Summer has officially arrived and this cake instantly evoked summer memories for me. Root beer floats are amazing on warm summer evenings and everything about this cake says root beer, from the first whiff of it in the cake batter to its appearance again in the frosting. The name of the cake alone, when I read the recipe in our local newspaper, evoked the memory of A&W Drive-Ins on warm summer evenings, and it just sounded like a fun cake to make. I certainly immediately remembered enjoying the tang of root beer soda and vanilla ice cream, eating root beer floats in a convertible with the top down, the stars floating above the treetops, and the sound of persistent peepers croaking everywhere. Yesssiree, we definitely have here a cake for summer time, folks!
The recipe is simple and the cake is like every cake made with a good quality cake mix along with oil and eggs. The batter has a golden sheen to it and it is very thick. No need allowing this batter to “breathe in the bowl for five minutes”; just mix it up and scrape into a 9×13″ pan.; it serves 15 easily. Enjoy your own memories of root beer and summer time and prepare this easy cake tonight! Cool well before frosting. I placed the cake, uncovered, in the fridge for several hours as I’m saving it for 15 people tonight. I would store any leftovers in the fridge also. It’s a keeper!
I did use double the amounts of Dream Whip and root beer for the frosting as I wanted a good deal of that airy concoction topping the cake. Enjoy!
Root Beer Float Cake
Ingredients
1 (18.25 ounce) package Duncan Hines Supreme white cake mix
1-1/4 cups root beer
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 (1.3 ounce) envelope whipped topping mix
1/2 cup root beer
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9×13 inch pan. In a large bowl, combine cake mix, 1 1/4 cup root beer, oil, and eggs. Beat on low-speed until blended. Scrape bowl, and beat 4 minutes on medium speed. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool.
To make the frosting: In a large mixing bowl, combine the whipped topping mix and 1/2 cup root beer. Beat until soft peaks form. Spread on top of cake. Best kept in the fridge until ready to serve.