Texas Sheet Cake

A serving of chocolate sheet cake with fresh raspberries on the side.

A marvelous buttery, chocolatey, rich sheet cake coated with a butter-cocoa frosting and topped with toasted pecans. Super easy, decadent, and irresistible. You won't want to miss it!

Course Dessert

Cuisine Southern

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

Cooling Time 20

Total Time 50

Servings

Calories 725kcal

Author Imma

Ingredients

The Cake

8 ounces (227g) unsalted butter
1 cup (236ml) water
⅓ cup (28-30g) unsweetened cocoa powder
½ cup (110g) brown sugar, firmly packed
1½ cups (300g) granulated sugar
2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon (5g) baking soda
¾ teaspoon (4g) salt
½ cup (113g) sour cream (or buttermilk)
2 eggs
1½ teaspoon (7ml) vanilla extract

The Frosting

4 ounces (113g) salted butter
¼ cup (22g) unsweetened cocoa powder
⅓ cup (80ml) buttermilk (or whole milk)
1 teaspoon (5ml) vanilla extract
3½ cups (395g) powdered sugar
1 cup (120g) chopped pecans, toasted (optional, but highly recommended)

Instructions

The Cake

Preheat the oven to 350℉ (180℃).
Spray a 13×18-inch sheet pan or 11×16 jelly roll pan with cooking oil and line it with parchment paper. Set aside.
Heat the butter, water, and cocoa in a large saucepan on medium-high heat and bring it to a boil.
Remove the pan from the stove, stir in the brown and granulated sugar, then follow with the flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix until well blended.
Next, add the eggs, vanilla extract, and sour cream. Mix with a hand-held mixer or whisk until thoroughly combined.
Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan. Bake in a preheated oven for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Let it cool for about 20 minutes.

Chocolate Frosting

Heat milk, cocoa, and butter in a medium saucepan, bring it to barely a boil, then immediately remove it from the heat.
Stir in the confectioners' sugar and vanilla, and mix until blended. Spread the frosting over the warm cake.
Sprinkle with toasted pecans if desired. If it's for an easy birthday cake, sprinkles are festive.

Notes

Adjust bake time according to the sheet pan's size. For a thicker cake, use a smaller pan, but if you want a larger, but thinner cake, the size in the recipe is perfect.
Toasted walnuts work fine if you live somewhere pecans are harder to find. Spreading a cup of mini marshmallows on the top for the last 5 minutes of baking time is also great.
Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on the products used.

Nutrition