Coca-Cola Cake

In the book As American as Apple Pie, author Phillip Stephen Schulz reports that an Indianapolis housewife created this recipe. Since the Coca-Cola Company was located in Atlanta, this cake became popular throughout the South.  There are many variations to this recipe, this is the one I use, and it is very good.

For the Cake:

2 C. sifted, all-purpose flour

1 C. firmly packed light brown sugar

1/2 C. granulated sugar

1 C. unsalted butter, softened

1 C. Coca-Cola

1/2 C. Dutch-processed cocoa powder, (European style) [I have used Hersheys' cocoa before, and it works pretty well]

1/3 C. lowfat buttermilk, at room temp

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 C. miniature marshmallows

Prehat over to 350 degrees.  Lightly coat a 9X13 baking pan with cooking spray and dust with flour.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar and granulated sugar.  In a heavy, medium saucepan over low heat, combine the butter, Coke, and cocoa.  Heat until the butter has melted, stirring often.  Increase the heat to medium-high and bring just to a boil, stirring often.  Remove from the heat and pour over the flour mixture in the bowl, whisking constantly until well blended and smooth.  Whisk in the buttermilk, eggs, baking soda and vanilla until well blended.  Stir in the marshmallows.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean with just a few crumbs adhering to it, 30-35 minutes.  When baked, the cake top will have a crater-like surface where the marshmallows have melted.  Let the cake cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.

(Icing recipe below)