Coca-Cola Cake

I made this delicious cake for my mom's birthday yesterday {because she loves Diet Coke} from a neat cookbook that I found at the library.

Coca-Cola Cake

{From the United Cakes of America, by Warren Brown}

Cake Ingredients:

2 cups all purpose flour                                                
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows
1 cup Coca Cola

1/4 cup milk
1 1/2 sticks butter

2 cups sugar
2 eggs

Cake Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350. Grease 2 eight-inch cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment.

2. Combine the dry ingredients and wet ingredients in separate bowls. Set aside.

3. Place the butter and sugar in the bowl of a standing mixer with the paddle attachment. Process on low speed for 3 to 4 minutes.

4. Add the eggs to the creamed mixture one at a time. Let the first one incorporate before adding the second.

5. Alternately add the wet and dry ingredients a quarter at a time, without pausing between additions.

6. Divide the batter into the prepared pans and bake for about 30 minutes, or until the edges come away from the pan and a wooden skewer in the center comes out with a few crumbs. 

Icing Ingredients:

1 cup milk                                                                     

3 tablespoons all purpose flour                                      

1 tablespoon cocoa powder
2 sticks unsalted butter                                       

1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract                                                                                   
1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate {melted}

Icing Directions:

1. Quickly whisk together 4 tablespoons of the milk with the flour. The slurry will be somewhat thick, so whisk thoroughly to make a smooth paste. 

2. Whisk in the rest of the milk and cocoa powder and transfer the mixture to a saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat for about 30 seconds, whisking constantly. 

3. Remove the pan from heat, cover with lid, and let cool for 15 to 30 minutes. 

4. Meanwhile, combine the butter and sugar in the bowl of a standing mixer with the paddle attachment and beat on high speed. 

5. Add the contents of the saucepan to the creamed mixture and continue to beat on high speed until the buttercream is smooth, about 5 minutes. Beat in vanilla and melted chocolate.