Chocolate Coke Cake

Ingredients:

1 box (18.5 ounces) devil's food cake mix

16 ounces Coca-Cola

2 tablespoons grated orange peel

1/2 cup (about 3 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips

12 large fresh, ripe strawberries

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 box (16 ounces) confectioners' sugar

3 tablespoons powdered chocolate drink mix (such as Nestle's Quik)

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 13" x 9" baking pan. Prepare cake mix according to package directions, using 1 1/3 cups Coke-Cola in place of water and stirring 1 tablespoon orange peel into batter.

Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until wood pick inserted in center comes out clean.

Invert cake onto wire rack. Cool completely.

In a heavy saucepan, stir chocolate chips over low heat until melted and smooth. Remove from heat. Dip strawberries into chocolate to coat halfway, placing each berry as it is dipped on cookie sheet lined with wax paper. Refrigerate berries until ready to use.

Cut cooled cake horizontally into two equal layers with sharp serrated knife. Place bottom layer on large cookie sheet.

Beat butter in large bowl with mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar and chocolate drink mix until smooth. Beat in 1/3 cup of remaining Coke, remaining 1 tablespoon of grated orange peel and vanilla until thoroughly blended and smooth.

Spread half of frosting over bottom cake layer. Top with second layer. Swirl remaining frosting over top of cake. Cut cake into 12 portions. Arrange on platter. Decorate with chocolate-dipped strawberries.