Cocola cake

From June Sorlie, Chicago

Makes 12 servings

Cake:

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
3 heaping tablespoons cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, plus some to grease the baking pan
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup Coca-Cola
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows

Icing:

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
3 tablespoons Coca-Cola
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped walnuts

1. Prepare cake: Into a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar, cocoa and salt.

2. In a small saucepan, combine butter, oil and cola. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Pour over flour mixture.

3. Add buttermilk, baking soda, eggs and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer at high speed until smooth, about 2 minutes.

4. Fold in marshmallows. Pour batter into a greased 9-by-13-inch pan, spreading the marshmallows around with a rubber spatula to evenly distribute.

5. Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, about 45 to 50 minutes. Remove from oven and place pan on a wire cooling rack.

6. Make icing: In a small saucepan, combine butter, cola and cocoa. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in confectioners' sugar, vanilla and walnuts, mixing until blended (mixture will be thick).

7. Pour hot icing over warm cake. Spread evenly and let cool.

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