A can of soda and a box of cake mix can create an easy, delicious dessert.
Call it a hack, a shortcut, or a super simple “recipe,” but combining a 12-ounce can of soda and a standard box of cake mix is like a magic trick.
The end result is an extra moist and soft cake, with more flavor than usual thanks to your soda of choice. And yes, it’s every bit as bouncy and fluffy as any other cake. You’ll want to consider frostings, too, when you’re picking out your cake and soda combo.
If you’re searching for incredibly easy dessert, look to our handy chart to plot out your pairing. Do classic combinations like Coca Cola and chocolate cake mix, or pep things up with Canada Dry Ginger Ale and carrot cake mix.
Why does this unusual combination work? The leavening agents in the cake mixes still do their duty, even without oil or egg. The soda is all the liquid you need to turn the powdery mix into a bake-able batter. Combine, pour into cake pans, and the mixture will act just like any other cake batter.
But before you think this is some TikTok experiment or Pinterest hack, you should know this method has been around for decades. Old-fashioned cookbooks are filled with soda-meets-cake-mix recipes that were highly fashionable at the time.
Favorite soda and cake mix pairings:
- Coca Cola + Chocolate Cake Mix
- Sprite + Yellow Cake Mix
- Dr. Pepper + Red Velvet Cake Mix
- A&W Cream Soda + Vanilla Cake Mix
- Barq’s Root Beer + Spice Cake Mix
- Canada Dry Ginger Ale + Carrot Cake Mix
- Mountain Dew + Lemon Cake Mix
- Fanta Strawberry + Strawberry Cake Mix
- Sierra Mist + Butter Pecan Cake Mix
- Pibb Xtra + Devil’s Food Cake
Simply stir together the soda and cake mix and follow the mix’s baking instructions for the size of the pan and cook time. The end result will be a delightfully light and fluffy cake with minimal effort, which we view as a win-win.
