Coca Cola Cake

This cake was so ugly I was embarrassed that I was bringing it to my friend's birthday party. Don't look. It's ugly. But it was GOOD. It was so so so good. I brought it for a friend (obviously turning 21--I kinda stuck that on with a plastic bag, which is why I didn't go in detail with his name or anything since it was hard enough to get the pink frosting out to write a number) who loves soda, so I figured a Coke cake would be good. It didn't really taste like coke, but it was really really good. People thought it was delicious albeit a little sweet. I might not ever make this cake again (because it turned out so ugly! Maybe cuz I didn't garnish it with nuts?), but it was definitely good!

Coca Cola Cake
Recipe from Southern Living

1 cup Coca-Cola
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 3/4 cups sugar
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows
Coca-Cola Frosting
Garnish: 3/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted

Combine Coca-Cola and buttermilk; set aside.

Beat butter at low speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar; beat until blended. Add egg and vanilla; beat at low speed until blended.

Combine flour, cocoa, and soda. Add to butter mixture alternately with cola mixture; begin and end with flour mixture. Beat at low speed just until blended.

Stir in marshmallows. Pour batter into a greased and floured 13- x 9-inch pan. Bake at 350° for 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from oven; cool 10 minutes. Pour Coca-Cola Frosting over warm cake; garnish, if desired.

Note: Don't make the frosting ahead--you need to pour it over the cake shortly after baking.