• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipe Index
    • Breakfasts
    • Appetizers
    • Soups
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Lunches
    • Air Fryer Recipes
    • Salads
    • Sandwiches
    • Breads
    • Cookies-Bars
    • Desserts
    • Holidays
  • Top 10 Recipes
  • Kid’s Recipes
  • Freebies
  • FDA
  • Meet Carole

My Kitchen Escapades

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
    • Breakfasts
    • Appetizers
    • Soups
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Lunches
    • Air Fryer Recipes
    • Salads
    • Sandwiches
    • Breads
    • Cookies-Bars
    • Desserts
    • Holidays
  • Top 10 Recipes
  • Kid’s Recipes
  • Freebies
  • FDA
  • Meet Carole
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
    • Breakfasts
    • Appetizers
    • Soups
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Lunches
    • Air Fryer Recipes
    • Salads
    • Sandwiches
    • Breads
    • Cookies-Bars
    • Desserts
    • Holidays
  • Top 10 Recipes
  • Kid’s Recipes
  • Freebies
  • FDA
  • Meet Carole
×

Home » Desserts

Published: Feb 10, 2022 · Updated: Mar 30, 2022 by Carole Jones · 5 Comments

Chocolate Root Beer Cake

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

Chocolate Root Beer Cake is dense, moist and super simple! The root beer soda enhances the chocolate flavor in both the cake and the frosting. Serve it with a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream for a complete root beer float cake experience 🙂

Chocolate Root Beer Cake

Moist. Apparently, that is the most hated word in the English language.  I find that hard to believe, but according to NPR’s Wait Wait…..Don’t Tell Me people hate the sound of that word more than any other in our vast vocabulary.

I just don’t get it. How can you hate the word moist?!?! These people must not be true foodies otherwise the word moist alone would make their hearts beat faster and their mouths begin to water.

One of the best parts is that this chocolate root beer cake actually gets better each day it sits around.  The first time I made this cake in 2009, we left town for three days and stuck it in the fridge…..it was even better cold and three days old!!!

Of course, that is assuming you can wait that long and have leftovers after eating it. Not an easy task my friend.

Chocolate Root Beer Cake

Chocolate Root Beer Cake FAQs

Can I use diet soda in the recipe?

Unfortunately, the answer is no. The sugar in the soda is needed for the proper rise, texture, and moisture level of the finished cake. If you wanted to try diet soda in the frosting, that would probably be just fine but be sure to stick with regular root beer for the cake portion itself.

slice of root beer float cake

How long does the cake last?

As mentioned before, it actually gets better the day after so if at all possible, try making it the day before you need it. It will last 4-5 days in an airtight container at room temperature.

Put it in the fridge for a longer shelf life and to increase the density of the finished cake. We actually prefer it cold 🙂

Can I use cola instead of root beer?

While I have never used any other type of soda for this recipe, I think your favorite cola would be amazing in this chocolate cake. I especially think a cherry cola like Dr Pepper would provide an even more interesting flavor combo than plain Coke or Pepsi. If you try it, leave me a comment below and let me know how it goes!

chocolate root beer bundt cake with chocolate frosting

Does the cake have a strong root beer flavor?

Think of the combination of root beer with chocolate like you would coffee with chocolate. It is an enhancer of all the best parts of the chocolate flavor profile. You get a hint of root beer but chocolate is the dominate flavor of the cake. It is crazy delicious!

Looking for more great chocolate recipes?

  • molten lava cake with a spoon in it
    Chocolate Melting Cake
  • Fudgy Brownie Recipe
    Frosted Fudgy Brownies
  • Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

Craving more than chocolate? Subscribe to My Kitchen Escapades to get new recipes and a weekly newsletter delivered straight to your inbox! You can also stay in touch on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube for all the latest updates

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

Chocolate Root Beer Cake

5 from 1 reviews

Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

This cake is a chocolate cake but both the frosting and the cake use root beer as it’s base. Serve it with vanilla ice cream for that root beer float experience.

  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 12 servings

Ingredients

Cake



  • 2 cups root beer soda – don’t use diet


  • 1 cup dark unsweetened cocoa powder


  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter


  • 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar


  • 1/2 cup dark brown sugar


  • 2 cups flour


  • 1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda


  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt


  • 2 large eggs


Frosting



  • 2 ounces 60% dark chocolate, melted


  • 1/2 cup butter, room temperature


  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt


  • 1/4 cup root beer soda


  • 2/3  cup unsweetened cocoa powder


  • 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Spray the inside of a 10″ Bundt pan with nonstick spray.
  2. In a medium saucepan, heat the root beer, cocoa powder and butter over medium heat until butter is melted.  Add sugars and whisk until dissolved.  Remove from heat and let cool.
  3. In large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt.  In small bowl, whisk together the eggs then whisk into cooled cocoa mixture until combined.  Pour cocoa mixture over your dry ingredients and gently fold with your whisk.  Batter will be slightly lumpy.  Don’t overbeat or your cake will become tough.
  4. Pour batter into prepared pan and cook for 35-40 minutes.  Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely before inserting onto your cake plate.
  5. In a large bowl using an electric hand mixer, beat butter and cocoa powder together until smooth.  Add the melted chocolate and beat again.  Add salt, root beer and powdered sugar.  Beat together until smooth.  Spread on top of cooled cake.

Notes

Store in airtight container. We preferred this cake cold from the fridge for an even denser texture.

  • Author: Carole Jones
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/12
  • Calories: 359
  • Sugar: 46g
  • Sodium: 317mg
  • Fat: 10g
  • Saturated Fat: 6g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 2g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 68g
  • Fiber: 4g
  • Protein: 5g
  • Cholesterol: 43mg

Keywords: easy cake recipe, homemade chocolate cake

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @thecarolejones on Instagram and hashtag it #mykitchenescapades

Categories: Desserts Tags: Cake, Chocolate, Frosting

Filed Under: Desserts
5 Comments

About Carole Jones

Carole Jones is an Arizona-based cookbook author & food blogger. She's authored The 30 Minute Cooking From Frozen Cookbook and the self-published Take 5: Chicken e-cookbook. For the past 15 years, Carole has shared her culinary adventures cooking and baking for her six brutally honest children here on My Kitchen Escapades. Hot, crusty bread is Carole's love language, but her two adorable grandchildren are a close second. Yes, second. Don't judge.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Nina says

    August 15, 2009 at 6:08 am

    Yum…sound good. I would like to see what recipe you come up with for using up those yummy raspberries in your yard. My taste buds tend to love the fruity treats. 🙂 So great to see you this past week…wish we would have had more time but my mom came into town as well and we left on Wed. Good luck getting the house ready for another snuggly little Jones baby!!

    Reply
  2. Marie says

    February 10, 2022 at 2:06 pm

    Made this last night and it was a huge hit. I want to try it in cupcakes as well!






    Reply
    • Carole says

      February 10, 2022 at 2:08 pm

      I’m sure cupcakes would be amazing with this recipe! Thanks for coming back and leaving your review. It helps so much 🙂

      Reply
  3. Teresa says

    July 06, 2022 at 1:41 pm

    ok, just read your comment above, mostly chocolate flavor enhanced by root beer. thanks. if you think i could add root beer extract and boost the root beer flavor, please respond with how much extract? thanks

    Reply
    • Carole says

      July 07, 2022 at 1:56 pm

      Hi Teresa! The root beer adds more than just flavor but enhances the texture of the cake as well.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

Primary Sidebar

Hey there my friend! I’m Carole Jones, a momma to 6 crazy kiddos and honestly, I’m just trying to get my kids to eat something that isn’t chicken nuggets and french fries.

More about me →

FOLLOW CAROLE ON YOUR FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • TikTok

Recent recipes

  • coconut jasmine rice
    Coconut Jasmine Rice
  • air fryer zucchini
    Air Fryer Zucchini
  • Shrimp Quesadilla
    Shrimp Quesadilla
  • Air Fryer Potato Wedges
    Air Fryer Potato Wedges

Popular recipes

  • Roasted Baby Potatoes
    Roasted Baby Potatoes
  • Thai Chicken Salad
    Chopped Thai Chicken Salad with Peanut Dressing
  • vegetable pasta bake
    Cheesy Vegetable Pasta Bake
  • parmesan chicken bake
    Parmesan Chicken Bake

Footer

FREE MEMBERSHIP for you weekly recipe fix




Top 5 Most Read Recipes

Pork Carnitas

Old Fashioned Donut Muffins

Parmesan Chicken Bake

Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

Sushi Rice Recipe


Follow Carole on Your Favorite Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • TikTok

Recipes

Breakfast

Appetizer

Soup

Main Dish

Side Dish

Lunch

Air Fryer

Salad

Sandwich

Bread

Dessert

Grab my newest cookbook here!

30 Minute Cooking from Frozen Cookbook

My blog contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small compensation if you make a purchase using my link, at no additional cost to you. And no worries, I only link to products that I both use and love! ~ Carole


Top 10 Recipes | Privacy Policy | About

Copyright © 2023 My Kitchen Escapades