Description
A classic Southern chocolate dessert, this Texas Sheet Cake is rich, moist, and topped with a glossy, fudgy chocolate frosting. It’s baked in a sheet pan, making it easy to prepare and perfect for serving a crowd at potlucks, parties, or family gatherings. This easy Texas Sheet Cake recipe delivers decadent chocolate flavor without the fuss of layer cakes.
Ingredients
Scale
- Cake:
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 cups (400 g) granulated sugar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup (230 g) unsalted butter
- 1 cup (240 ml) water
- ¼ cup (25 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ cup (120 ml) buttermilk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Frosting:
- ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter
- ¼ cup (25 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ cup (60 ml) milk
- 3 ½ cups (420 g) powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup chopped pecans (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour an 18×13-inch sheet pan.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt.
- In a saucepan, combine butter, water, and cocoa powder. Bring to a boil, stirring until smooth.
- Pour the hot mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until blended.
- Whisk in buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla until the batter is smooth and glossy.
- Pour batter into the prepared sheet pan.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- While the cake bakes, melt butter in a saucepan. Stir in cocoa powder and milk. Bring to a simmer, then remove from heat.
- Add powdered sugar and vanilla, whisking until smooth. Stir in pecans if desired.
- Pour frosting over the warm cake as soon as it comes out of the oven. Spread evenly with a spatula.
- Allow cake to cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing into squares or rectangles.
Notes
- Use buttermilk for the richest, most moist cake.
- Pour frosting while the cake is warm so it seeps in slightly.
- Check cake at 20 minutes—do not overbake.
- Sift powdered sugar before making frosting for the smoothest texture.
- Optional pecans add crunch, but cake is delicious without them too.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice