Mouthwatering Dr. Pepper Cake Recipe

Fizzy Delight: Quick Dr. Pepper Cake Recipe for Soda Lovers

Dive into a delectable dessert that marries the rich, caramel-like notes of dr.

pepper cake with a decadent chocolate base.

This unique treat brings an unexpected twist to traditional baking techniques.

Sweet carbonation adds a surprising depth of flavor that will make your taste buds dance.

The cake emerges moist and tender, with a complex profile that sets it apart from ordinary chocolate desserts.

Each slice promises a delightful blend of sweetness and subtle complexity.

Chocolate lovers and soda enthusiasts will find this recipe irresistibly intriguing.

Prepare to indulge in a dessert that breaks all the conventional baking rules.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Calories: 360 kcal

Servings: 11

All Ingredients For Dr. Pepper Cake

For Cake Base:
  • All-Purpose Flour: Creates the tender, soft foundation with perfect texture and structure.
  • Granulated Sugar: Brings sweetness and helps create a moist, golden cake.
  • Cocoa Powder: Delivers rich chocolate depth and deep, luxurious color.
For Liquid and Moisture:
  • Dr. Pepper: Adds unique fizzy flavor and helps create an incredibly moist cake texture.
  • Vegetable Oil: Ensures a smooth, tender crumb and prevents dryness.
  • Buttermilk: Provides tenderness and subtle tangy undertone to balance sweetness.
  • Eggs: Bind ingredients together and contribute to cake's rich structure.
For Flavor Enhancers and Finishing:
  • Baking Soda: Helps cake rise and creates light, airy texture.
  • Vanilla Extract: Intensifies overall flavor profile with warm, comforting notes.
  • Salt: Balances sweetness and amplifies other ingredient flavors.

Tools You’ll Need For Dr. Pepper Cake

  • 9×13-inch baking pan: Essential for creating the perfect cake size and shape.
  • Parchment paper: Helps prevent sticking and makes cake removal a breeze.
  • Mixing bowls: Needed for combining ingredients smoothly.
  • Whisk or electric mixer: Ensures ingredients blend perfectly without lumps.
  • Measuring cups and spoons: Crucial for accurate ingredient proportions.
  • Spatula: Helps scrape batter evenly and clean bowl edges.
  • Cooling rack: Allows cake to cool down and maintain its texture after baking.

Baking Dr. Pepper Cake In Easy Steps

  • Oven Preparation

Warm up the kitchen companion to a cozy 350 degrees, creating the perfect environment for baking magic. Tenderly coat a rectangular baking vessel with a light butter embrace or line it with parchment paper, ensuring a smooth cake release.

  • Cake Batter Creation

In a spacious mixing bowl, blend soft butter with sugar until they dance together in a creamy swirl. Welcome eggs one by one, whisking them into a silky symphony. Sift in dry ingredients, transforming the mixture into a velvety canvas waiting to absorb the rich Dr. Pepper essence.

  • Liquid Transformation

Pour the fizzy soda into the batter, watching it cascade and infuse the mixture with deep caramel undertones. Stir gently, allowing the liquid to weave its unique flavor through every delectable layer.

  • Pan Filling

Gracefully transfer the luscious batter into the prepared pan, spreading it evenly with a loving touch. Smooth the surface until it looks like a perfect landscape of deliciousness.

  • Baking Journey

Slide the pan into the waiting oven, letting warmth embrace the cake for 35-40 minutes. The kitchen will fill with an irresistible aroma, signaling the transformation from simple ingredients to a decadent dessert.

  • Cooling and Serving

Once golden and springy, remove the cake and let it rest. Cool completely before adorning with a luxurious glaze or simple dusting of powdered sugar, ready to delight eager taste buds.

Tips To Make Dr. Pepper Cake Taste Better

  • Fizzy Flavor Boost: Add an extra splash of Dr. Pepper to the batter for a more intense soda flavor that will make your cake pop with unique taste.
  • Chocolate Lover's Dream: Fold in mini chocolate chips or swap some cocoa powder into the dry ingredients to create a richer, more decadent chocolate Dr. Pepper cake experience.
  • Gluten-Free Option: Replace regular flour with a one-to-one gluten-free flour blend to make this recipe accessible for those with gluten sensitivities without losing the cake's signature moistness.
  • Dairy-Free Adaptation: Substitute butter with vegetable oil or coconut oil, and use non-dairy milk alternatives like almond or oat milk to create a delicious dairy-free version of this crowd-pleasing dessert.

Fun Ways To Serve Dr. Pepper Cake

  • Fizzy Flavor Enhancer: Serve this cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream to complement the rich Dr. Pepper taste and create a creamy, cool contrast.
  • Decadent Drizzle Delight: Top the cake with a warm Dr. Pepper glaze by mixing powdered sugar with a splash of the soda for an extra layer of sweet, tangy flavor.
  • Chocolate Chip Companion: Sprinkle some chocolate chips on top or mix them into the batter for an added depth of richness that pairs perfectly with the cake's unique soda-infused profile.
  • Nutty Crunch Topping: Garnish with chopped pecans or walnuts to add a delightful textural element and bring out the cake's deep, caramel-like undertones.

How To Store Dr. Pepper Cake Without A Mess

  • Refrigeration Strategy: Store leftover cake in an airtight container inside the refrigerator for up to 5 days, keeping the moisture intact and preventing drying out.
  • Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare the cake batter a day before baking and refrigerate overnight, allowing flavors to develop and streamline your baking process.
  • Freezing Finesse: Wrap individual cake slices in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months, perfect for spontaneous dessert cravings or unexpected guests.
  • Room Temperature Tip: Before serving chilled cake, let it sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes to restore its soft, tender texture and enhance overall taste experience.
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Mouthwatering Dr. Pepper Cake Recipe

Mouthwatering Dr. Pepper Cake Recipe


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4.6 from 24 reviews

  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 11 1x

Description

Dr. Pepper cake blends nostalgic Southern charm with rich chocolate flavors. Soda-infused batter creates a moist, deeply satisfying dessert that connects generations of home bakers.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ cups (300 g) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (40 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 cup (240 ml) Dr. Pepper soda (not diet)
  • ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup (120 ml) buttermilk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) Dr. Pepper soda
  • ¼ cup (115 g) unsalted butter
  • 2 tbsps (15 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 cups (240 g) powdered sugar
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preparation: Thoroughly coat a 9×13-inch pan with cooking spray or butter, ensuring complete surface coverage to prevent adhesion.
  2. Dry Ingredient Fusion: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together dry ingredients until uniformly blended and lump-free, creating a smooth base for the cake.
  3. Wet Ingredient Harmonization: In a separate bowl, cream wet ingredients, generating a silky, consistent mixture that will provide moisture and richness to the cake.
  4. Batter Integration: Gently fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients, maintaining a light texture and avoiding overmixing to preserve the cake’s delicate structure.
  5. Soda Infusion: Carefully incorporate Dr. Pepper into the batter, stirring to distribute the liquid evenly and create a unique flavor profile.
  6. Pan Transformation: Pour batter into the prepared pan, using a spatula to spread it uniformly and eliminate potential air pockets by gently tapping the pan.
  7. Thermal Transformation: Position the pan in the center of a preheated oven, allowing even heat distribution to ensure consistent baking.
  8. Doneness Assessment: Bake until a toothpick inserted into the cake’s center comes out clean, signaling perfect internal cooking and moisture balance.
  9. Cooling and Finishing: Allow the cake to cool completely within the pan before adorning with frosting or decorative elements, preserving its tender crumb and optimal texture.

Notes

  • Select Soda Carefully: Choose full-flavor Dr. Pepper for authentic taste, avoiding diet versions which might alter cake’s richness and moisture profile.
  • Prevent Overmixing: Stir batter gently and minimally to maintain cake’s light, fluffy texture and prevent developing tough, dense crumb structure.
  • Control Moisture Balance: Watch baking time closely to ensure cake remains moist but not soggy, using toothpick test as precise doneness indicator.
  • Enhance Flavor Depth: Consider adding complementary spices like cinnamon or vanilla extract to amplify Dr. Pepper’s complex caramel and spice undertones.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 11
  • Calories: 360
  • Sugar: 34 g
  • Sodium: 220 mg
  • Fat: 16 g
  • Saturated Fat: 10 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 51 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 3 g
  • Cholesterol: 60 mg
Liam O’Sullivan

Liam O’Sullivan

Founder & Culinary Content Creator

Expertise

Recipe Development​, Traditional Irish and European Cuisines, Food Styling and Photography, Culinary Education​

Education

Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) – School of Culinary Arts and Food Technology

  • Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Comprehensive training in classical and modern cooking techniques, kitchen management, and menu development.​

Ballymaloe Cookery School

  • Program: 12-Week Certificate Course
  • Focus: Intensive, hands-on experience emphasizing farm-to-table cooking and sustainable practices.​

Isabella brings a global spark to the Craft Meats table. Born in Florence and trained at the Apicius International School of Hospitality, she blends classic Italian flavor with modern writing that’s easy to follow and hard to forget. 

Her additional training at the Italian Chef Academy fueled her love for well-crafted dishes, especially ones that spotlight beautiful cuts of meat.

She’s a food writer with heart, and a deep love for storytelling through single recipes. Her goal? To help you cook with more confidence and a little more joy, no matter where you start.

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