7 Ways with Cola

April 07, 2011
Becky Luigart-Stayner; Jan Gautro
To paraphrase the old slogan, things really do go better with cola, and these recipes prove it. We've showcased the versatility of cooking with cola with recipes for cola cake, cola barbecue sauce, and more.
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Cooking with Cola

Photo: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro, Laura Zapalowski
Although carbonated colas were originally flavored with a kola nut, they’re now commonly flavored artificially with a combination of sugar, citrus oils, tamarind, cinnamon, vanilla and some type of acidic ingredient. Manufacturers of cola drinks add other ingredients in trace amounts to create distinctively different tastes for each brand. Because of the pleasing combination of flavors, it turns out that cola is an ideal ingredient for desserts, sauces, veggies and meats.
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Coca-Cola Cake

Coca-Cola Cake Recipe
Our Coca-Cola Cake is simply one of the best sheet cake recipes on earth. The magical brew of carbonated cola is the key to the tender texture of the chocolate cake.

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Cola-Marinated Flank Steak

Cola-Marinated Flank Steak Recipe
Combining cola and teriyaki sauce with hot sauce, onion and garlic creates just the right amount of sweetness in the tangy marinade.
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Cola Baked Beans

Cola Baked Beans Recipe
Achieve the perfect balance of sweetness for baked beans with cola, molasses and brown sugar.

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Cola Shredded Beef Tacos

Photo: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Randy Mon
Cola Shredded Beef Tacos Recipe
In this authentic Mexican beef taco recipe, the chuck roast is flavored with two types of chiles, cumin, Mexican oregano, and a Mexican cane-sugar sweetened or regular cola.

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Beer-Can Chicken with Cola Barbecue Sauce

Photography: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lydia DeGaris-Pursell
Beer-Can Chicken with Cola Barbecue Sauce Recipe
The secret ingredient in the sweet barbecue sauce is the ½ cup of cola that’s added to ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and steak sauce.
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Slow Cooker Barbecue Pork

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia Pursell
Slow Cooker Barbecue Pork Recipe
All you need are three ingredients—Boston butt, a bottle of barbecue sauce, a can of cola—and one slow cooker to make this tender barbecue pork.

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Brined Maple Turkey with Cream Gravy

Becky Luigart-Stayner; Jan Gautro
Brined Maple Turkey with Cream Gravy Recipe
Basting the turkey in a mixture of cola and maple syrup adds sweetness and also contributes to the browning of the bird.
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