Southerners tend to cook with the soda that calls Georgia home almost as much as we drink it. It gives a perfect sweetness to balance the tang of buttermilk and an airiness that only comes from carbonation. The frosting is best made while this easy sheet cake is baking so it can be poured right over the warm cake. You can garnish the cake with just about anything from marshmallows to pecans to chocolate chips to pretzels. There’s really no wrong choice. Make ahead or send a piece home with tailgaters. The frosted cake can be stored at room temperature for one day.

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Coca-Cola Cake

Makes: 12 servings

Ingredients

1 cup Coca-Cola soft drink
½ cup whole buttermilk
¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
1½ cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
t tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
3 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup miniature marshmallows
¾ cup chopped toasted pecans for garnish

Coca-Cola Frosting

½ cup unsalted butter
¼ cup Coca-Cola soft drink
3 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 (16-ounce) package powdered sugar (3 1/2 cups)
1 Tbsp vanilla extract

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Combine the Coca-Cola and buttermilk; set aside.
Beat the butter with an electric mixer at low speed until creamy. Gradually add the sugar and beat until blended. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat at low speed until blended.
Combine the flour, cocoa, and baking soda. Add to the butter mixture alternately with the cola mixture, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Beat at low speed just until blended.
Stir in the marshmallows. Pour the batter into a greased and floured 13 x 9-inch pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. The marshmallows will have risen to the top of the cake. Remove from the oven; cool on a wire rack 10 minutes. Pour the Coca-Cola Frosting over the warm cake while still in the pan; garnish, if desired.

Coca-Cola Frosting

Combine the butter and Coca-Cola in a large saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the butter melts. Remove from the heat; whisk in the cocoa, sugar, and vanilla. Pour warm icing over the cake. Makes 2 1/4 cups.