Retro Dr Pepper Chocolate Cake & Hot Dr. Pepper

I came across this retro Ad when I was looking for winter advertisements. It's so perfect for this cold day, but I've never had Hot Dr Pepper. The actual idea of it doesn't appeal. But I have had Dr Pepper Chocolate Cake. Using soda (cola) in cakes is very Retro, and this Dr. Pepper Chocolate Cake is as retro as this 60s Ad.

Want to know more about Dr Pepper? Here's a link to a post I did in 2010.

Want to make a Chocolate Dr. Pepper Cake from Scratch? Here's a good recipe from the Baylor University Alumni Association cookbook: "Homecoming: Special Foods, Special Memories." The original recipe called for margarine, but that's not an ingredient I would ever use! Not a Dr Pepper fan? You can substitute your favorite cola.

CHOCOLATE DR. PEPPER CAKE

Cake
1 cup butter
1 cup Dr. Pepper
4 Tbsp DARK cocoa
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon (optional...I don't use it)
3 cups flour,  sifted
2 cups sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs -- well beaten
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 tsp baking soda

Dr. Pepper Frosting
1/2 cup Dr. Pepper
1/4 cup butter
3 Tbsp DARK cocoa
3 cups powdered sugar -- sifted
1/2 cup pecans -- chopped
1 tsp vanilla

Directions

Cake:
Heat Dr. Pepper with butter, but do not boil. Set aside. Sift together flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt, and cocoa. Beat together eggs, buttermilk, vanilla, and baking soda. Add hot Dr. Pepper mixture to dry ingredients. Stir in egg mixture, and blend well. Pour into greased and floured 15x10-inch sheet cake pan. Bake at 350 deg. for 25 minutes.

Frosting:
About 5 minutes before cake is done, heat Dr. Pepper, margarine, and cocoa.
Stir in powdered sugar, pecans, and vanilla. Spread frosting on while cake is still hot.