This Dr. Pepper cake is a decadent dessert that combines two beloved classics: soda and chocolate cake! The subtle cherry undertones and smooth caramel notes of Dr. Pepper add an unexpected depth to this rich, moist cake. Topped with a thick, fudgy frosting, every bite is indulgent, satisfying, and completely unforgettable. It’s a must-try treat that’ll have everyone asking for the recipe!
This isn’t your ordinary chocolate cake—it’s a unique Dr. Pepper cake recipe that packs flavor into every layer. The soda not only adds a slight fizz to the batter but also enhances the chocolatey richness with a slightly fruity twist. The result is a perfectly moist texture that stays tender even days after baking, making it ideal for parties, potlucks, or whenever your sweet tooth strikes.
This recipe Dr Pepper cake also includes a glossy, pourable chocolate frosting that soaks right into the center of the cake, locking in even more flavor. It’s reminiscent of a classic Texas sheet cake, with that old-school, homey feel—but with a fun twist.
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Why We Love This Recipe Dr Pepper Cake
- It’s a fun way to use everyday ingredients!
Boxed mix, soda, and pudding mix — all average on their own, but extraordinary together! - The perfect kitchen shortcut.
Using boxed mix is the best kitchen shortcut, and we admit we use it all the time!
Our easy peach cobbler recipe with cake mix and how to make funnel cake with Bisquick recipes are two more testaments to how simple yet scrumptious cake mix desserts can be! - It’s quick!
This Dr Pepper cake recipe takes less than an hour from start to finish, and you end up with 12 servings to pass around the table.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Cake mix: Feel free to use any chocolate boxed mix of around 15.25 to 16 ounces. We use a chocolate fudge mix to really drive that taste home!
- Butter: For the Dr. Pepper frosting. If you’re using salted butter, omit the additional salt in the recipe.
- Pudding mix: It’s important to use instant mix, not Cook and Serve mix.
- Eggs: Three of them! For a dense cake, use more egg yolks than white. If eggs are not available or you don’t want to include them, we have an egg alternative for cake.
- Dr. Pepper: You don’t need a lot — a 12-ounce can is enough to divide between the batter and frosting cream. Any cola will have the same effect, but we really recommend sticking to the classic Dr. Pepper for this recipe.
- Vegetable oil: Another neutral oil, such as canola, is perfectly acceptable in our soda cake recipe. And we recommend oil over butter for an even, reliable moisture distribution.
The Trick to Making Soda Cake
You might not expect to see soda pop in a baked dessert recipe — just like you wouldn’t expect to see a Dr. Pepper ham or a crockpot ham recipe!
But soda is actually so useful in the kitchen! It’s acidic, so it can be used in a glaze or a marinade, and its sweet taste has so many layers of complexity. It’s not uncommon to get a taste of citrus, dark licorice, and caramel.
Recipe Variations
- Add pecans or walnuts to the frosting for crunch and a bit of Southern charm.
- Swap in buttermilk for added richness and tenderness in the batter.
- Try unsalted butter for better control over the sweetness and saltiness of the cake and frosting.
- For a warm, spicy note, add a pinch of cinnamon to the batter—it pairs beautifully with the soda’s flavors.
- Curious to try something different? This is a great variation on a classic Coca-Cola cake—but with even more depth.
🎯 TFN Pro Tip
When it comes to using soda in a cake mix recipe, it’s best to begin with room-temperature soda. Once it warms up a bit, there’s less carbonation which makes it easier to incorporate with the other ingredients.
However, you don’t want it to be flat. Flat soda won’t have the same bubbly effect, and it will end up much more dense.
Equipment Used in this Recipe
- 9×13-inch baking pan
- Non-stick baking spray
- Large mixing bowl
- Balloon whisk
- Offset spatula
- 2-quart saucepan
How to Make this Dr Pepper Cake Recipe
- Use a non-stick baking spray for clean, stress-free results.
So what’s the difference between non-stick cooking spray and baking spray, anyway?
It’s actually important to know! Baking spray contains a bit of flour. This helps the cake release more easily from the baking pan.
To ensure your baked goods, such as cakes and cupcakes, don’t crumble during the transfer from pan to plate, use baking spray.
- Dr. Pepper cake is a hands-on recipe. Don’t walk away!
For starters, the frosting needs to be whisked constantly to avoid scorching while it works up to and comes back down from a boil. - Save time by making the frosting while the cake bakes.
Additionally, you can save some time by making the frosting while it bakes.
Especially since this easy fudge frosting needs at least 30 minutes to set up, working between two sections of your kitchen will help the whole thing come together quickly and efficiently.
If easy cakes are your thing, you’ll fall in love with our gingerbread cake from cake mix!
Serving Suggestions
While this can stand alone due to its richness, it pairs well with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream on the side. Serve it chilled for a fudgier bite or slightly warmed for a gooey texture that melts in your mouth. Whether you’re bringing it to a backyard BBQ, birthday party, or just baking for fun, this Dr. Pepper cake is sure to be the highlight of the dessert table!
Recipe FAQs
It’s often as easy as using more eggs and introducing other fatty, moisture-adding ingredients.
For our recipe, we add chocolate pudding mix, some more eggs, and pop to make a boring, off-the-shelf mix fluffy yet moist, with a delicious and dense crumb you wouldn’t get from just following the instructions on the back!
Unfortunately, we don’t recommend it. Aspartame, the sweetener in most diet sodas, reacts very differently than regular sugar when heated and affects the overall texture.
All of the best light, fluffy cakes have some sort of leavener. You’ll usually see baking soda or baking powder fulfilling this role.
But in this recipe, the soda acts as that rising agent! It’s all possible due to the carbon dioxide in the recipe.
Keep leftover Dr. Pepper cake in the refrigerator to maintain the texture and keep the frosting solid. It will last 3 to 4 days in an airtight container.
If you’d like to place it in a freezer and preserve it for up to 3 months, wrap it very well in a few layers of plastic wrap.
Love Easy Desserts? Here’s More…
If you tried this recipe Dr Pepper cake or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Dr Pepper Cake
Equipment
- 9×13-inch cake pan
- non-stick baking spray
- large mixing bowl
- balloon whisk
- offset spatula
- 2-quart saucepan
Ingredients
- 15 ounces chocolate fudge cake mix *See Notes
- 3.4 ounces instant chocolate pudding mix (not Cook and Serve)
- 3 large eggs
- 8 ounces Dr Pepper soda room temperature – from a 12-ounce can. (remaining 4 ounces is for the frosting)
- ¾ cup vegetable oil or other neutral flavor cooking oil
For Frosting
- 4 ounces butter (4 ounces = ½ cup = 1 stick)
- 2 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 3 to 4 ounces Dr Pepper soda room temperature
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt (omit if using salted butter)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional Garnish
- ¼ cup chocolate jimmies or sprinkles (use more or less, as desired)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Grease a 9×13-inch cake pan with butter or non-stick baking spray (the spray with flour is best for this recipe) and set aside.
- Add all cake ingredients to a large mixing bowl; whisk well to combine. Pour batter into the prepared pan; Using an offset spatula, smooth the batter into an even layer.
- Transfer pan to the center rack of the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of cake comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Meanwhile, make the frosting (see instructions below).
Make the Frosting
- Melt butter in a 2-quart (or larger) saucepan over medium heat. Add powdered sugar, Dr Pepper, cocoa, salt (if needed), and vanilla extract, then whisk to combine.
- Increase heat to medium-high and stir constantly until mixture comes to a full boil. Immediately reduce the heat to low and boil frosting for one minute.
- Remove saucepan from the heat, and allow the frosting to cool in the pan while the cake finishes baking.
Final Steps
- Remove cake from the oven and leave it in the pan. Pour the warm frosting over the top of the warm cake, then use an offset spatula to spread frosting into an even layer.
- If desired, garnish the top of the cake with jimmies or sprinkles. Allow the frosted cake to cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
Nutrition
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Kechi says
What a simple lovely cake recipe, thanks so much for sharing! I look forward to making this with kids! Bookmarked!
Amanda Wren-Grimwood says
What a great idea. This was so easy to make and the frosting was delicious too.
Anjali says
I couldn’t believe how the Dr. Pepper totally transformed this cake! It made is super moist, fluffy, and added the perfect amount of sweetness and cherry flavor too!
Sara Welch says
This was everything a gourmet dessert should be, and then some! Turned out light, fluffy and delicious; easily, a new favorite recipe!
veenaazmanov says
This is so chocolaty, fudgy and gooey. Looks so tempting and delicious.