Best Ever Dr. Pepper Cake

This Dr. Pepper Cake is a rich chocolate sheet cake made with soda, topped with warm fudge frosting. A moist cake recipe perfect for holidays, birthdays, or fans of Dr. Pepper!

Ingredients for Dr. Pepper Cake

For the Cake:

• Dr. Pepper soda (not diet)
• Vegetable oil or canola oil
• Unsalted butter
• Unsweetened cocoa powder
• White sugar
• All-purpose flour
• Baking soda
• Buttermilk
• Eggs (room temperature)

For the Frosting:

• Butter
• Cocoa powder
• Dr. Pepper or cola soft drink
• Whole milk
• Powdered sugar (sifted)
• Vanilla extract

Optional Toppings:

• Scoop of vanilla ice cream
• Chocolate shavings
• Maraschino cherries

How to Make Dr. Pepper Chocolate Cake

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Prepare your baking pan or sheet pan by greasing it with cooking spray.
2. In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine butter, vegetable oil, cocoa powder, and Dr. Pepper. Stir until butter is melted and mixture is smooth.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, and baking soda.
4. Pour the Dr. Pepper mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until combined.
5. In a small bowl, whisk together buttermilk and eggs, then stir into the cake batter.
6. Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake for 25–30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
7. While the cake bakes, prepare the chocolate frosting. In a medium saucepan, melt butter with cocoa powder over medium-low heat.
8. Add cola and milk. Stir to combine, then slowly add powdered sugar while whisking.
9. Stir in vanilla extract. Pour the warm frosting over the warm cake and spread it evenly with a silicone spatula.
10. Let the frosted cake cool to room temperature before serving.

Tips for the Best Dr. Pepper Cake

• Let the warm frosting soak into the top of the cake for that classic Texas sheet cake texture
• Use regular Dr. Pepper or cherry Dr. Pepper for the best flavor
• Make sure eggs and buttermilk are at room temperature before mixing
• Sift powdered sugar for a smooth and creamy frosting
• If making ahead, double wrap the entire cake pan in plastic wrap to keep the cake moist

How to Store Dr. Pepper Cake

Store leftovers in an air-tight container or cover the cake pan tightly with plastic wrap. This moist cake tastes even better the next day. Keep refrigerated for up to 4 days, or at room temperature for 1–2 days.

Flavor Variations and Substitutions

• Try using a cherry Dr. Pepper or vanilla Dr. Pepper for a fun twist
• Swap the buttermilk for sour cream if needed
• Add a bit of almond extract to the frosting for an extra punch
• Top with chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or maraschino cherries

This Dr. Pepper chocolate cake is amazing served warm or cold. We love it paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream. It’s a party favorite and a fun recipe to make with kids. The fudge frosting on top of the cake melts into the sponge to create a soft, gooey bite every time.

This Dr. Pepper cake is the perfect dessert for anyone looking for easy recipes with a unique flavor. It’s a great cake for any occasion and will definitely impress your guests. Whether you’re baking it for the holiday season, a birthday, or just because, this chocolate sheet cake is a must-try.

This full recipe comes together quickly with simple ingredients and makes a big impact. So the next time you want to surprise your family with a new recipe, skip the dry cake mix and try this homemade Dr. Pepper cake instead.

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Dr. Pepper Cake

This Dr. Pepper Cake is a rich chocolate sheet cake made with soda, topped with warm fudge frosting. A moist cake recipe perfect for holidays, birthdays, or fans of Dr. Pepper!

Course Dessert

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 28 minutes

Servings 12 pieces

Ingredients

For the cake:

• 1 1/2 cup Dr. pepper Soda
• 1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil
• 1/2 cup salted butter
• 4 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 cup sugar
• 2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup buttermilk

For the icing

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/4 cup unswettened coccoa
• 1/4 cup Dr. Pepper
• 2 tbsp whole milk
• 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

2. In a large saucepan, combine the Dr. Pepper, oil, butter, and cocoa powder. Place over medium heat, mixing well, and bring to a simmer. Remove from the heat.

3. In a large bowl, prepare the dry ingredients by whisking together the sugar, flour, and baking soda.

4. Stir the dry ingredients into the Dr. Pepper mixture in the saucepan, mixing well.

5. In a separate small bowl, use a fork or whisk to mix the eggs and buttermilk. Stir the buttermilk mixture into the batter in the saucepan.

6. Transfer the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 23 to 28 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Place on a wire rack to rest.

7. To prepare the icing: In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, heat the butter together with the cocoa powder, whisking often, for about 1 minute or until the butter melts and the mixture is smooth. Reduce the heat to low and add the cola and milk, whisking until blended. Stir in the powdered sugar to the saucepan, whisking constantly until blended. Add the vanilla and stir until blended. Pour the icing over the cake.

8. Cool the cake completely prior to serving.