Debbie Misterka of Amherst, Mass., requested a recipe for a chocolate Coca-Cola cake that she and her son had enjoyed at the Cracker Barrel restaurant. We received many submissions in response to her query, all made almost exactly the same way.
I tested the recipe for "Coke Cake" sent in by Louise Dunn from Fayetteville, Ark. She is 94 years old and is still making this moist and delicious cake.
Once you see how easy it is to prepare and how good it tastes, you will understand why so many readers had a version they wanted to share from their collections. This recipe makes a wonderfully rich cake, and when served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, it makes a heavenly dessert for any occasion.
Recipe requests
Scott Lane of Des Moines, Iowa, is looking for a recipe for Indian pudding.
Francis Smith of Fayetteville, N.C., is looking for a cheesecake recipe that is made in a bundt pan. It has a graham-cracker crust and when you turn the cake out of the pan, the crust is on top.
If you are looking for a recipe or can answer a request for a hard-to-find recipe, write to Julie Rothman, Recipe Finder, The Sun, 501 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, MD 21278. If you send more than one recipe, put each on a separate piece of paper with your name, address and daytime phone number. Names must accompany recipes for them to be published.
Coca-Cola Cake
Makes 12 to 16 servings
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
2 sticks (1 cup) margarine or butter
1 cup Coca-Cola
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows
ICING:
1/2 cup Coca-Cola
1 stick ( 1/2 cup) butter or margarine
3 tablespoons cocoa
1 box (1 pound) confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup nuts (optional)
To make the cake: In a bowl, mix flour, sugar and cocoa. In a saucepan, melt margarine, then slowly add cola and bring to boil. Remove from heat and pour over flour mixture.
In a separate bowl, mix buttermilk, baking soda, eggs, vanilla and marshmallows. Combine with first mixture. Blend. Pour into greased and floured 9-inch-by-13-inch pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes or until cake tests done.
To make the icing: Combine cola, butter and cocoa in saucepan. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Pour over sugar. Add vanilla.
Blend and pour over hot cake. Sprinkle with chopped nuts if using. Cool completely before cutting.
Per serving: 458 calories; 3 grams protein; 18 grams fat; 3 grams saturated fat; 73 grams carbohydrate; 1 gram fiber; 27 milligrams cholesterol; 300 milligrams sodium
