Double Chocolate Coca-Cola Cake (Cracker Barrel Copycat, Moist & Fudgy)

This Double Chocolate Coca-Cola Cake is a rich, moist copycat of the chocolate cake served at Cracker Barrel — made with real Coca-Cola in the batter and topped with a warm fudge frosting while the cake is still hot. It comes together in one pan, bakes in about 30 minutes, and feeds a crowd (this is a true 13×9 dessert). If you’ve had the restaurant version and wondered how to make it at home, this is it.

The combination of cocoa in the cake and cocoa in the frosting is where “double chocolate” comes from — and the Coca-Cola is what keeps the crumb so soft and fluffy. It’s an old-school recipe, but it never goes out of style.

The fudgy icing is the perfect topping, and I prefer my homemade version to anything you can buy at the store.

If you have a sweet tooth, this Double Chocolate Coca-Cola Cake needs to happen. Its unique flavor and fudge frosting are what make it my favorite cake!

🍰  Double Chocolate Coca-Cola Cake — At a Glance
Prep Time	15 minutes
Cook Time	25–35 minutes
Total Time	40 minutes
Pan Size	13×9 inch baking pan
Serves	16
Key Ingredient Note	Use real Coca-Cola — not diet, and not a flavored soda like vanilla Coke or Dr Pepper
Frosting Tip	Spread while the cake is still warm, not fully cooled
Make Ahead?	Yes — bake up to 2 days ahead; store covered at room temp or in the fridge
Storage	Airtight container, room temp 2–3 days or refrigerated up to 5 days
Best For	Potlucks, church suppers, Cracker Barrel copycat fans, 13×9 crowd desserts

Ingredients to make this Cracker Barrel Double Chocolate Fudge Cocoa-Cola Recipe

Before starting, head to the grocery store and get all the ingredients you need. You’ll also want a rubber spatula, mixing bowls, and a small saucepan!

• Coca-cola
• Cooking oil (vegetable oil works)
• Unsalted butter
• Cocoa
• White sugar
• All purpose flour (unbleached)
• Salt
• Eggs
• Buttermilk
• Baking soda
• Vanilla

Frosting Ingredients:

• Butter
• Cocoa ( sift before using!)
• Cream or milk
• Vanilla
• Confectioners sugar (make sure you sift it!)

How to make Chocolate Coca-Cola Cake

• In a saucepan mix cola, oil, butter, and cocoa and bring to a boil. This is your wet mixture.
•  In a large bowl combine sugar, flour, and salt. This is your dry mixture.
• Pour the wet (Cola) mixture over the dry (flour) mixture and beat well, using a small electric hand mixer.
• Add eggs, buttermilk, baking soda, and vanilla and beat until smooth. 
• Pour cake batter into a greased and floured 13×9 inch baking pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 35 minutes. (Oven times and temps will vary)
• Let the cake cool on a rack while you make the frosting. 

How to make the homemade frosting:

• In a saucepan, combine butter, cocoa, and milk. 
• Heat until the butter melts. Beat in vanilla and confectioners sugar until well blended and glossy.
• Using a spatula, spread the frosting over the cake while it is still warm.

Enjoy!

Helpful Tips for Double Chocolate Coca-Cola Cake

Can I Use Diet Coke or a Flavored Soda Instead?

No — stick with regular Coca-Cola. Diet soda won’t give the batter the same texture or sweetness balance, and flavored versions like vanilla Coke or Dr Pepper will change the flavor of the cake completely. Regular Coca-Cola is what gives this recipe its signature moist crumb.

Why Frost the Cake While It’s Still Warm?

The fudge frosting is poured on while the cake is warm (not hot, not cooled) so it soaks slightly into the top of the cake instead of sitting on top like a firm icing. This is what gives the cake its classic fudgy, slightly sticky top layer. If the cake cools all the way first, the frosting will set on top instead of melting in.You want a warm cake when you are adding the frosting! Most chocolate cake recipes will tell you to let the cake get to room temperature, but not this one. It shouldn’t be a hot cake, but a warm cake is excellent.

What does Coke do in baking?

This clone recipe has a nice fluff to it because the added soda gives the texture of the cake a little bit of fluffiness. Paired with the other ingredients, it’s key to making a moist chocolate coca cola cake.

Can I Make This in a Sheet Pan or Bundt Pan?

A standard half-sheet pan works well and gives you a thinner cake with more frosting-to-cake ratio in every bite — reduce the bake time by about 5–8 minutes and check early. A bundt pan is not recommended for this batter; it’s a thin, pourable batter designed for a flat pan, and it won’t release cleanly from a bundt shape.

Can I Double This Recipe?

Yes — this recipe scales well for a crowd. Double all ingredients and bake in two 13×9 pans, or one full sheet pan. Keep an eye on bake time; a full sheet pan may take slightly longer than two separate 13×9s.

Can I Freeze This Cake?

Yes. Freeze un-frosted cake layers wrapped tightly for up to 2 months, then make the frosting fresh and pour it over the thawed, slightly warmed cake. Frosted cake can also be frozen in slices, though the frosting texture is best when made fresh.

How do I store individual slices of cake?

This decadent cake can be stored whole or cut into slices to store. You need to top them with plastic wrap or keep the pieces in an airtight container. Keep leftovers of this Cracker Barrel Double Chocolate Coca-Cola cake recipe in the fridge until you are ready to eat.

You can then set it out on the counter to get to room temperature to enjoy!

Do you love chocolate cake recipes? Here are some more of my favorite cakes that you’ll love!

• Brick Street Chocolate Cake
• Chocolate Buttermilk Bundt Cake
• Triple Chocolate Banana Bread

Final Thoughts

This Double Chocolate Coca-Cola Cake is the kind of old-school dessert that disappears fast at a potluck or Sunday supper — rich, moist, and blanketed in warm fudge frosting. If you’re a fan of copycat classics, browse the full Easy Desserts collection, or pop over to Cozy Living for more recipes made for slow, comfortable days at home.

Grandma Judy