Texas Sheet Cake is the perfect chocolate cake recipe made from scratch. Delicious chocolate cake made in a jelly roll pan and topped with a warm, homemade chocolate frosting.
If you love chocolate and you love cake, you’ve got to try this Texas Sheet Cake recipe. Made completely from scratch with very basic ingredients, this chocolate cake recipe makes enough to feed a crowd and the cake is absolutely amazing!
What is Texas Sheet Cake?
Texas Sheet Cake is a chocolate cake that is made in a jelly roll pan (10.5″X15″X1). The cake is made completely from scratch and so is the frosting and both are absolutely delicious! I tried to find out why this type of cake is called “Texas Sheet Cake” and it seems some people think it is named that because the cake is so big and others feel like it’s because the cake is so rich. But no matter why it has the name it does, this cake is amazing!
Ingredients in Texas Sheet Cake recipe
Butter: Make sure to use butter, not margarine. I prefer to use salted butter, since there is no additional salt added to the recipe.
Cocoa: Can’t skimp on the cocoa powder in the recipe since that’s where all the chocolate flavor comes from!
Water: Provides a lot of the liquid for the cake batter.
Buttermilk: Provides more liquid for the recipe and adds flavor and richness to the cake.
Baking soda: Acts as a leavening agent and helps to achieve the perfect consistency so that the cake isn’t too dense. Make sure your baking soda is fresh for best results.
Eggs: Eggs act as a binder for the cake and keep the cake from getting too crumbly. Make sure to beat the eggs a little bit before adding to the cake.
Vanilla extract: A little bit more flavor! I suggest using a good quality vanilla extract or a Vanilla Bean Paste. I linked my favorites!
Cinnamon: You only add a little bit and you can leave it out if you prefer, but there is enough of it in the recipe to magnify the taste of the cake.
Sugar: If there isn’t sugar, then it isn’t cake, right?!
Flour: You can use all-purpose or cake flour in the recipe – both work great!
Chocolate Frosting ingredients:
Cocoa powder: Adds the right amount of chocolate to the frosting.
Butter: Adds the richness and smoothness to the chocolate frosting.
Milk: Helps to thin out the frosting to a pourable consistency. Can use regular milk or almond/soy milk if preferred.
Powdered sugar: Adds all the sweetness to the frosting and helps to keep it smooth.
Vanilla extract: Again, I suggest using a good quality vanilla extract or a Vanilla Bean Paste. I linked my favorites!
How to make Texas Sheet Cake
Preheat oven to 350°.
Bring the butter, cocoa and water to boil over medium heat in a large saucepan. As soon as the mixture begins to boil, immediately remove from heat.
Add the buttermilk, baking soda, beaten eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, sugar and flour and mix together just until smooth. Don’t overmix!
Pour into a greased jelly roll pan (10.5X15 inches). Bake for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Make the frosting while cake is baking so that you can frost the cake while still warm.
How to make chocolate frosting:
Over medium heat in a small saucepan, bring the cocoa, butter and milk to a boil. As soon as it begins to boil, immediately remove from heat. Add powdered sugar and vanilla and mix until smooth. Pour frosting over warm cake. As soon as the cake is completely cooled, you can slice and serve.
Texas Sheet Cake
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter
- 4 Tbsp cocoa
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 2 beaten eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 cups flour
Frosting ingredients:
- 2 Tbsp cocoa
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/4 cup milk
- 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Bring the butter, cocoa and water to boil over medium heat in a large saucepan. As soon as the mixture begins to boil, immediately remove from heat.
- Add the buttermilk, baking soda, beaten eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, sugar and flour and mix together just until smooth. Don't overmix.
- Pour into a greased jelly roll pan (10.5X15 inches). Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- Make the frosting while cake is baking so that you can frost the cake while still warm.
How to make chocolate frosting:
- Over medium heat in a small saucepan, bring the cocoa, butter and milk to a boil. As soon as it begins to boil, immediately remove from heat. Add powdered sugar and vanilla and mix until smooth. Pour frosting over warm cake. As soon as the cake is completely cooled, you can slice and serve.
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What if I don’t have buttermilk?
If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, it’s very simple to make your own. You can add white vinegar or lemon juice to regular milk to make buttermilk. This recipe calls for 1/2 cup buttermilk, so you will need 1 1/2 tsp of either white vinegar or lemon juice to add to 1/2 cup milk. (You’ll want slightly less than 1/2 cup milk so that once you add the lemon juice or vinegar, you’ll have the 1/2 cup that you need.) Stir together and let the mixture sit for about 5 minutes before adding to the recipe.
OTHER INCREDIBLE CHOCOLATE DESSERTS YOU’RE GOING TO LOVE:
- Double Chocolate Mint Cookies
- Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Hot Chocolate Cookie Cups
- Chocolate Chip Coconut Pie
- Cherry Chocolate Cream Cheese Pie
- Easy Chocolate Fondue
- Chocolate Chip Banana Bars
- Cheesecake Chocolate Chip Cookies Bars
- Chocolate Caramel Peanut Butter Bars
- Homemade Hot Fudge Sauce
- Brownies with Cheesecake Frosting
- Chocolate Raspberry Cake
- 3 Ingredient Reeses Fudge
- Oreo Krispie Treats
- Cheesecake with Berries and Chocolate Ganache
Texas Sheet Cake is the perfect chocolate cake recipe made from scratch. Delicious chocolate cake made in a jelly roll pan and topped with a warm, homemade chocolate frosting.
Katie says
Looks so good! Can’t wait to try this one with my family.
wilhelmina says
This sheet cake is so dang delicious! It is a favorite for just about any occasion!