My classic Cherry Cola cake is a rich chocolate cake that has a hint of nostalgic cherry cola flavor. Everyone will wonder what secret ingredient makes this cake so good!
The answer is cherry cola, of course!
But the main reason why I love chocolate cherry cola cake is because I grew up eating it and I also grew up drinking cherry cola. It really reminds me of childhood.
It is true that the flavor of a favorite dish can take you back to being a kid. That’s what this cola cake does for me! I remember having it made with regular cola – it was always such a special treat!
Dr. Pepper Cherry Cola Cake Recipe
The rich, moist cake with the buttery, sweet frosting is so good! So, I thought I’d switch it up a little bit and try a different soda in it this time – Dr. Pepper Cherry – and boy is it good!!
I think when you put a cherry on top of anything, it just makes it that much better! This cake is no exception! I had to fight the kids off when I was trying to take a picture. They couldn’t wait to dig in!
I think the addition of Dr. Pepper Cherry really takes it up a notch with more flavor. And the bonus is that you get to drink the rest of the can when you’re done!
Check out this Old Fashioned Dr. Pepper Cherry Cake! I think you’re gonna love it!
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Ingredients for Dr Pepper Cherry Cola Cake
See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
- Flour
- Sugar
- Baking soda
- Butter – Unsalted butter works best for baking cakes.
- Dr. Pepper Cherry – I like the flavor of the brand name Dr. Pepper Cherry Cola the best but any type of cherry cola will work in this recipe.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder – Unsweetened cocoa powder is used in both the cake and frosting to give this recipe a very rich taste.
- Buttermilk – Tangy buttermilk helps balance the sweet flavor of the cake.
- Eggs
- Vanilla
- Milk – Whole milk will give the frosting the best texture.
- Confectioners’ sugar – Also known as powdered sugar!
Variations
Here are a few recipe tweaks and alterations that you may want to try.
- Add 1 cup of chopped maraschino cherries to the cake batter. This adds even more cherry taste and gives the cake a little texture.
- Top the cake with a vanilla frosting instead of chocolate. Use this tasty buttercream recipe and add a tablespoon of maraschino cherry juice to make it pink!
- Top the cake with maraschino cherries and some grated chocolate curls. It will make this easy cherry chocolate soda cake look super decadent.
How to Make Chocolate Cherry Cola Cake
- Prepare: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and spray a 9×13 baking dish with baking spray.
- Mix the dries: Add the flour, sugar, and baking soda to a large bowl and whisk together.
- Boil the cola: Add the butter, cocoa powder and cherry cola to a small pot and bring to a boil. Pour the hot cola mix into the bowl with the dry ingredients and mix well.
- Add the wet ingredients: Whisk the eggs, buttermilk and vanilla into the bowl until smooth. Spread the batter in the prepared cake pan.
- Bake: Bake the cake for about 30 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the center of the cake will come out cleanly.
- Make the frosting: Add the butter, cocoa powder and whole milk to a small pot and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Pour the mix into a bowl and whisk in the powdered sugar.
- Frost the cake: Spread the chocolate frosting over the warm cherry cola cake then slice and enjoy!
Quick Tip
Give the frosting a little of that cherry cola taste by using half cola and half milk. The frosting will be a little less creamy but super flavorful. Don’t forget to top the cake with a cherry!
How to Store Cherry Cola Cake
If you have leftover cake, you can wrap the cake pan in plastic wrap and store the cake at room temperature for 2-3 days. Store the cake in the fridge to make it last up to a week.
You can also freeze cherry cola cake but I would recommend skipping the frosting part of the recipe. Thaw the un-iced cake at room temperature when you are ready to eat it. Then, make the frosting and ice the cake right before you enjoy a nice big slice.
FAQs
Cakes made with cans of soda rely on the carbonation in the soda to act as a leavener for the cake, making it rise and be light and fluffy as it bakes. My cherry cola cake also uses baking soda and eggs to ensure the texture of the cake is perfect.
The first Coca Cola cake was made in the 1950s. The exact origin is still unknown but it was definitely created in the southern part of the US. Adding soda to cakes is still a true Southern treat!
I sure hope not! Dr. Pepper cherry has been around for ages and a stronger cherry flavored version was released in 2009 and packed with even more taste. It is perfect for using to make this cake recipe!
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Dr Pepper Cherry Cake
Ingredients
Cake
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup Dr. Pepper Cherry
- 5 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Frosting
- 1/2 cup butter
- 4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 6 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 4 cups confectioners' sugar
Instructions
Cake
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Spray a 9×13 cake pan with nonstick spray.
- Combine flour, granulated sugar and baking soda in mixing bowl and whisk together
- In a small saucepan, heat 1 cup butter, 5 tablespoons cocoa and 1 cup cola beverage to boiling – continually stirring.
- Pour over the flour mixture and mix thoroughly.
- Add buttermilk, eggs and vanilla. Mixing well well.
- Pour into prepared 9×13 pan.
- Bake for 30 minutes.
Frosting
- Place 4 cups confectioners’ sugar in a mixing bowl.
- In a small saucepan, combine 1/2 cup butter, 3 tablespoons cocoa powder milk. Whisk together. Bring mixture to a boil.
- Remove from heat
- Add 1 teaspoon vanilla.
- Pour over 4 cups confectioners’ sugar.
- Mix well with a whisk.
- While cake is still warm, slowly pour frosting over the cake and spread to edges.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Dr. Pepper Snapple Group. The opinions and text are all mine.
I am making this cake today for my granddaughter’s birthday!! 🥰