Texas Sheet Cake is a true crowd-pleaser, known for its rich chocolate flavor, moist texture, and irresistible frosting. This beloved Southern dessert is perfect for any celebration or family gathering. It’s baked in a large sheet pan, making it easy to serve a crowd.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

Rich and Moist: The cake itself is incredibly moist, thanks to the combination of butter, buttermilk, and a dash of coffee. The result is a tender crumb that melts in your mouth.
Easy to Make: Texas Sheet Cake is straightforward and doesn’t require any special techniques. With just a few simple ingredients, you’ll have a dessert that looks and tastes like it came from a bakery.
Perfect for Feeding a Crowd: The beauty of Texas Sheet Cake lies in its size. With a large pan, this recipe serves a big group, making it ideal for parties, family gatherings, or celebrations.
Chocolate Lovers’ Dream: The chocolate cake base and the decadent chocolate frosting make this cake a must-try for any chocolate lover. It’s rich without being overwhelming, making it the perfect sweet treat.

Tips and Tricks

Use brewed coffee for depth of flavor: Coffee enhances the chocolate flavor in Texas Sheet Cake without making it taste like coffee. If you’re sensitive to caffeine or prefer a milder flavor, you can substitute the coffee with hot water.

Let the cake cool slightly: For the best frosting texture, let the cake cool for about 10-15 minutes before spreading the frosting on top. This helps the frosting set better, giving you that perfect, glossy finish.

Don’t overmix the batter: Once all your ingredients are combined, avoid overmixing the batter, as it can lead to a denser cake. Stir just until everything is incorporated.

Use buttermilk for extra moisture: Buttermilk makes the cake incredibly moist and adds a slight tang that balances the sweetness. If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, you can substitute it with a mixture of milk and a teaspoon of vinegar.

Frost the cake while it’s still warm: The warm cake absorbs the frosting better, resulting in a richer flavor and smoother texture.

Variations

Add chocolate chips: For a little extra texture, fold some mini chocolate chips into the batter before baking.
Switch up the nuts: If you’re not a fan of pecans, try adding walnuts or leaving the nuts out entirely for a smooth, nut-free cake.
Make it a caramel sheet cake: For a unique twist, you can make a caramel frosting instead of chocolate. The caramel adds a rich, buttery flavor that pairs wonderfully with the moist cake.
Top with fruit: Fresh berries, like raspberries or strawberries, can be added on top for a fresh contrast to the rich chocolate flavor.

How to Serve

Texas Sheet Cake is perfect on its own, but it’s also versatile when it comes to serving:

Classic Style: Serve it as-is, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a rich, indulgent dessert.
With a Coffee Pairing: The deep chocolate flavor pairs wonderfully with a cup of hot coffee or milk, making it an ideal dessert after a meal or with an afternoon break.
As a Party Dessert: Slice the cake into squares and serve it at parties, potlucks, or family gatherings. It’s easy to cut into portions and is perfect for large groups.

How to Store

Texas Sheet Cake stays delicious for several days when stored properly:

At Room Temperature: If you plan to serve the cake within 2-3 days, simply cover it with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and store it at room temperature. The cake will remain moist and fresh.
In the Refrigerator: For longer storage, store the cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will last up to a week and still retain its moisture and flavor.
Freezing: Texas Sheet Cake freezes well. To freeze, cut it into individual squares and wrap each piece tightly in plastic wrap before placing them in a freezer-safe bag. When ready to enjoy, thaw at room temperature or heat up in the microwave for a few seconds.

Recipe FAQs

1. Can I use a different pan size? Yes, if you don’t have a 9×13-inch pan, you can use a slightly larger or smaller one. Just keep an eye on the baking time, as it may vary slightly depending on the size of the pan.

2. Can I make the frosting ahead of time? Yes, the frosting can be made a day ahead of time. Simply store it in an airtight container in the fridge. Before using, bring it to room temperature and give it a good stir.

3. Can I make a half batch of this cake? Yes, you can easily halve the recipe to make a smaller batch. Just make sure to adjust the baking time accordingly.

4. How can I make this cake less sweet? If you find the cake too sweet, you can reduce the sugar in both the cake and the frosting. You can also try using dark chocolate cocoa powder for a more intense flavor.

5. Can I make this cake gluten-free? Yes, you can substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend, but make sure to check that it includes xanthan gum to help the cake rise properly.

Yield: 15

Texas Sheet Cake

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

For the Cake:

1 cup water
1 cup butter
3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
½ cup sour cream
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract

For the Frosting:

6 tbsp milk
3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
½ cup butter
3 ¾ cups powdered sugar

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease an 18x13-inch pan.
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine water, butter, and cocoa powder. Bring to a boil.
While the chocolate mixture heats up, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.
In a separate bowl, mix the sour cream, eggs, and vanilla until smooth.
Once the chocolate mixture is boiling, remove it from the heat and pour it into the dry ingredients. Stir until well combined and smooth.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until set (mine takes about 15 minutes).
While the cake bakes, make the frosting: In a saucepan, combine milk, cocoa powder, and butter. Bring to a boil.
Once boiling, remove from heat and stir in powdered sugar. Use a hand-held mixer if needed to smooth out any lumps.
As soon as the cake comes out of the oven, pour the hot frosting over the hot cake, spreading it evenly with a spatula.
Let the frosting set for about 10 minutes before slicing into this decadent dessert.
Any leftover cake can be stored in an airtight container for 2-3 days.

Nutrition Information

Yield

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 470Total Fat 21gSaturated Fat 13gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 6gCholesterol 79mgSodium 324mgCarbohydrates 69gFiber 1gSugar 54gProtein 4g

TastyFitnessRecipes.com, occasionally offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site. This information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although tastyfitnessrecipes.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.

Final Thoughts

Name: Texas Sheet Cake
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 15
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup water; 1 cup butter; 3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder; 2 cups all-purpose flour; 2 cups granulated sugar; 1 tsp baking soda; ½ tsp salt; ½ cup sour cream; 2 large eggs; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 6 tbsp milk; 3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder; ½ cup butter; 3 ¾ cups powdered sugar

Texas Sheet Cake is a fantastic dessert that’s as easy as it is delicious. It’s the kind of dessert you’ll make again and again, whether for family celebrations or just because you deserve a treat. With its rich chocolate flavor, moist texture, and decadent frosting, this cake is sure to become a favorite in your recipe collection!

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