Root Beer Float Cake

This root beer float cake is tasty, moist, and so unique!

Can’t decide if you want a sweet drink or a cake for dessert? Why not have them both?

If you’re a fan of moist cakes and root beer floats, you’ll fall in love with this cake.

I mean, how can you say no to a root beer float-flavored cake?! It isn’t healthy, but aren’t all amazing desserts a little sinful? Treat yourself!

It also doesn’t hurt that it looks super appetizing! It’s baked in a bundt pan, so it has that cozy, rustic look that never gets old.

Want a dessert that’s so good, it will have you floating on cloud nine? Try this root beer float cake now!

Root Beer Float Cake

Are you puzzled over what a root beer float cake is? Well, it’s exactly what it sounds like: a cake that’s infused with root beer.

If you think the flavor is strange, wait until you try it. Believe me, it’ll blow your mind with how delicious it is!

This retro cake has been around for decades, but to this day, it remains a huge hit!

The cake itself is incredibly moist and velvety, and the root beer gives it such a wonderfully-balanced sweetness.  

If you’re a novice baker, I have great news. This cake is insanely easy to make! You’ll use a cake mix for this recipe, and the procedure is really simple. 

Don’t worry, just because it comes from a box doesn’t mean it won’t taste homemade. This recipe elevates the humble cake mix into a celebration-worthy confection.

Ingredients

• Yellow Cake Mix – Use a chocolate cake mix for a traditional root beer cake.
• Root Beer – The star of the cake! Other carbonated drinks such as Coca-Cola, cream soda, orange soda, grape soda, and ginger ale, work, too (and they’re extra yummy if you use these homemade soda recipes!).
• Vegetable Oil – For a ridiculously moist cake!
• Eggs – To bind the ingredients and make the cake extra rich.

Tips for the Best Cake 

• Instead of soda, use rum or other liqueurs for an adult-only cake. 
• Want a deeper root beer flavor? Add some root beer extract to the batter.
• Do not use an electric mixer when beating the batter to avoid over-mixing. A regular whisk will do!
• Use a toothpick to check the cake for doneness. If the toothpick comes out clean, it’s time to get it out of the oven!
• For a tall, fluffy bundt cake, do not grease the sides of the bundt pan and cool it in the pan upside down.
• Do not top the cake with heavy icing. The cake is very fluffy, so a heavy substance might cause it to deflate. Stick to light frostings, such as Cool Whip.
• If you really want a dense topping, freeze the cake for 30 minutes and frost away.
• Store the root beer float cake in an air-tight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. It will still taste okay beyond that, but it won’t be as moist.

Cake Flavor Combinations

This recipe already yields such an outstanding dessert, but there are also endless options when it comes to this cake! Here are some ideas:

• Make a strawberry shortcake by combining strawberry cake mix and cream soda.
• For a fruity grape cake, combine white cake mix with grape soda.
• Want a perfectly spiced ginger cake? Use ginger spice cake and ginger ale!
• Or how about a simple lemon cake? You’ll need a lemon cake mix and lemon-lime soda.

What To Serve With Root Beer Cake

Why, vanilla ice cream, of course! That’s how you turn this root beer cake into a root beer float cake.

Just imagine the ice cream melting and oozing onto the cake! Yum!

You know what else tastes great with root beer? Chocolate. I don’t know how or why, but root beer enhances the flavor of chocolate, giving it a much deeper, chocolatier flavor.  

That said, why not top your root beer cake with a rich and silky chocolate ganache?

It may sound fancy, but it’s actually very simple.

All you’ll need is to whisk together equal parts melted chocolate and heavy cream until well-combined. It’s easy-peasy!

You also can’t go wrong with root beer on root beer, so finish off your cake with a root beer frosting!

The recipe below has a quick instruction on how to make a lovely root beer glaze.

For a dainty dessert, dust the cake with powdered sugar. It’s a simple technique that yields such a stunning cake.

Lastly, if you don’t want to go through the trouble of making frosting from scratch, go for Cool Whip.

While you’re at it, top the vanilla ice cream with sprinkles and maraschino cherries for the ultimate root beer float cake.

With minimal effort, you’ll have maximum cake flavor. 

Root Beer Float Cake

Servings

14

servings

Prep time

20

minutes

Cooking time

40

minutes

Calories

239

kcal

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25-ounce) package yellow cake mix

• 1 (12-fluid ounce) bottled or canned root beer

• ¼ cup vegetable oil

• 3 eggs

• 3 tablespoons root beer, for drizzling over the cake

• Root Beer Glaze (Optional)

• ½ cup powdered sugar

• 3 tablespoons root beer

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease the bottom of a 10-inch bundt pan with butter or oil and lightly coat with flour.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the cake mix, 12 ounces of root beer, oil, and eggs until the mixture is smooth and well-combined.
• Pour the batter into the greased bundt pan. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes. To check for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center of the cake – if it comes out clean, it’s done baking.
• Flip the pan onto a wire rack and let the cake cool completely while in the pan.
• Using a knife or skewer, poke holes into the cake, with a 2-inch space in between.
• Remove the cake from the pan. Loosen the sides with a knife or flat spatula if needed.
• Drizzle 3 tablespoons of root beer over the poked cake.
• If making a root beer glaze, stir together powdered sugar and 3 tablespoons of root beer until smooth. Spread glaze over the cake.
• Slice, serve, and enjoy!

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