Rocky Road Buttermilk Cake

Prep: 15 min Cook: 25 min Serves: 12 Cuisine: American

A rich, chocolaty cake with a moist texture and crunchy Rocky Road icing, perfect for potlucks and gatherings, appealing to chocolate lovers of all ages.

Be the first to rate this recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 3/4 cups sugar
  • 1/4 cup cocoa
  • 1 cup cold water
  • 1/2 cup salad oil
  • 1/2 cup margarine
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 1 teaspoon soda
  • 2 eggs

Instructions

  1. Sift dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl and mix well.
  2. Bring water, salad oil, and margarine to a boil.
  3. Pour the boiling mixture over the dry ingredients.
  4. Mix everything thoroughly.
  5. In a separate bowl, combine buttermilk, soda, and eggs.
  6. Add the buttermilk mixture to the cake batter and beat well.
  7. Pour the batter into a 12 x 13-inch pan.
  8. Bake at 350°F for 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out dry.
  9. Check the cake every 5 minutes to prevent overbaking.
  10. Once baked, ice the cake with Rocky Road Icing.

Tips & Substitutions

For a richer chocolate flavor, consider adding an extra tablespoon of cocoa powder. If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make a substitute by mixing 1/2 cup milk with 1/2 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice. Make sure to sift the dry ingredients thoroughly to ensure a light and fluffy cake. Keep an eye on the baking time to avoid overbaking, as this can affect the texture.

Serving Suggestions

Serve the Rocky Road Buttermilk Cake warm or at room temperature, ideally topped with Chocolate Dream Icing for an added chocolatey richness. It pairs beautifully with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. This cake is great for parties, potlucks, or as a delightful dessert at the end of a meal.

Storage & Reheating

Store any leftover cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. If you want to keep it longer, refrigerate it for up to a week. To reheat, place a slice in the microwave for about 10-15 seconds until warmed through. This will help retain the cake's moistness.

Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)

Each serving of Rocky Road Buttermilk Cake contains roughly 417 calories, with 6g protein, 32g carbohydrates, and 30g fat. It is a good source of dietary fiber (16% of the Daily Value), iron (15% of the Daily Value), and protein (12% of the Daily Value). Note that it is relatively high in sodium, at 952mg per serving (41% of the Daily Value).

417 kcal 21% DV
Protein Fat Carbs

Macronutrients

Protein 5.9g 12% DV
Total Fat 30.1g 39% DV
Carbs 32.3g 12% DV
Fiber 4.5g 16% DV
Sugar 2.1g 4% DV

Electrolytes

Sodium 952.5mg 41% DV
Potassium 412.4mg 9% DV
Cholesterol 20.9mg 7% DV

Vitamins & Minerals

Vitamin A 31.6mcg 4% DV
Vitamin C 0.2mg
Vitamin D 0.5mcg 3% DV
Calcium 97.8mg 8% DV
Iron 2.7mg 15% DV
Contains Egg Wheat/Gluten

Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.

* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this recipe in advance?

Absolutely! You can bake the cake a day or two in advance. Just be sure to let it cool completely before covering it and storing it. This allows the flavors to meld beautifully, making the cake even more delicious when served.

Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).

American recipes → Vegetarian recipes → Dairy recipes → All recipes →