I grapple with my addiction to soda too often; I go through phases where I drink a soda a day, then try to quit the stuff cold turkey. Sometimes, I can limit myself to an ice cold can once a week and I’ve been successful giving it up for Lent. In the end, though, I always come back.

My habit can occasionally come across as snobbish. For example, I prefer an ice cold fountain soda with the right amount of both carbonation and syrup, and I’m not embarrassed to admit I’ve sent sodas back at restaurants if either weren’t present, as if they were a nice cut of steak that had been cooked incorrectly. My next preference is a tie between soda in a glass bottle and soda in a can, with or without a straw. Last, but definitely not least, is a soda in a plastic bottle – this variety produces an extra fizzy first glass, but if you let a 2-Liter sit too long it loses its carbonation quickly.

The other level of my stuck-up soda preferences relates to brand. Just like some people stick to one brand of sneakers, or buy only one brand of soap, I pretty much only drink one brand of soda. Coca-Cola classic is the end all-be all of fizzy drinks and I’m weak to its powers. I’ll admit, if I request a Coke and the waitress politely asks, “Is Pepsi okay?,” I don’t say no. Still, the red label represents the only soft drink you’ll see in my fridge. I’ve even gone as far as to visit the museum and factory in Atlanta. Twice. The self-guided tour ends in a room filled with fountain soda machines operating with Coke products from all over the globe, including my favorite, the classic. Did I mention it was all-you-can-drink?

The beverage is best served cold, over ice. Still, it’s so versatile and flavorful that it’s not out of the ordinary to cook with it. My aunt made a holiday ham with a Cherry Coke glaze years ago that I still remember vividly. Try a barbecue sauce with a Coke base and a pulled pork sandwich will become so much more. This recipe for Coca-Cola Cake enhances the beverage’s signature spicy base by pairing it with chocolate.

Coca-Cola Cake

• 2 cups flour
• 2 cups sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 cup butter
• ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 cup Coca-Cola (from bottle is my preference!)
• ½ cup buttermilk
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9”x13” pan. Combine flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl. In a saucepan mix and heat butter, cocoa, Coca-Cola and buttermilk over medium heat until it comes to a boil. Remove from heat and whisk into the flour mixture until combined. Add eggs and vanilla, whisking vigorously again until everything is incorporated. Pour into pan and bake for 30 minutes. Halfway into the baking process, make the glaze below.

Glaze

• ½ cup butter
• ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ½ cup Coca-Cola
• 4 cups confectioners’ sugar

Heat butter, cocoa powder, and Coca-Cola in a saucepan, mixing thoroughly until it comes to a boil. Once boiling, slowly stir in confectioners’ sugar, one cup at a time, until nice and smooth. When cake is finished, immediately pour warm glaze on top, spreading as it melts to the top of the cake. Let cool slightly before enjoying.

Make no mistakes, chocoholics – this is a rich, dense, chocolate cake. Still, there is the underlying flavor of Coca-Cola that is most present in the cake component, complemented and supported by the small amount of cinnamon added to the recipe. There really aren’t many words I can think of to explain the glaze. With each cup of confectioners’ sugar it improves into a shiny, thick cake topping. When it hits the hot cake, it melts like butter in a hot pan, spreading quickly over the surface. Since the cake is almost brownie-like, I used a straw to poke holes into it when I removed it from the oven, ensuring the glaze wouldn’t just be a topping but would also seep below the surface. The end result is oozy, gooey goodness that’s so delicious, it’s only rivaled by the first crisp sip of an ice cold Coca-Cola.

Casey Ann is a local foodie and blogger. Check out her recipes and reviews at www.cleanpl8.com.