Cracker Barrel's Double Fudge Coca Cola Cake

This cake is kinda-sorta really freaking good. Baked in one tray with icing poured on the warm cake that sort of sets up and crackles as it cools. I made a coca cola cake with my Grandma Grillo when I was little and remember being fascinated that soda was an actual ingredient. I went to a Cracker Barrel with my grandma recently ordered this cake. I knew that I'd be scouring the Internet for a recipe. I am not sure if this is the actual recipe the restaurant uses or just a copy cat, but I read that mini marshmallows were the secret ingredient and this recipe calls for them. In my opinion, it tastes just like the cake I had with my Grandma. This calls for coke in both the cake and frosting. It's heavenly! The problem is this thing is so moist and not too sweet so you can eat a lot of cake in one sitting. I need a cake detox.

Cracker Barrel Double Fudge Coca Cola Cake

adapted from CDKitchen

makes 1 13x9" pan

1/2 cup butter

1 cup coca-cola

3/4 cup miniature marshmallows

1 square (1 ounce) semi sweet baking chocolate

1/2 cup shortening (I used butter)

1/2 cup vegetable oil

3/4 cup cocoa powder

2 eggs

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3/4 cup buttermilk

2 cups sugar

2 1/3 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Frosting:

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1/4 cup coca cola (plus 2-3 tablespoons if needed)

3 cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup chocolate syrup

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place butter, cola, and semi sweet baking square in a sauce pan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add marshmallows and stir until all is blended and marshmallows are dissolved. Set aside to cool to room temperature.

In a mixing bowl blend the shortening, oil, vanilla, and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs and buttermilk and beat until smooth. mix flour with baking soda, cocoa, baking powder and salt. Add half of the flour mixture to the shortening and egg mixture and beat. Scrape the bowl down to clean the sides. Add cooled coca coal mixture and beat. Add remainder of flour and beat until completely smooth, about 3-4 minutes. Batter will be thick.

Place batter into a 13"x 9"x 2" greased and floured baking pan. Set pan in the oven and bake for 35-40 minutes. Stick a toothpick or knife into the center of the cake after it bakes. If the toothpick comes out clean or with a few crumbs attached, the cake is done. If batter sticks to the toothpick, keep baking. Cool cake.

For frosting: Cream butter, add cocoa, vanilla, chocolate syrup, and coca cola and beat until smooth. Add powdered sugar a little at a time and beat constantly. Scrape the sides of the bowl down to get all the ingredients incorporated. If the frosting seems a little dry, add more coca coal and beat well.

Frost the warm cake and let everything cool. Serve with vanilla ice cream and enjoy!

My cake sank a bit in the middle. Next time I will put 1/4 cup less sugar into the cake and it should help with that.