We Southerners have been eating cola cake for decades. This easy version has strawberries, too. Chill it in the fridge for a dreamy summer dessert. —Peggy Walpert, Fort Worth, Texas
It’s up to you how to enjoy this cocktail—eat it with a spoon as a chilled soup, or use tortilla chips or crackers for scooping. —Erin Moreno, Arcadia, Wisconsin
My grandmother gave me this 7UP pound cake recipe. On top of being delicious, this 7UP cake represents family tradition, connection and love. —Marsha Davis, Desert Hot Springs, California
I was looking for a fun, easy weeknight dinner based on our favorite shrimp dish that was healthier than fast food. This has become a favorite! —Susan Seymour, Valatie, New York
All nine men in our family love roughing it outdoors. My beans with bacon and apples is a “must ” to keep their outdoor energy going. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada
This slider recipe was created by accident when we had a surplus of root beer from a party. Now we can’t have barbecue any other way! —Eden Dranger, Los Angeles, California
This is the kind of recipe your kids will look back on and always remember. And you don’t even need to use an oven. —Cindy Reams, Philipsburg, Pennsylvania
This gelatin is enjoyed by everyone because you just can’t go wrong with fresh berries. —Nicole Nemeth, Komoka, Ontario
For more than 30 years, my brother-in-law Jim kept his famous rib recipe a secret. When he finally shared it, we just had to pass it along because we loved it so much. This one’s for you, Jim! —Vicki Young, Brighton, Colorado
Cauliflower florets are deep-fried to a crispy golden brown, then coated in a sauce with just the right amount of kick. This is a fun alternative to the classic chicken dish.—Nick Iverson, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
I wanted to cook a ham but didn’t have the ingredients for my usual glaze recipe, so I made substitutions. You can, too! Instead of black cherry, try another flavored soda, or use sweet-and-sour sauce in place of duck sauce. —Edith Griffith, Havre de Grace, Maryland
Here’s an easy recipe that’s versatile, too. Serve the saucy brats over rice for one meal and have them on buns the next. For extra punch, add a splash of root beer concentrate to the sauce. —Pam Thompson, Girard, Illinois
A friend who’s an excellent cook shared this hamburger recipe with me, and it has since become a family favorite. The unusual combination of cola and French salad dressing added to the ground beef gives it fabulous flavor. The mixture is also used as a basting sauce on the moist burgers.
-Melva Baumer, Millmont, Pennsylvania
I add root beer to both the cake batter and fluffy frosting of this summery dessert to get that great root beer float taste. Serve this moist cake to a bunch of hungry kids and watch it disappear! —Kat Thompson, Prineville, Oregon
Entertaining doesn’t get much easier than serving this tasty five-ingredient ham from the slow cooker. And the leftovers are delicious in casseroles! —Heather Spring, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
Club soda gives these crisp waffles a fluffy texture. With only four ingredients, homemade waffles don’t get much easier than this!—Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Greendale, Wisconsin
My gelatin ring gets a tropical twist from coconut, pineapple and macadamia nuts. It’s a wonderful anytime treat. Now that I’m retired from teaching, I have more time for kitchen experiments. —Carol Gillespie, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
Just six ingredients are required for the tasty mix that marinates these well-seasoned chops. Whip up the combination to marinate overnight, and you’ll have dinner on the table in no time tomorrow. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Root beer barrel candies and a spice cake-like batter give these cupcakes an old-fashioned flavor. Kids will especially love them! —Dot Kraemer, Cape May Court House, New Jersey
This pork roast is slow-cooked with savory and sweet ingredients, including a can of cola, to create tender shredded pork burritos. A tomatillo sauce, made easy with a dressing mix, tops the pork for an out-of-this-world entree. —Katherine Nelson, Centerville, Utah
This recipe is as hearty as it gets—part barbecued pork, part potatoes, but completely delicious. My family can’t get enough of this comforting, warm-you-up baked potato dish. —Shannon Harris, Tyler, Texas
It didn’t take long for this cake from the 1970s to become the favorite birthday cake of my husband, Joe. —Patty LaNoue Stearns, Traverse City, Michigan
My children have always loved root beer floats so I came up with this fudgy treat just for them. Sweet and creamy with that familiar root beer flavor, it’s always a best-seller at school bake sales. —Jennifer Fisher, Austin, Texas
My dad has been making a basic version of this family favorite for years. I’ve recently made it my own by spicing it up a bit with hoisin sauce and red pepper flakes. Sometimes I let the chicken and sauce simmer in my slow cooker. —Brigette Schroeder, Yorkville, Illinois
My husband is a huge fan of pulled pork sandwiches, so my sister shared this incredibly easy recipe with me. At potlucks and family dinners, nobody can get enough of this root beer-braised version. —Carolyn Palm, Radcliff, Kentucky
Cherry cola and marshmallows make a zippy chocolate dessert that is scrumptious topped with vanilla ice cream. — Cheri Mason, Harmony, North Carolina