Celebration time! Significant achievements deserve significant treats, and there are few treats more significant than the Graduation Sheet Cake! The tender, chocolatey, sweet-and-spicy-cola-infused cake is already worth celebrating on its own, but with the luscious, creamy fudge frosting and crunchy, buttery pecan topping, this cake is a veritable firework display of flavors. Graduation Cake is sure to be a hit, both with your partygoers and with your own kitchen since it is so easy to make! This cake is a full-fledged graduate of flavor school, and it earned that degree!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups spicy, fruity cola soft drink
- 1 cup vegetable oil or canola oil
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon table salt
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups fudge icing, homemade or store bought
- 2 cups pecans, toasted and chopped, plus more to taste
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2 –Lightly grease a 17 1/2×12 1/2-inch sheet pan.
Step 3 –In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the cola, the oil, and the cocoa and bring the mixture to a boil.
Step 4 –Transfer the saucepan from the heat.
Step 5 –Whisk together the flour, the sugar, the brown sugar, the baking soda, and the salt in a large bowl.
Step 6 –Add the cola mixture, whisking until blended.
Step 7 –Whisk in the buttermilk, the eggs, and the vanilla.
Step 8 –Pour the batter into the prepared sheet pan.
Step 9 –Bake until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean, about 18-22 minutes.
Step 10 –Pour the fudge icing over the warm cake.
Step 11 –Sprinkle the cake with the pecans.
Step 12 –Cool the cake completely in the pan for at least 1 hour.
Step 13 –Slice and serve.
