Coca-Cola Carrot Cake

Cake:
2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup Coca-Cola
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 tablespoons cocoa
2 1/4 cups raw carrots, grated
3 eggs
1 cup nuts, chopped
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup coconut, flaked

Mix all the dry ingredients together. Beat the eggs well; add sugar, oil, Coca-Cola and vanilla extract and beat well. Stir in the dry ingredients until smooth, then add the carrots, nuts and coconut. Mix well. Bake in a greased and lightly floured 13 x 9-inch pan in a preheated 350 degree F oven for 40 to 50 minutes, until cake tests done.

Remove from oven and prick hot cake all over with a fork, then pour the Coca-Cola Syrup slowly and evenly over the top. Serve warm or room temperature with lightly sweetened-vanilla flavored whipped cream.

Coca-Cola Syrup:
3/4 cup granulated sugar
6 tablespoons butter
2 teaspoons cocoa
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
6 tablespoons Coca-Cola
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine sugar, cocoa, Coca-Cola, butter and corn syrup in a saucepan; bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil, stirring, until thick and syrupy, about 5 minutes. Add vanilla extract. Remove from heat and immediately pour over hot cake.