Perhaps this holiday season you are getting together with family, the folks at work, or some friends through your online connections such as Twitter, PLP Ontario or Facebook.

If you are looking for something a little different (or a lot different) to make, why not give the Coke cake a spin. My sister passed along this recipe to me years ago. I have prepared it several times and each time it was a big hit.

Note: I have used different types of icing in an effort to vary the sugar levels!

Happy Festive Season.

~ Mark

The COCA-COLA Cake

Makes ones 9 x 13 cake.

Cake Ingredients:

• 2 cups of all purpose flour
• 2 cups of sugar
• 1 cup of butter
• 1 cup of coca-cola
• 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• ½ cup buttermilk
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 ½ cups miniature marshmallows

Icing:

• ½ cup butter
• 6 tbsp coca-cola
• 2 tbsp unsweetened coca powder
• 1 pound (2 cups) powdered sugar (not icing sugar)
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup chopped pecans

For Cake: Preheat oven to 350°. Butter a 9 x 13 inch pan. Sift flour and sugar into a large bowl. Melt 1 cup of butter in a heavy sauce pan. Add coca-cola  and cocoa powder and bring just to a boil. Stir into flour mixture. Blend in buttermilk, eggs, vanilla, baking soda and salt. Fold in marshmallows. Pour into pan and bake until tester inserted in centre comes out clean. Baking time should be about 35 minutes.

Icing Preparation: Melt butter in heavy medium sized sauce pan. Add coca-cola and coca powder and bring just to a boil. Remove from heat. Stir in powdered sugar and vanilla. Fold in pecans. Spread icing over hot cake. Serve at room temperature.