dr. pepper snacking cake

A week before Father's Day my son and I had this conversation, "Son, what would you like to get your dad for Father's Day?"  "Hmmmm, how about Dr. Pepper!"  "So....you want to buy your dad soda for Father's Day?  Nothing else?"  "No, I want a Dr. Pepper dinner-everything Dr. Pepper!"  "Hmmmm, that sounds like a great idea."  "LET'S DO IT!!!," he squealed.

For some reason the son thought Dr. Pepper soaked fruit was an excellent choice for dessert and I quickly suggested a Dr. Pepper Cake.  He promptly took me up on the offer.  Every good southern church cookbook or school fundraiser cookbook should contain at least 2-3 recipes for Coca Cola Cake.  It's a southern tradition and evidently the law according to what is found in the depths of my recipe archives. So why not Dr. Pepper Cake?  Just substitute one soda for another, right?  Right.

And so I did just that.  This cake has a very lovely and delicate chocolate flavor.  So mellow that it reminded me of an afternoon snacking cake.  I poured a thin layer of Dr. Pepper icing over the top rather than bombard the delightful little cake with a ton of icing and it became a perfect balance between cake and sweet icing.  It is addicting and seems to get better with time.  The crumb is moist and tender and it needs to leave my kitchen before I eat the entire thing.  I am a very weak person with no self control.  So make this and tell me just how strong you are. :)

Dr. Pepper Snacking Cake
yield:  9 servings

2 sticks butter
1 cup Dr. Pepper
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla

1. Butter and flour an 8" square pan lined with parchment paper.  Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. Melt butter and Dr. Pepper in a small saucepan.
3. Meanwhile, sift together cocoa powder, cinnamon, flour and sugar into a large bowl.  Stir in the butter mixture and combine.
4. In a separate small bowl or measuring cup, mix the eggs, buttermilk, baking soda and vanilla and add to the rest of the ingredients. Stir to combine.  Pour into prepared pan.
5. Bake for 40-45 minutes until cake is done and cake tester comes out clean.  Cool in pan for 10 minutes.  Remove from pan and cool completely on cooling rack.

Dr. Pepper Icing
2 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 tablespoons Dr. Pepper (+1 Tablespoon if needed)
8oz. Confectioners Sugar

1. Place butter, cocoa powder and 2 tablespoons Dr. Pepper into a small sauce pan.  Whisk over low heat until butter has melted.
2. Place sugar in a medium bowl.  Add butter mixture and stir.  If mixture is too thick, add another tablespoon until icing is thick but pourable.
3. Pour over cooled cake.

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