Description
Texas sheet cake is a rich and moist chocolate dessert topped with creamy frosting and optional pecans. Perfect for potlucks, holidays, or celebrations, this easy sheet cake recipe is a crowd-pleaser that’s both simple to make and easy to customize.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cake:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ⅓ cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder
- 1 cup boiling water
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 sticks (1 cup) + 1 tbsp unsalted butter
For the Frosting:
- 1½ sticks (12 tbsp) unsalted butter
- ¼ cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder
- 6 tbsp whole milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2½ cups powdered sugar
- Optional: ½ cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 18×13-inch baking sheet with butter.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, and salt.
- In a saucepan, melt 2 sticks of butter. Stir in cocoa powder, then add boiling water. Whisk until combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla extract.
- Pour the chocolate mixture and buttermilk mixture into the dry ingredients. Mix until smooth.
- Spread the batter evenly on the prepared sheet pan.
- Bake for 17–20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- While cake bakes, prepare frosting: melt 1½ sticks butter, whisk in cocoa powder, milk, and vanilla, then stir in powdered sugar until smooth.
- Immediately after removing cake from oven, pour warm frosting evenly over the cake.
- Sprinkle with chopped pecans if desired. Let cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- Toast pecans before adding for extra flavor.
- Spread frosting quickly as it sets fast.
- Use gluten-free flour and dairy-free milk for allergy-friendly versions.
- Add cinnamon or espresso powder for flavor depth.
- Substitute buttermilk with ½ cup milk + 1½ tsp lemon juice or vinegar.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: ~310
- Sugar: ~28g
- Sodium: ~160mg
- Fat: ~16g
- Saturated Fat: ~10g
- Unsaturated Fat: ~5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: ~40g
- Fiber: ~1g
- Protein: ~3g
- Cholesterol: ~60mg