Chocolate Dr. Pepper Cake

What is better than chocolate cake with a touch of cinnamon?  One that can have different toppings every time you make it.  This was a hit with the kids on a creek float day.  Don't want nuts?  Use coconut and coconut extract in the topping instead of peanuts and vanilla.

  1 Cup Salted Butter                            1/2 Cup Sour Milk

  1 Cup Dr Pepper                                1 Tsp baking soda

  1/2 Cup Cocoa                                 Topping

  1 1/2 Tsp Cinnamon                            1/2 Cup Dr Pepper

  2 1/2 Cups All Purpose Flour               1/4 Cup Salted Butter

  1 Cup sugar                                        3 Tbl Cocoa

  1 Cup Brown Sugar                            3 Cup Powdered Sugar

  1/2 Tsp Salt                                        1/2 Cup Dry Roasted Peanuts

  2 Large Eggs                                     1 Tsp Vanilla
  1 Tsp Vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease and flour a 15 x 10 x 1 inch pan, set aside.

Melt butter and add Dr. Pepper.  Set aside.

Sift together flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt, and cocoa.  Set aside.

Beat together eggs, sour milk, vanilla, and baking soda.   

Add hot Dr. Pepper mixture.  Stir in flour mixture and blend well.  Pour into pan and bake for 25 minutes.

Just before the cake is done, put the powdered sugar, nuts and vanilla in a bowl.  

Put the butter and cocoa in a pot and heat until the butter is melted.   

Remove from heat and add the Dr. Pepper.  Pour over the sugar mixture and stir until well blended.

When the cakie is done, remove cake from the oven.   

Spread 1/2 of the topping on the cake while it is still hot.  Wait 15 minutes, carefully add remaining topping.