Just what the doctor ordered.
Sugar, butter, chocolate, Dr. Pepper…
Nuf said?
Almost.
My daughter is a big Dr. Pepper fan, so I had to try my own version of the chocolate cakes I’ve seen here and there with either Coke or Dr. Pepper added. And boy am I glad I tried it. This cake? It’s a must do. Rich and moist, and oh, so easy – there’s no excuse not to try it at least once. Just make sure you’ve got a group to bake it for, ’cause it’s dangerous to have leftovers hanging around.
Look giant chocolate cake. Ooooooh. Ahhhhhh. Ohhhhhhh.
One of the things I like about this cake is the ease at which it comes together. Seriously simple. It bakes in 20-25 minutes – it’s gone in 10. All ingredients are combined in a saucepan and poured directly into a 13x9x2″ baking pan. Speaking of ingredients, see the brown sugar pictured?
I’ve baked this cake a few times, both using 1 c. brown sugar + 1 c. regular ‘ole white sugar, as well as all 2 c. of white sugar and I couldn’t tell the difference. Maybe I’m missing something, but if you need to combine, or just want to, go ahead. Just make sure at least 1 cup of the sugar is white. You probably would be able to tell a difference if all sugar used was brown. But I dunno.
Also, for both the cake batter and frosting, I used Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa powder. It’s good stuff. Hope you can find some.
Begin by combining the Dr. Pepper, oil, butter and cocoa powder in a saucepan over medium heat.
When it comes to a simmer, mix well and turn stove off.
Mix dry ingredients together (sugar, flour and baking soda), add to saucepan and mix well.
You don’t need to beat the heck out of it. It will be a little lumpy at first but just mix well until combined.
In a separate small bowl lightly beat the eggs and buttermilk together then add them to the saucepan.
Combine batter well and pour into a greased baking pan and bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Be careful not to over bake.
(Extreme cake bokeh – sorry folks.)
The frosting works the same way. Combine butter, cocoa powder and milk together in a saucepan, over medium heat, stirring occasionally until melted and smooth. Add in the powdered sugar a little at a time, combining after each addition until smooth.
Pour over warm cake. Yuuuum.
While the frosting is mighty yummy, I think the cake is quite tasty without it, or maybe just with a little dusting of powdered sugar and a tall glass of milk.
So what are you waiting for? Go grab a Dr. Pepper and get to work!
Dr. Pepper Chocolate Cake Recipe
(makes one 13x9x2″ baking pan)
(adapted from “Cracker Barrel Double Fudge Coca-Cola Cake Recipe” found at thatsmyhome.com)
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cup Dr. Pepper soda
- 1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil
- 1 stick salted butter (8 tablespoons)
- 4 tablespoons cocoa powder (again, I used Hershey’s Special Dark cocoa powder)
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350° F and grease or spray with cooking spray a 13x9x2″ baking pan.
- Begin by combining the Dr. Pepper, oil, butter and cocoa powder in a saucepan over medium heat. When it comes to a simmer, mix well and turn stove off.
- Mix dry ingredients together (sugar, flour and baking soda), add to mixture in saucepan and mix well, by hand. Don’t over beat. DO NOT OVER BEAT.
- In a separate small bowl lightly beat the eggs and buttermilk together, then add them to the saucepan and combine batter well by hand, but again, do not over beat.
- Pour into a greased baking pan and bake at 350° for approx. 23-28 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Be careful not to over bake.
Chocolate Frosting Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 stick salted butter (8 tablespoons)
- 4 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 8 tablespoons milk
- 4 cups confectioners sugar (powdered sugar)
Directions:
- In a saucepan, combine butter, cocoa powder and milk together over medium heat, stirring occasionally until melted and smooth.
- Add in the powdered sugar a little at a time, combining after each addition until smooth.
- Pour over warm cake.
- Lock all the doors, draw the shades, don’t answer the phone and get the milk.
Enjoy! And let me know how it turns out.
