Foodists

Red, White and Bundt

Coca-Cola Bundt Cake - Happy 4th!

Whether you’re celebrating Canada Day or the 4th of July, there’s something about this weekend that inspires people to gather together and celebrate over food (and fireworks). Pretty great holiday, right?

So when it comes to said gatherings, I’m typically on the hook to bring the dessert. The sweets. The grand finale. This year I was looking for something beyond the red, white and blue decorated cupcakes or the always-requested ice cream sandwiches. I wanted a new fan favorite.  A classic dessert but with a kick. A “spark” if you will.

Inspired by Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito of BAKED, I took a spin on their Root Beer Bundt Cake (BAKED: New Frontiers in Baking) and substituted a little all-American flavor with Coca-Cola. (Not Diet Coke, or that “Zero” stuff. But the “real thing.”) The Coca-Cola offers the perfect hint of spice and a great amount of moisture. The recipe that follows is a simple adaptation that takes just over an hour – that’s right, you still have time to bake one and bring along to your holiday BBQ. Enjoy!

What you’ll need….
– 2 cups of Coca-Cola
– 1 cup dark, unsweetened coca powder
– 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch pieces
– 1 and 1/4 cup granulated sugar
– 1/2 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
– 2 cups all-purpose flour
– 1 and 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
– 1 teaspoon salt
– 2 large eggs

What you’ll need to do…
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Spray the inside of a 10-inch bundt pan with non-stick spray. (I like to use the spray with flour as well.) Alternatively, butter it, dust with flour, knocking out the excess flour.

In a medium-sized saucepan, heat the Coca-Cola, cocoa powder, and butter over medium heat until the butter melts. Add both sugars and whisk until dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool.

In a large bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda and salt together.

In a small bowl, whisk the egg until just beaten, then whisk them into the cooled cocoa mixture until combined. Gently fold the flour mixture into the cocoa mixture. The batter will be pretty lumpy but don’t be tempted to overbeat as it could cause your cake to be tough. (And who likes tough cake?!)

Pour the  batter into the prepared pan and bake for 35-40 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through the baking time, until a small sharp knife inserted into the cake comes out clean. Transfer the pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Gently loosen the sides of the cake from the pan. Place your cake dish on top and flip the cake over, releasing the cake from the pan and appearing perfectly perched on your cake dish and ready to serve!

Want to style it up? Sift a small about of confectioners’ sugar over the cake to keep it easy or caramelize some of the remaining Coca-Cola with sugar and molasses over the stove to create a more intense glaze.

Serve with vanilla ice cream…or on it’s own!

What’s your “grand finale” dessert for a holiday weekend BBQ? Share you recipe!