Texas Sheet Cake

Texas sheet cake is great because: 1) it’s chocolate 2) it’s easy 3) it’s quick 4) it’s delicious.

It’s also a wonderful base for a scoop of ice cream. The simple fact is that you can have this cake mixed, baked, frosted, and in your mouth faster than i takes to make a batch of brownies.

How is this not a great thing?

Texas Sheet Cake

Easy Step-By-Step Instructions for Texas Sheet Cake

greased cake pan
Lightly coat a 16 x 12 inch baking pan with non-stick spray for baking, and preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Texas Sheet Cake
Combine ½ cup butter, ½ cup shortening, ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa, and 1 cup water in a 2 quart sauce pan, and bring to a boil over medium heat. Stir frequently.
Dry ingredients for Texas Sheet Cake
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 cups granulated sugar, and ¼ teaspoon salt.
Texas Sheet Cake
Pour hot cocoa mixture over flour mixture and whisk until smooth.
beaten eggs
Gently beat 2 eggs, and …
Texas Sheet Cake
… add them, along with ½ cup buttermilk, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract to the cocoa mixture. Whisk just until incorporated—do NOT over-mix The baking soda and buttermilk will begin to react to create a bubbly leavening, so work quickly.
Texas Sheet Cake
Pour batter into prepared pan, and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. During the last 10 minutes of baking, prepare frosting.
Texas Sheet Cake
In 2-quart pan over low heat, melt ½ cup butter then add ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa and 6 tablespoons milk or cream. Increase heat to medium high, and stirring constantly, bring to a boil.
Texas Sheet Cake
Remove from heat, and whisk together with 1 teaspoon vanilla and 3 cups powdered sugar
Texas Sheet Cake Frosting with walnuts
Stir in 1 cup chopped walnuts, if desired.
Texas Sheet Cake
Remove cake from oven, and let rest on cooling rack for 3-5 minutes.
Pouring frosting on Texas Sheet Cake
Gently drizzle frosting over hot cake, and …
Texas Sheet Cake
… carefully spread.
Texas Sheet Cake
Be especially careful if you’re using nuts because they tear into the fragile cake.
Texas Sheet Cake
If I used nuts, I like to sprinkle a few on top of the frosting, too.
sliced Texas Sheet Cake
Cool completely, cut, and …
Texas Sheet Cake
… serve plain or …
Texas Sheet Cake with vanilla ice cream
… with vanilla ice cream.

Free Printable Recipe for Texas Sheet Cake

sliced Texas Sheet Cake

Texas Sheet Cake

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 16

Ingredients
  

Cake Ingredients:

  • ½ cup butter
  • ½ cup shortening
  • ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ cup buttermilk
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Frosting Ingredients:

  • ½ cup butter
  • ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa
  • 6 tablespoons milk or cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts optional

Instructions
 

Cake Directions:

  • Lightly coat a 16 x 12 inch baking sheet with non-stick spray for baking.
  • Combine butter, shortening, cocoa, and water in a 2 quart sauce pan, and bring to a boil over medium heat. Stir frequently.
  • Whisk together flour, sugar, and salt.
  • Pour hot cocoa mixture over flour mixture and whisk until smooth.
  • Gently beat eggs, and add them, along with buttermilk, baking soda, cinnamon and vanilla to the cocoa mixture. Whisk just until incorporated—do NOT over-mix. The baking soda and buttermilk will begin to react to create a bubbly leavening, so work quickly.
  • Pour batter into prepared pan, and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.
  • During the last 10 minutes of baking, prepare frosting.

Frosting Directions:

  • In 2-quart pan over low heat, melt butter. Add cocoa and milk (or cream), increase heat to medium high, and stirring constantly, bring to a boil.
  • Remove from heat, and whisk together with powdered sugar and vanilla. Add nuts, if desired.
  • Remove cake from oven, and let rest 3-5 minutes.
  • Gently drizzle frosting over hot can, and carefully spread. Be especially careful if you’re using nuts because they tear into the fragile cake.
  • Cool completely, cut, and serve.