Need a dessert that is easy, impressive, and slightly nostalgic? This super-simple Vanilla Coke Float Cake uses a pound cake mix and Vanilla Coke for a scrumptious dessert sure to please a crowd anywhere.

Ingredients

Cake:

• 1 box pound cake mix (+ any ingredients for the mix)
• 1 bottle Vanilla Coke
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• 8 maraschino cherries, drained
• flour
• cooking spray

Glaze:

• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1/3 cup vanilla ice cream, melted
• 3-5 tbsp Vanilla Coke
• Maraschino cherries (for decoration, if desired)

 

Equipment/materials:

• Mixing bowls
• Mixing spoons/spatulas
• Mesh strainer
• Bundt cake pan
• Whisk
• Serving platter

Directions:

Heat the oven to the temperature in the mix instructions. Spray the Bundt cake pan liberally with cooking spray, then dust thoroughly with flour. A cake sticking to the pan is a tragedy easily avoided!

Combine the pound cake mix ingredients according to the box instructions, substituting Vanilla Coke for the water. The addition of the Vanilla Coke will make the cake lighter and sweeter. Be sure to reserve some of the Vanilla Coke for the glaze; the rest you can drink while the cake bakes.

Place the eight drained maraschino cherries evenly around the bottom of the cake pan. Carefully pour the pound cake batter into the well-coated Bundt cake pan. You might need to use a spatula to get all the batter out of the bowl. Smooth the top of the batter. Bake for the recommended time. As the cake bakes, you can set out the vanilla ice cream to melt.

Remove the cake from the oven. Cool it in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then turn it out onto the wire rack to cool completely. Be careful at this step. The lighter and fluffier cake can be delicate as it comes out of the pan. If you’ve coated the pan effectively, you’ll be fine.

When the cake has cooled and the ice cream has melted completely, prepare the glaze. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the sugar, melted ice cream, and 3 tbsp Vanilla Coke. The glaze should pour, but slowly. A thinner glaze will soak into the cake; a thicker glaze will coat the sides as it runs down. If it’s too thick, add more Vanilla Coke gradually until you reach the right consistency.

Transfer the cooled cake to a serving platter. Pour the glaze over and around the cake, allowing it to drip down the outside and the middle. Add cherries to decorate your Vanilla Coke Float Cake.