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Dr Pepper Cake is a tasty cake with the flavors of Dr Pepper soda in the rich chocolate cake and the chocolate fudge frosting! Tons of chocolate flavor and it’s an easy prep chocolate sheet cake thanks to the boxed cake mix.
For more recipes that include soda in them be sure and try my Root Beer Float Pie and this Root Beer BBQ Shredded Chicken.
Dr. Pepper Cake (Easy To Make With A Chocolate Cake Mix)
Do you love Dr. Pepper soda? We’re fans of Dr Pepper in my house for sure, and it happens to me our favorite soda (diet dr. pepper if we’re being picky). Which is why we LOVE this rich chocolate Dr Pepper cake recipe topped with a walnut chocolate frosting similar to classic homemade Texas Sheet Cake.
This easy cake recipe starts with a doctored up boxed cake mix that includes Dr Pepper soda and mini chocolate chips. The best part is the warm glaze – a chocolate fudge frosting with walnuts and it gets poured over top of the warm cake. The frosting sets and melts into the cake to create this fudge, chocolatey, and decadent cake that is actually so easy to make.
Simple Ingredients For This Delicious Dr Pepper Cake
Dr Pepper Chocolate Cake Ingredients
- German Chocolate Cake Mix
- Large Eggs
- Dr. Pepper Soda : Do not use diet soda in this recipe as it won’t taste the same because of the lighter taste and no sugar.
- Vegetable Oil
- Mini Chocolate Chips
Warm Walnut Fudge Frosting
- Melted Butter
- Whole Milk
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
- Vanilla Extract
- Chopped Walnuts
How To Make Easy Dr Pepper Cake (Easy Sheet Cake Recipe)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9×13 baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat together the dry cake mix, eggs, Dr Pepper soda, and vegetable oil until combined well. About 1 minute. Start at low speed and increase speed as needed.
Stir in the mini chocolate chips. Pour the chocolate cake batter into the prepared pan and spread into an even layer.
Bake for 26-35 minutes. The cake is done when a toothpick comes out clean, the cake bounces back when tapped, and the edges of the cake have slightly pulled away from the sides of the pan.
Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool at room temperature while you prepare the frosting.
Add the melted butter into a medium sized mixing bowl. Slowly whisk in the milk, while whisking constantly, until a creamy mixture forms. If the batter starts to clump, warm the bowl in the microwave for about 10 seconds. Add in the cocoa powder and whisk until it’s smooth and combined (about 1-2 minutes). Again if the butter is clumping up, microwave the bowl for about 10 seconds to warm everything back up again. Add in the powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, whisking continuously until smooth ad completely incorporated. Whisk in the vanilla extract until smooth.
Pour/spread the chocolate frosting over top of the cake. Immediately add the chopped pecans on top of the frosting.
Slice and serve the cake warm! The cake is really yummy served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
How To Store Leftovers
Dr Pepper cake can be store covered at room temperature for up to 2-3 days. For longer storage, refrigerate the cake in an airtight container for up to 5-7 days. If you want to freeze the cake, wrap the cake pan tightly in plastic wrap and then wrap tightly again in aluminum foil. You can also place individual slices in freezer-safe containers. Freeze for 2-3 months. Keep in mind that the texture of the frosting may vary depending on storage time and once it’s thawed from frozen.
How Does Using Dr Pepper Affect This Cake?
The carbonation, sweetness, and unique Dr Pepper flavor contributes to the cake’s light texture and taste, making it slightly richer and more flavorful than a traditional chocolate cake made with just water. The soda also interacts with the other ingredients to create a tender and moist crumb in the cake, resulting in a delightful combination of chocolate and subtle soda flavors. Dr Pepper cake is light, fluffy, moist, and irresistible.
More 9×13 Cake Recipes You’ll Love
- Easy Honey Bun Cake
- Banana Bread Cake w/ Cream Cheese Frosting
- Pineapple Pistachio Cake
- Orange Pineapple Cake
- Easy Strawberry Cake
- Oreo Dirt Cake
- Strawberry Jello Poke Cake
- Boston Cream Pie Poke Cake
Easy Dr Pepper Cake
Ingredients
Dr Pepper Chocolate Cake
- 1 box (13.25 oz) german chocolate cake mix
- 3 large eggs
- 1¼ cups Dr Pepper (not diet soda)
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
Chocolate Fudge Frosting
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) salted butter melted
- 1/3 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 2½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup chopped walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350℉. Spray a 9×13 baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat together the dry cake mix, eggs, Dr Pepper soda, and vegetable oil until combined well. About 1 minute. Start at low speed and increase speed as needed.1 box (13.25 oz) german chocolate cake mix, 3 large eggs, 1¼ cups Dr Pepper, 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- Stir in the mini chocolate chips. Pour the chocolate cake batter into the prepared pan and spread into an even layer.1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
- Bake for 25-32 minutes.* The cake is done when a toothpick comes out clean, the cake bounces back when tapped, and the edges of the cake have slightly pulled away from the sides of the pan.
- Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool at room temperature while you prepare the frosting.
Make The Chocolate Fudge Frosting
- Add the melted butter into a medium sized mixing bowl. Slowly whisk in the milk, while whisking constantly, until a creamy mixture forms.*If the batter starts to clump, warm the bowl in the microwave for about 10 seconds. If you're whisking the milk in slowly enough it won't clump.1/2 cup (1 stick) salted butter, 1/3 cup whole milk
- Add in the cocoa powder and whisk until it's smooth and combined.1/2 cup cocoa powder
- Add in the powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, whisking continuously until smooth and completely incorporated. Whisk in the vanilla extract until smooth. *At this point the frosting might get too thick, so switch over to a wooden spoon, rubber spatula, or an electric hand mixer to finish mixing everything together. **You can also add some Dr Pepper into the frosting if it's too thick or if you just prefer it thinner to pour over the cake.2½ cups powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pour/spread the chocolate frosting over top of the warm cake. Immediately add the chopped pecans on top of the frosting.1/3 cup chopped walnuts
- Slice and serve the cake warm or serve it at room temperature once the frosting has had time to set.
Notes
Nutrition
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