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This Texas Sheet Cake is so simple to make! It’s one of the easiest chocolate cake recipes to make and it is rich and covered in chocolate icing. This is the perfect cake for any party or gathering.

Texas Sheet Cake slice on white plate
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Texas Sheet Cake is a classic dessert that originated in Texas. Texans wanted to make their own style of the classic German Chocolate Cake, so they came up with this.

It’s a cake that lives up to its name. Just like Texas this has a bold, rich chocolatey flavor, and it’s huge!

How to make a Texas Sheet Cake:

This cake is made as the name says, on a sheet pan. That’s why this is such a Texas-sized cake.

Prepare your batter and then spread over the sheet pan. While it is baking prepare the frosting. Once cooled, ice the cake and enjoy.

Ingredient Notes:

  • Flour: I used all-purpose flour.
  • Sugar
  • Salt
  • Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
  • Butter: I used unsalted butter
  • Water
  • Buttermilk
  • Eggs
  • Baking Soda
  • Vanilla Extract
ingredients for the Texas sheet cake

Directions:

Step one: Get started by preheating your oven to 350 degrees. Then prepare a sheet cake pan with non-stick cooking spray.

Step two: In a large mixing bowl combine flour, sugar, and salt. Then set aside for later.

Step three: Use a saucepan to melt your butter with unsweetened cocoa powder and once melted add water and ring to a boil then remove from heat.

melting butter and cocoa powder

Step four: Add melted butter mixture to your flour mixture and mix until just combined.

Step five: Last use a mixing bowl to whisk the buttermilk with egg, baking soda, and vanilla. Add them to your other mixture and mix them together.

mixing wet and dry ingredients

Step six: Add this to your sheet pan and bake for 20 minutes or until cooked through.

batter in baking sheet

How to make the frosting:

The frosting is very easy to make. Melt your butter and when melted add in your milk and powdered sugar until it boils.

Then add in your other ingredients mixing well. Pour over the warm cake so it covers it all!

Ingredient Notes:

  • Butter: I use unsalted.
  • Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
  • Milk: I use 2% milk
  • Vanilla Extract
  • Powdered Sugar
  • Pecans: Chopped for topping.

Directions:

Step one: To prepare your frosting start by melting your butter and whisk in your milk and unsweetened cocoa powder. Bring to a boil then remove from heat. Mix in vanilla extract.

  • Tip: Be care not to overheat and burn the butter and cocoa. Melting butter is a very quick process.

Step two: Add in powdered sugar and mix until well combined. Last add in chopped pecans.

baked Texas sheet cake iced in sheet pan

Step three: Pour over warm cake and allow to cool before serving.

What size sheet pan should I use?

I use a 13 x 18 inch sheet pan.

One like this pan is perfect to use. If you are going to use a 9 x 13 add about 15-20 minutes to the bake time.

slice of Texas sheet cake slice on serving knife

Making Ahead Instructions:

The best way to make a Texas sheet cake ahead of time is to prepare and bake your cake the day before and make your frosting the day of.

The frosting gets hard as it cools so adding it to the cake while still warm is the best way to get it on.

Prepare and bake your cake. Allow it to cool then cover with plastic wrap or foil and place in the fridge for up to 3 days.

When you are ready to serve prepare frosting and pour it onto the cake. Allow frosting to cool then serve.

Texas Sheet cake slice closeup

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Texas Sheet Cake

Texas Sheet Cake

This Texas Sheet Cake is so simple to make! It's one of my favorite cake recipe, its rich and chocolatey and bakes in just 20 minutes. 
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Resting time: 15 minutes
Total: 35 minutes
Servings: 15 servings
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Ingredients 

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Frosting:

  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 6 tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 3/4 cup pecans, (chopped)

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a sheet cake pan with non-stick cooking spray. 
  • Combine flour, sugar, and salt. Set aside for later. 
  • In a sauce pan melt butter with unsweetened cocoa powder and once melted add water and ring to a boil then remove from heat.
  • Add melted butter mixture to your flour mixture and mix until just combined.
  • In mixing bowl whisk buttermilk with egg, baking soda, and vanilla. Add then to your other mixture and mix together. Add this to your sheet pan and bake for 20 minutes or until cooked through.

Frosting:

  • Melt butter and whisk in milk and unsweetened cocoa powder. Bring to a boil then remove from heat. Mix in vanilla extract.
  • Add in powdered sugar and mix until well combined. Last add in chopped pecans.
  • Pour over warm cake and allow to cool before serving.

Video

Notes

Making Ahead Instructions:

The best way to make a texas sheet cake ahead of time is to prepare and bake your cake the day before and make your frosting the day of. The frosting gets hard as it cools so adding it to the cake while still warm is the best way to get it on. 
Prepare and bake your cake. Allow it to cool then cover with plastic wrap or foil and place in the fridge for up to 3 days. When you are ready to serve prepare frosting and pour onto cake. Allow frosting to cool then serve. 

Nutrition

Calories: 475kcal | Carbohydrates: 71g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 75mg | Sodium: 332mg | Potassium: 78mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 56g | Vitamin A: 655IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 1.2mg
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About Jennie

I'm Jennie! I'm a busy mom of three and I love cooking and sharing easy recipes. From slow cooker meals to casseroles all my recipes are simple to make and ones the entire family will love.

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