Chocolate Coca Cola Cake

My teenage daughter loves to drink coke - nothing new, as I guess most kids nowadays do. It bugs me constantly as to why she prefers coke over any other healthier choice of drink and we are almost always at loggerheads about it. In spite of all my best efforts, no amount of reasoning, explaining, cajoling, gentle persuading or threats can make her to change her mind and steer towards anything remotely healthy. All moms with teenagers would agree with me here as to how difficult it is to win an argument with these teens.

I too did what I guess most moms do - finally just gave up, instead of wasting any more breath and energy, I consoled myself in a classic case of sour grapes that it is okay and that, "She doesn't have it all that often" and "It's just once in a week or two". As it is once she is off to college next year, I would not be able to supervise what she eats or drinks, so for everyone's peace of mind (most importantly mine), I have come to terms with the fact that I cannot change her habits however good, bad or irritating I might find them to be (I am sure she thinks the same about me!!) so just "chill" about it.

Maybe it is bad parenting on my part but I just don't know what else to do. Anyone out there with any great ideas on how to deal with this situation, is most welcome to share their thoughts with me. I would love to learn some new tips to handle these kids as I have totally exhausted all of mine.

So to cut a long story short - I found half a bottle of coca cola in my daughters room, which surprisingly had been lying around for a few days and had gone flat. I thought of trashing it as it had lost all its fizz, but you know how we Indians are - hate the thought of wasting anything.  Wondering whether to bake a cake or use the leftover Coca-Cola for a marinade, I took a vote and no surprises as to which one  won.The Chocolate cake without a single moment's doubt.

This recipe here by Paula Deen is a winner. The cake is soft and moist and intensely chocolatey. It did not taste much like cola but it is a really simple recipe and cake tastes fabulous . For all good health reasons, I have left the Coca Cola frosting out but for those of you who don't mind indulging yourself, I have listed the recipe for the frosting below for you to try out.

Also for all the Coca Cola fans, I have posted a link to a site which gives almost 1001 uses for Coca Cola: http://members.tripod.com/~Barefoot_Lass/cola.html. Amazing,isn't it? Read and enjoy!

                         

Ingredients

(Adapted from Paula Deen's recipe here)

2 cups flour

11/2 cups powdered sugar

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 cup ( approx.100 gms) butter

1/4 tsp salt  (I omitted salt as I used salted butter)

1 cup Coca- Cola

1/2 cup buttermilk (if you do not have buttermilk use I/2 a cup of milk mixed with 1 Tbsp vinegar)

1/4 cup cocoa powder

3 eggs, beaten

1 tsp vanilla essence

Method

Preheat oven to 180C

In a large bowl combine flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and salt (if you are using unsalted butter.)

In a medium saucepan, combine butter, coca cola, buttermilk and cocoa.

Bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking constantly.

Remove from heat and add it to the flour mixture, whisking until smooth.

Add eggs and vanilla,whisking until smooth.

Spoon batter into prepared pan.

Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a tester comes out clean.

Coca Cola Frosting - makes about 2 cups

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup Cola

1/4 cup cocoa

4 cups powdered sugar 

1 cup chopped walnuts

Method - 

Bring butter, coca-cola and cocoa to a boil over medium heat, whisking constantly. Remove from heat and gradually add powdered sugar, whisking until smooth. Stir in walnuts. Pour the frosting over the hot cake. Let it cool for 30 minutes before serving.