If chocolate is your thing, then this Texas sheet cake recipe is for you! This sheet cake recipe is super simple to make and is perfectly paired with a delicious Texas sheet cake frosting.
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What Makes Texas Sheet Cake so Unique
Texas sheet cake is one of the most classic sheet cakes. It is filled with wonderful chocolate flavor. This recipe especially highlights the chocolate flavor by boiling the butter, cocoa, and water together which activates the flavor.
It also features a wonderfully smooth chocolate pecan buttercream frosting to top off an already moist sheet cake.
Why is it called Texas Sheet Cake and what makes it different?
It is uncertain how Texas Sheet Cake got its name, but maybe it’s because it’s a big cake and, as you know, everything is bigger in Texas.
Texas sheet cake is also very similar to German chocolate cake. However, the main difference between the two is that German chocolate cake requires a more complex, multistep process, whereas Texas sheet cake is made easier by combining everything in one bowl.
Chocolate Sheet Cake Ingredients
You won’t need anything special or unusual for this chocolate cake. Just take a look to make sure you have enough of all the ingredients.
- All-purpose flour
- Sugar
- Baking soda
- Butter you can use salted butter or unsalted butter
- Cocoa
- Water
- Large eggs
- Buttermilk
- Vanilla extract
- Powdered sugar
- Pecans or Walnuts
Replace the Buttermilk
If you don’t have a jug of buttermilk at home, you can make your own. Combine 1 cup whole milk (or whatever milk is in the fridge) with 1 tablespoon of distilled white vinegar or lemon juice. Stir and let it sit for 5 minutes. You’re ready to go!
What size pan is needed to make this Texas sheet cake?
For this recipe, you will use a jelly roll pan that is 18″x26″. Some people like to use two half-sheet pans. If you would like to make this as a layer cake, then I would suggest using two 8-inch cake pans, you could also make this in a 9″x13″ baking pan.
Check out this guide on cake pan sizes.
How to Make Chocolate Texas Sheet Cake
- Bring 2 sticks of butter, cocoa, and water to a boil. Keep on the heat until you melt the butter. Remove from the heat.
- Add in the dry ingredients. Add the flour, sugar, and baking soda, and whisk to combine.
- Add the eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla, and stir until incorporated.
- Pour the batter into a 18×26-inch greased and floured pan. Bake at 350°F for 18 to 20 minutes.
- Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick in the center of the cake if it comes out clean, the cake is done. Remove the cake from the oven.
- Rest the cake on a wire rack.
How to Make Texas Sheet Cake Frosting
- While the cake is baking, bring 1 stick of butter, cocoa, and buttermilk to a boil.
- Add 1 box of powdered sugar, nuts, and vanilla. Stir the mixture until smooth.
- Pour the frosting over the cake.
Does Texas Sheet Cake have to be refrigerated?
This sheet cake does not require refrigeration. But if you live in a warmer area or you’d like the cake to last longer, it would be best to cover and refrigerate the Texas chocolate sheet cake.
Does this recipe freeze well?
Yes, you can freeze this cake! It actually turns out well frozen.
Either freeze the whole cake or slice it and freeze the slices individually. This sheet cake will last for 2 months in the freezer.
How many people does this sheet cake serve?
Depending on how you slice it, you can get anywhere between 12 and 20 pieces out of this cake.
The bigger the pieces the fewer there will be, so slice based on how many people you intend to serve.
This cake is so moist and delicious you’ll want to eat it with a spoon!
Love chocolate cake? Try these recipes!
- Chocolate Bundt Cake
- Chocolate Coca Cola Cake
- Chocolate Peppermint Bundt Cake
- Chocolate Pudding Cake
- Hershey Bar Cake
- Hot Fudge Cake
- Mississippi Mud Cake
- Red Velvet Cake
Favorite Chocolate Desserts and Sweets
- Chocolate Pudding Pie
- Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
- Cookie Dough Cheesecake
- Hershey Brownies
- Red Velvet Brownies
- Ultimate Red Velvet Cake Cheesecake
Check out more of my easy cake recipes and the best dessert recipes here on CopyKat!
Texas Sheet Cake
Ingredients
Cake
- 8 ounces butter plus extra for the pan
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1 cup water
- 2 cups all-purpose flour plus extra for the pan
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Frosting
- 4 ounces butter
- 4 tablespoons cocoa
- 6 tablespoons buttermilk
- 16 ounces powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans or walnuts optional
Instructions
Cake
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a baking sheet 18"x26".
- In a saucepan, bring the butter, cocoa, and water to a boil. Remove from the heat.
- Add the flour, sugar, and baking soda, and stir to combine.
- Add the eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla. Stir until well incorporated.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan
- Bake for 18 to 20 minutes.
- You can check for cake doneness by inserting a toothpick in the center of the cake and if it comes out clean, the cake is done.
Frosting
- While the cake is baking, prepare the frosting: Bring the butter, cocoa, and buttermilk to a boil in a saucepan.
- Add the powdered sugar. Stir only until smooth.
- Add the vanilla and pecans and stir to combine.
- Pour the frosting over the warm cake.
Corinne
Do you cool the cake before pouring the frosting on?
Stephanie Manley
I would let the cake cool to close to room temperature before frosting it.
Pat
You left out the tsp. cinnamon in the cake mix. That’s the main reason I love this cake because the cinnamon takes away the heavy chocolate flavor.
This is the very best cake and I have served it over and over through the years
Stephanie
My recipe didn’t come with cinnamon, but that sounds like a great addition to the recipe though! Thank you for sharing!