Dr Pepper Cake for Two. A small moist chocolate cake made with Dr Pepper and a warm chocolate glaze!
Once upon a time, I lived in Waco, Texas. I went to college at Baylor, and my parents moved me two hours south of Dallas into this small town of Waco.
It was quite a shock, going from the big city to such a small town with only two grocery store options. Not that anyone complains about HEB, though.
The only thing I had heard about Waco before going to school was that it housed the Dr Pepper museum. That my beloved beverage was invented in Waco and a museum honored its existence.
The best part about the Dr Pepper museum, and not they do not serve Dr Pepper cake, is that they feature the soda made with cane sugar.
Most soda in the market these days is now made with the cheaper, easier-to-use high fructose corn syrup. It's okay, but Dr Pepper is really special when it's made the old fashioned way, with cane sugar.
The 'real sugar' version of Dr Pepper is abundant in Waco; it's a bit of a religion. Wait, we really shouldn't talk about religion when it comes to Waco, Texas, hah.
I miss the real stuff for making my Dr Pepper Cake!
Anyway, I didn't know how much I would miss the access to real Dr Pepper when I graduated and moved away.
I can almost still taste the real Dr Pepper. I make this Dr Pepper cake as an homage to the way I remember Dr Pepper tasting.
This Dr Pepper cake isn't a new recipe; making cake with soda is an old thing. The soda makes for an unbelievably moist and tender cake! It has buttermilk, which makes the best chocolate cake, in my opinion. Plus, you only need a small can of Dr Pepper to make this cake. You won't use the whole can; enjoy the rest while the cake bakes.
Dr Pepper chocolate cake has the best frosting.
I love chocolate cakes that feature a warm frosting to pour on top right when it comes out of the oven. It reminds me of my Texas Chocolate Sheet Cake. The frosting you use for a warm glaze like this has a high percentage of powdered sugar so that it sets almost into a flaky fudge style frosting. It's perfection.
I bake this cake in this 6" round pan to make a small cake that serves two with 4 mini slices.
I hope you love this little slice of Waco in this Dr Pepper chocolate cake for two!
Dr Pepper Cake
Makes 1 small 6" cake with Dr Pepper in the filling and frosting.
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- ½ cup flour
- 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons buttermilk
- ¼ cup Dr. Pepper (don't use diet)
For the frosting:
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 teaspoon cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons Dr. Pepper
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350, and grease a 6" round cake pan or spray with cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl, beat together with an electric mixer the butter and sugar until fluffy and well-combined, about 2 minutes. Add the egg yolk and vanilla and mix until combined.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt.
- In another small bowl, stir together the Dr. Pepper and buttermilk.
- Add one-third of the flour mixture to the butter and sugar mixture and beat until lightly combined. Add half of the buttermilk-soda mixture and continue beating. Add another third of the flour mixture, followed by the last of the buttermilk-soda mixture. Finally, add the last of the flour mixture and beat until combined.
- Scrap the batter into the cake pan, and bake on a baking sheet for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out with only a few crumbs clinging and the cake starts to pull away fromt he sides of the pan.
- Once you pull the cake from the oven, begin making the icing (and not a minute before). In a small bowl, melt the butter, cocoa powder and Dr. Pepper in the microwave. Once the butter is melted and the mixture slightly bubbles, pour in the powdered sugar and little at a time, whisking vigorously by hand. When all the powdered sugar is incorporated, pour the warm frosting over the warm cake. Let cool slightly before serving.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 349Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 85mgSodium: 186mgCarbohydrates: 49gFiber: 1gSugar: 34gProtein: 3g
Janice Bradsher says
Well, I went back to Weight Watchers so I'll see if I can fit this cake into my dessert list. :-) I don't do a very good job with my food tracking so it won't matter too much. :-( I usually drink diet sodas, and I don't remember ever having a Dr. Pepper at all. The cake does look delicious, and I will try to make it, and let you know how it turns out. Thanks for sending the recipe. :-)
Estelle says
Don't have Dr Pepper in South AFRICA. Would like to know what kind of Soda do I use. Cream Soda or Soda Water
Please help!
Christina Lane says
Do you have any soda that is brown? Like plain coca cola? That would be great :)
Margee Moore says
I just made this cake and it is so yummy! I was born and raised in Texas and Dr. Pepper and Big were my soda's of choice. Thanks for this recipe.
Tamara Pearis says
I drank a Big Red every lunch all three years of High School. Drank water the rest of the time.
Ah... Texas
Anyone remember the Dublin Dr. Peppers were the only ones with cane sugar for a while. So sad.
Sherry says
My husband is a Dr Pepper lover since his teens and he went crazy for this cake. He loved the taste and the moistness of the cake. The size is great for the two of us. I have made other of your cakes and I appreciate your sharing with us.
KT says
My husband and I met at Baylor and are celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary, so I HAVE to make this! Thanks so much for this fun and nostalgic recipe!