Texas Sheet Cake
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Posted: 03/18/24
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Looking for a delicious and easy dessert to make for your next family gathering? Look no further than this amazing recipe for Texas Sheet Cake! Perfect for any occasion, this classic dessert is sure to be a hit with everyone.
If you’ve never tried Texas sheet cake, then you’re missing out! You’ve gotta try out this incredible dessert. It’s a more dense and fudgey type cake with a unique and sugary frosting. If you’re a chocolate lover, you’d love every single bite of this rich sweet treat! As the saying goes, everything’s bigger in Texas and this cake serves 20 — so it definitely lives up to its name.
While this is not a traditional sheet cake, it is so yummy! But if you want a more traditional recipe, then check out my chocolate sheet cake recipe. But you really should give this cake a try, it will blow your mind. So full of chocolate flavor and incredibly simple to make!
Why You’ll Love this Texas Sheet Cake
- The prep time for this recipe is only 15 minutes. Then pop it into the oven and let it bake to perfection. Ultimately, it’s faster than many other cake recipes!
- This large cake is great for parties and gatherings. Serve tons of people with just one cake.
- Leave the dry and mealy cakes behind because this cake is always moist and fluffy. The best texture ever!
Ingredients for this Texas Sheet Cake Recipe
- All purpose flour – For best results, use a high quality all purpose flour to make the cake.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder – Use some unsweetened cocoa powder to make the sheet cake and the frosting extra chocolatey and rich.
- Water – Water will help bring the ingredients together for the cake batter.
- Vanilla extract – Add depth of flavor to the cake and the frosting with some vanilla extract.
- Eggs – Allow the eggs to come to room temperature before mixing them into the batter.
- Butter – You’ll need butter for both the cake and the icing, so make sure that you have plenty on hand!
- Granulated sugar – Sweeten the rich chocolate Texas sheet cake with some granulated white sugar.
- Salt – A little bit of salt helps to bring out the chocolate flavor and balance the sweetness of this cake.
- Baking soda – Use baking soda as the rising agent to make this cake perfectly fluffy.
- Buttermilk – The bite of buttermilk gives this cake a lovely flavor and a classic Southern flair.
- Powdered sugar – Thicken and sweeten the frosting with some powdered sugar!
Helpful Tools
How to Make Texas Sheet Cake
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and then grease an 18×13 inch cake pan.
Add water, butter, and cocoa powder to a medium saucepan and bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat.
While that’s going, mix together the all purpose flour, white sugar, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. In a small bowl, mix together the buttermilk, eggs and vanilla extract.
Add the egg mixture to the flour and mix with a silicone spatula until combined.
When the chocolate mixture on the stovetop is boiling, remove it from the heat and add it to the batter. Mix with a whisk until well combined and no lumps remain.
Then pour the chocolate cake batter into the previously prepared pan and smooth it out with the silicone spatula so that it is an even layer.
Bake for 15-20 minutes until set, and once the cake is about halfway through baking you can start making the frosting.
Mix together milk, cocoa and butter in a saucepan and bring the mixture to a boil. Once it boils, remove it from the heat and whisk it into powdered sugar and vanilla extract.
Pour the completed icing over hot cake and spread it out evenly. Allow to set for 10 minutes, then slice and eat!
How to Store Leftover Texas Sheet Cake
Cover the sheet pan tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, or transfer the slices of cake to an airtight container. Store at room temperature for up to a week. You can also store in the fridge to extend the life of the cake.
Freeze leftovers for up to 2 months, allow to thaw completely before serving!
What is the difference between a layer cake and sheet cake?
A layer cake is most often circular and is made out of multiple layers of cake and frosting. The layers are also more thin than sheet cake too. A sheet cake is just one rectangular sheet of the fluffy dessert that is covered in frosting on the top. Neither is “better” than the other, but sheet cakes are much easier to make!
Why is it called a Texas sheet cake?
There are a few varying thoughts as to why this is called a Texas sheet cake. Some say that the dessert showed up in Texas newspapers and is therefore named after the location. Others say that since the cake is extra large it fits the Texas theme that everything is bigger in Texas!
Pro Tips for the Best Texas sheet Cake Recipe
- Add toppings like shredded coconut, pecans, walnuts, sprinkles, etc. You can customize it however you want!
- Unlike other cakes, you do not have to wait for the cake to cool to add the icing. Just pour it on and let it set.
- Don’t slice the cake until the frosting sets well. You’ll want it to be a set layer so that it stays firm when you cut through!
The best Texas sheet cake ever, and it’s so easy to make! Enjoy a fun and simple recipe!
More Delicious Cake Recipes!
- Pineapple Cake is one of my most favorite summer desserts because it’s so light and refreshing.
- Make this Strawberry Poke Cake when you want a fun treat with a surprise in the middle.
- Carrot Bundt Cake is a classic that never gets old and is perfect for any occasion.
- During the fall, this Pumpkin Cake is a cozy, spiced-cake favorite. So easy to make and absolutely delicious!
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!
Texas Sheet Cake
Looking for a delicious and easy dessert to make for your family? Look no further than this classic Texas Sheet Cake recipe that is sure to please everyone's sweet tooth!
Video
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Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup butter
- 3 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Frosting
- 6 Tablespoons milk
- 3 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ cup butter
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a 18×13 inch pan.
- Add water butter cocoa powder to a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring mixture to a boil.
- Meanwhile, in a separate bowl mix together the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt.
- In another small bowl mix together the buttermilk, eggs and vanilla.
- Add egg mixture to the flour mixture and mix with a spatula until combined.
- Once the chocolate mixture in the saucepan is boiling, remove it from heat and pour it into the batter. Mix with a whisk until combined and no lumps remain.
- Pour mixture into the prepared pan and smooth with a spatula to make sure it is dispersed in an even layer.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15-20 minutes or until set.
- When the cake is about half-way through cooking, prepare the frosting.
Frosting
- Add milk, cocoa and butter to a saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil.
- Once boiling, remove it from the heat and stir in powdered sugar and vanilla using a whisk.
- Pour hot icing over hot cake. Use a spatula to spread it evenly over the cake. Allow frosting to set for about 10 minutes before eating.
Tips
Cover the sheet pan tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, or transfer the slices of cake to an airtight container. Store at room temperature for up to a week. You can also store in the fridge to extend the life of the cake.
Freeze leftovers for up to 2 months, allow to thaw completely before serving!
Nutrition Information
Serving: 1piece, Calories: 355kcal (18%), Carbohydrates: 55g (18%), Protein: 3g (6%), Fat: 15g (23%), Saturated Fat: 9g (56%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 54mg (18%), Sodium: 239mg (10%), Potassium: 62mg (2%), Fiber: 1g (4%), Sugar: 44g (49%), Vitamin A: 464IU (9%), Vitamin C: 0.01mg, Calcium: 24mg (2%), Iron: 1mg (6%)
Phyllis K Wright says
Adding a bit of ground cinnamon to the cake with the dry ingredients knocks the top off. Really super.
Archer City, TX