Coca-Cola Brownie Sundaes — The Fourth Was Hot and Full and Exactly Right

July in Baton Rouge. The heat and the waiting and the countdown to New Orleans. I have been apartment hunting online — one-bedrooms near campus, checking kitchens first (stove, counter space, the non-negotiables). Found one. It is small. The kitchen is smaller. But it has a stove and MawMaw Shirley said small kitchens make big food and I trust her.

Made watermelon agua fresca for the Fourth of July gathering — the tradition now in its fourth year. MawMaw Shirley had three glasses and said, "This is not a real drink," and then had a fourth. The denial is the confession. The Fourth was hot and full and exactly right.

The agua fresca handled the thirst, but a Fourth of July gathering in Baton Rouge needs something for the sweet finish — something as celebratory as the day itself. These Coca-Cola Brownie Sundaes have become the dessert counterpart to the tradition: rich and a little over-the-top, the kind of thing MawMaw Shirley would never call “a real dessert” and then quietly go back for seconds. A small kitchen is more than enough to pull these off, and they travel beautifully to any gathering.

Coca-Cola Brownie Sundaes

Prep Time: 15 min | Cook Time: 30 min | Total Time: 45 min | Servings: 12

Ingredients

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
• 1 cup Coca-Cola
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows
• Vanilla ice cream, for serving
• Hot fudge or chocolate sauce, for topping
• Maraschino cherries, optional for garnish

Instructions

1. Preheat and prep. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan and set aside.
2. Make the Coca-Cola mixture. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the butter, Coca-Cola, and cocoa powder. Stir frequently until the butter is fully melted and the mixture is smooth. Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes.
3. Mix the batter. Whisk the sugar into the Coca-Cola mixture, then whisk in the eggs, vanilla extract, and buttermilk until fully combined. Stir in the flour, baking soda, and salt until just incorporated — do not overmix.
4. Bake. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 25–28 minutes, until the center is just set and a toothpick inserted comes out with moist crumbs.
5. Add marshmallows. Remove the pan from the oven and immediately scatter the mini marshmallows evenly over the top. Return to the oven for 2 minutes, until the marshmallows are puffed and lightly golden. Cool in the pan for at least 15 minutes before cutting.
6. Assemble the sundaes. Cut brownies into squares and place on individual plates or bowls. Top each brownie with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream, a drizzle of hot fudge sauce, and a cherry if desired. Serve immediately.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 420 | Protein: 5g | Fat: 18g | Carbs: 62g | Fiber: 2g | Sodium: 190mg