Thursday, March 7, 2013

Fabulous, Fun Fifty!

It's NanaBread's birthday today!  Happy 50th, Jeanne!


Doesn't look a day over 3!

If you don't follow Jeanne on Twitter, you should.  She's a hoot.  I mean, seriously, folks.  Some of her stuff makes me LOL - IRL!
Jeanne's also responsible for herding all the cats who come together for our Theme Weaver recipe weeks and OKMH package exchange.  We'd be lost without her.  She's organized to a tee, which means I can never have her over to my house because I'm basically a walking hot mess.  Unless she wants to come and organize my house.  Then by all means, Jeanne, please.  Come visit.  Today.
Even though we've never met in person, Jeanne has become a close confidante, and I hope that everyone can claim at least one friend just like her.

Now, far be it from this group of blogging friends to let an opportunity for another round of shenanigans and cahoots pass us by, we actioned a birthday party worthy of all the time zones.  I just wish that we could have gotten together to let Jeanne blow out the candles on the cakes!


And speaking of cake, how about a nice big slice of Coca-Cola® cake?

This rich, sweet, moist cake is a Southern staple, and I got the recipe from my husband's step-mom.  It's not a recipe that is healthifiable; it is what it is, but if you're going to bake a special cake for a special birthday (for this is not a "I think I'll bake a cake on Tuesday" type cake), then there really isn't a need to healthify it.
I should also mention that this is the ONLY cake that my husband enjoys.  He has never been much of a sweets person, preferring fruit pies over most other types of desserts, but he will eat this cake for breakfast, lunch, and dinner if given the opportunity.  It's just that good.


Coca-Cola® Cake
  • 2 c sugar
  • 2 c flour
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ c margarine*
  • ½ c shortening
  • 3 Tbsp cocoa
  • 1 c Coca-Cola®*
  • ½ c buttermilk
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 eggs (beaten well)
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 ½ c small marshmallows
  • ½ c margarine*
  • 3 Tbsp cocoa
  • 6 Tbsp Coca-Cola®*
  • 1 pound box powdered (icing) sugar
  • Pinch salt
  • 1 c chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
  • 1 tsp vanilla
Cake:
Mix sugar, flour, and salt in large bowl.  In a pot on stove, heat margarine, shortening, Coca-Cola®, and cocoa until melted.  Pour melted mixture over flour mixture and stir well.  Add buttermilk, soda, eggs, vanilla, and marshmallows.  Mix together well (mixture will be thin).  Pour into a greased and floured 9” x 13” pan.  Bake at 350° for 45 minutes.

Icing:
Heat margarine, cocoa, and Coca-Cola® to a boil, stirring continuously.  Remove from heat.  Stir in powdered sugar, nuts, and vanilla.  Pour over hot cake (right into the middle).

This cake is better the next day (don't refrigerate it) to allow the icing to fully soak into the cake.  This is a very rich dessert, and even those with a massive sweet tooth will likely enjoy it more in smaller doses with a large glass of milk.



*A few notes - First, don't use Pepsi®.  It's not the same.  If you're a Pepsi® drinker, I won't judge you for your taste in soda, but go out and get a can of Coca-Cola®.  Second, don't use butter (I KNOW, OK?????).  That being said, traditional margarines scare the bejeebers out of me, so I use Earth Balance®, and it works fine.  You also don't want to use buttermilk subs (like vinegar and milk), although powdered buttermilk does work in a pinch.

Fun fact: while many people (including me) can tend to use the words frosting and icing interchangeably, they are, in fact, different.  Icings are usually thinner than frostings, which are thick and gooey.  This cake's topping is a bit thinner, and when it cools, it hardens just a little, becoming kind of shiny (ooooh, shiny...).  That it's boiled helps categorize this as icing - its consistency is much "runnier" than that of a buttercream frosting.
The more you know...



Now, it's not a real blogger party without lots and lots of other completely calorie-free delicious recipes, so please, grab yourself an aged Manhattan over at Kvetchin' Kitchen (you know, to quench your thirst) and then nosh on a few chips with guacamole from Tenaciously Yours, as well as some cheesy chorizo dip by La Petite Pancake.  The Nutella® turnovers from Wanna Be a Country Cleaver will go well with that drink, too, as will Munching in the Mitten's fig, fontina, and pecan flatbread.
Of course, a birthday party isn't a birthday party without booze ice cream and cake, and we have delivered.  Make room on your plate for an orange cream pie from Comfortably Domestic, mini key lime pies from Climbing Grier Mountain, coconut banana brownie pie by Bakeaholic Mama, a true Texan Dr Pepper cake with cooked flour icing by The Hill Country Cook, some tropical ice cream from The Grom Mom, and Mexican vanilla ice cream cones From My Sweet Heart.
Happy birthday, Jeanne!  I hope that this next year brings you many laughs and margaritas! XOXO
Oh, and don't forget to check back soon; we've got another surprise for our favorite birthday girl that we just can't wait to show off!



16 comments:

  1. Allison....this cake looks so scrumptious! I've yet to bake a cake with soda..though I've seen a few versions and I can't wait to try this! And I'm with you on the icing/frosting thing. I like both...but icing that hardens to shiny goodness....yeah....I'm on board with that! So happy for Jeanne and so glad to be sharing in her special day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Anne - I remember being suspicious, but my mother-in-law convinced me, and now I make it about once a year. I usually don't like icing or frosting, but when it soaks into the cake, well... then you have to like it, right?
      This was so fun - I love how much we surprised her!!!

      Delete
  2. Oh, wow. You & Katie really pulled out the big guns with these chocolate soda sheet cakes. If I were to pick a Southern favorite, it would be this cake and peach cobbler. It's a staple sugar fix and a long-standing Texas tradition. I can't remember the last time I had one, but I'm guessing it was right before my dentist found that last cavity.

    Thank you so much for the fabulous cake and all the love that went into it. I'm completely & officially blown away. I was blindsided by the boxes that came in yesterday, and never saw this one coming. What a great surprise. I'd give you 50 quick reasons why I have the greatest friends ever, but there are way more than 50 reasons you all rock. This has been the best birthday thanks to all of you.

    PS - one last chuckle. When I read your fun fact, it looked like this in my mind - Fun Fact: Many white people...

    I'm still laughing over it. You know, they say the mind is the first thing to go.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The second we started being in cahoots, I knew I had to make it. Dr Pepper is surely more Texan than Coke, but I didn't want to make something that sucked, and I know this recipe too well.
      That's so funny how you read that - I do that all the time, and I'm like, wait - whaaaa? And then I realize that I just can't read properly! Hahahaha!
      I hope you like what's in the boxes. Once the shenanigans started, they kind of snowballed. Just wish that I could have shipped the cake, too.

      Delete
  3. This looks so good! I have never had coke cake but have always wanted to try it. Looks so moist.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's very moist, even if it sits out without being covered for a few days (not that I would know about that...) This recipe is tried and true, but I definitely recommend making it for a large gathering!

      Delete
  4. Drooling. I love how the frosting has that crusty top (that sounds unappetizing, but really its the best!).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's kind of crunchy, but that works well with how moist the cake is. I can't believe I never made it when I was at STP!

      Delete
  5. What a great treat to celebrate a blog friend's birthday! I love coke cola and can't wait to try this cake. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope that you like it - it's one of my favorites! The flavor is much more just sweet than Coke-like, but you can definitely taste it in the icing (in my opinion). And it was so much fun to throw her a surprise party, even if it wasn't in person.

      Delete
  6. Poor HRH. The girl has definite ideas on entertaining and parties, the least of which do not include spilled milk. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. She's forgotten it; a large slice of cake will do that.

      Delete
  7. GAH! This looks amazing! I've never had a cola cake before. Seriously, where have I been? Can I come over for a slice??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't know - where HAVE you been???? And yes, definitely - there's always plenty of this cake! This is waaaaaaaaay better than the "add a diet soda to a cake mix" cake any day. Probably not as low calorie, though.

      Delete
  8. 1. I did not know the difference between frosting and icing so that was actually a useful lesson.
    2. I am still (SO) jealous that you got to eat this for breakfast!!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I still call everything icing anyway.
    If it makes you feel better, it was just a small slice?

    ReplyDelete