"co-cola" cake

Chocolate.  It cures what ails me.

I had originally planned to post all quick and easy dinners this week, as I had previously stated in my earlier posts.  But as we all know, plans change, and I couldn't get through another day without capitalizing on the benefits of chocolate... real chocolate.

In the school office, we keep a stash of M&M's.  Any other day, that would suffice.  But after the craziness of the last few days, I knew exactly what would do the trick.  Coca-Cola Cake, or Co-Cola Cake, as I was taught to say it.

A true southern charm, the cake itself is extremely moist and so good... But the frosting... The frosting is a show stopper.  Make sure to spread it on while the cake is still hot to ensure a fudge-like goodness, and follow the recipe exactly.  If you do, it will work every time.  If you only have Diet Coke on hand and think the sugar called for will make up for it, don't bother.  I tried it and found it lacked considerable flavor.  This is definitely a perfect anytime cake and best shared with a glass of ice-cold milk and good friends.

"Co-Cola" Cake - makes one 9x13 cake

Ingredients:

For the cake 

• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups small marshmallows
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 3 tbsp. cocoa
• 1 cup Coca-Cola
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

For the icing

• 1/2 cup butter
• 3 tbsp. cocoa
• 6 tbsp. Coca-Cola
• 1 box (16 oz.) confectioners' sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 cup chopped pecans *

To make cake

~  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

~  In a bowl, sift sugar and flour.  Add marshmallows.

~  In saucepan, mix butter, oil cocoa and Coca-Cola, and bring to a

    boil.  

~  Pour mixture over dry ingredients and blend well.

~  Dissolve baking soda in buttermilk just before adding to batter 

    along with eggs and vanilla, mixing well.

~  Pour batter into well-greased pan/s and bake 35-45 minutes.

To make icing

~  While cake cooks, combine butter, cocoa and Coca-Cola in a

     saucepan.  Bring to a boil.

~  Pour boiling mixture over confectioners' sugar and blend well.  

~  Add vanilla and pecans, if using.  

~  Spread over hot cake and cut in squares when cool.

*  If making for a crowd, I sometimes choose not to add pecans in case of allergies.  

Recipe from Coca-Cola Recipes.