Reconsidering Root Beer: Root Beer Chocolate Cake

I'll come right out with it, I don't like Root Beer and neither does my friend Laura who helped me bake this cake. I'm not sure what it is. In fact, I like most other dark sodas, but there is something about root beer that doesn't go down smoothly with me. However, I have found that when things I'm not fond of are added to baked goods my opinion of them often changes. This was the case with Baked's Root Beer Chocolate Cake.

This delicious bundt is mostly chocolate with a hint of root beer that makes the otherwise dense cake slightly refreshing and super moist. Not to mention the frosting might be the tastiest chocolate cake frosting ever! I plan to use it on other cakes in the future. 

 See, Laura couldn't keep her hands off the frosting.

So grab a friend and buy some root beer and make this cake for your next get together!

 Just make sure you don't buy a bottle with a defective cap. But if you do, don't be afraid to try any means possible to open it. 

 Root Beer Chocolate Cake

*adapted from Baked: New Frontiers in Baking

Cake Ingredients

• 2 cups of root beer
• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 stick of unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
• 2 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 eggs

Frosting Ingredients

• 2 ounces bittersweet chocolate  (66%), melted and cooled slightly
• 1 stick of unsalted butter, at room temp
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup of root beer
• 2/3 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 325. Spray they inside of a 10-inch bundt pan with cooking spray.

2. In a medium saucepan, heat the root beer, cocoa powder and butter over medium heat until the butter is melted. Add the sugars and whisk until dissolved. Remove from the heat and pour into a large bowl to let cool.

3. In a medium bowl whisk the flour, baking soda and salt together.

4. In a small bowl whisk the eggs until beaten, then whisk the eggs into the cooled cocoa mixture. Gradually whisk the flour mixture into the cocoa mixture until just combined. Do not over mix, as the cake will become tough. 

5. Pour the batter into the prepared bundt pan and bake for 30-40 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean, rotating the pan half-way through the baking time. Transfer the cake to wire rack to cool. Once fully cooled, turn the cake out onto the rack.

6. While the cake is cooling, prepare the frosting. Simply mix all the ingredients together on medium speed in a stand mixer using a paddle attachment until smooth. 

7. Using a spatula, generously spread the frosting all over the bundt cake. 

Then enjoy the cake and any leftover frosting! You can even serve it with vanilla ice cream to make a cake root beer float!