7 Ways with Cola

Updated April 07, 2011
Credit: 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

Credit: 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

Credit: 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

Credit: 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

Credit: 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

Credit: 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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