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the Fudge Frosting:
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 cup Coca-Cola
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 lb powdered sugar (about 4 cups), sifted
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional but very Southern)
- Pinch of salt
For Assembly:
- Extra pecans for decorating
- Chocolate shavings or curls (optional)
- A cold Coke to sip while you admire your masterpiece
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F.
Grease two 9-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
Lightly dust with cocoa powder (instead of flour) for extra chocolate vibes.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
Make sure there are no lumps — sift if you need to.
In another bowl, whisk together eggs, buttermilk, Coca-Cola, oil, and vanilla.
The mixture might look a little weird with the Coke, but trust the process.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
Whisk until just combined — don’t overmix or your cake will be tough.
The batter will be quite thin, which is exactly what we want.
Divide batter evenly between your prepared pans.
Bake for 28-32 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs.
Don’t overbake — the Coke keeps it moist, but we don’t want dry cake.
Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.
In a medium saucepan, combine butter, Coca-Cola, and cocoa powder.
Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, then remove from heat.
Gradually whisk in the sifted powdered sugar until smooth.
Stir in vanilla, pecans (if using), and a pinch of salt.
Let it cool for 15-20 minutes until it’s spreadable but not too thick.
Place one cake layer on your serving plate.
Spread about 1/3 of the frosting over the top.
Place the second layer on top and press gently.
Spread the remaining frosting over the top and sides.
Work quickly — this frosting sets as it cools.
Sprinkle with extra pecans or chocolate shavings if you’re feeling fancy.
Let it set for about 30 minutes before slicing.
Notes
Serve with a tall glass of ice-cold milk or, naturally, an ice-cold Coke.
A scoop of vanilla ice cream alongside never hurt anyone.
Perfect with coffee for those who like their dessert with caffeine.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
Nutrition
- Calories: ~485 kcal
- Carbohydrates: ~92g
- Protein: ~4g