Diet Coke Cake Recipe For The Holidays!

Diet Coke Cake Recipe For The Holidays! 

A couple of weeks ago I hosted a Diet Coke themed holiday party and I thought it fitting to make a homemade dessert! What would be more appropriate than a Coca Cola Diet Coke cake, a southern novelty treat?! It turned out so delicious that I had to share the recipe with you! This is a perfect dessert for any holiday gathering and I’ll definitely be making it again. I’ll warn you, though, this is not a low cal recipe by any means but it’s SO worth the splurge!

This cake is typically made with regular coke but I prefer the taste of diet. I also added a little more cinnamon and vanilla than I typically see in other recipes as well as sea salt in the frosting to give it a little something special!

RECIPE

Cake:

2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon

Mix the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and cinnamon in a bowl.

1 cup butter
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup Diet Coke
1/2 cup buttermilk

In a saucepan over medium high heat melt the butter and stir in the cocoa powder, Diet Coke and buttermilk until it boils. Remove from heat and stir in the flour mix. Whisk until combined.

2 eggs
1 1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Mix in the eggs and vanilla then pour into a greased 9″ x 13″ dish. Bake on 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Check the cake periodically so as not to over-bake.

Frosting:

1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp coarse sea salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup Diet Coke
4 cups confectioners sugar
1-1/2 cups chopped pecans

When the cake is almost finished baking, in a saucepan melt the butter and mix in the sea salt, cocoa powder, Diet Coke and cinnamon until it boils. Remove from heat and slowly stir in the confectioners sugar until smooth. Add the pecans, and stir. Once the cake is finished baking pour the warm frosting over the top of the hot cake! Let frosting set then serve.

NOTE: Instead of greasing the pan I put parchment paper inside my baking dish and transferred the cake directly onto a platter (with the paper) and it worked like a charm!

It is even little man approved!

{Photos by Paige Winn Photo}

You guys, I’m not kidding this was TO DIE FOR in all of it’s buttery, sugary goodness! I swear we couldn’t control ourselves!

What is your favorite holiday dessert? Do you splurge over the holidays or try and stick to good eating habits? Please tell me I’m not alone in the splurging :)

Cheers!