Classic Texas Sheet Cake Recipe: Homestyle Chocolate Delight

Chocolate lovers unite for a decadent dessert that promises pure indulgence.

This classic Texas sheet cake recipe delivers a rich, moist masterpiece that melts in your mouth.

Generations of bakers have cherished this Southern favorite for its simplicity and incredible flavor.

Smooth chocolate goodness blankets a tender cake base with a glossy, irresistible frosting.

Every bite brings pure comfort and nostalgia to your table.

The recipe combines straightforward ingredients with a foolproof method that even novice bakers can master.

Let’s find out this delightful chocolate experience that will become your new go-to dessert for any occasion.

How to Bake Texas Sheet Cake Perfectly

• Oven Preparation Warm and Ready

Crank up your oven to a toasty 350°F, giving your baking pan a light touch of grease to prevent any sticky situations.

• Chocolatey Base Mixture

Melt butter, water, and cocoa in a saucepan, creating a silky smooth liquid that promises rich flavor and excitement.

• Dry Ingredient Celebration

Combine flour, sugar, and a whisper of salt in a spacious mixing bowl, setting the stage for cake magic.

• Liquid Meets Dry

Gently pour the warm chocolate mixture into your dry ingredients, stirring until everything dances together harmoniously.

• Egg and Cream Magic

Crack in eggs one by one, then fold in sour cream and vanilla, transforming the batter into a dreamy, creamy delight.

• Baking Adventure

Spread the batter evenly in the pan and slide it into the oven, letting it bake until a toothpick comes out clean.

• Decadent Chocolate Topping

Whip up a luscious icing by blending butter, cocoa, and milk, creating a glossy chocolate blanket for your cake.

• Final Flourish

Pour the warm icing over the cake, letting it cascade down the sides, then sprinkle with pecans if you’re feeling extra indulgent.

• Cooling and Serving

Allow the cake to cool completely, then slice and serve this irresistible chocolate comfort to eager friends and family.

Flavor Tips for Texas Sheet Cake Richness

• Smart Tips for Texas Sheet Cake
• Use room temperature butter for smoother mixing and better cake texture, ensuring ingredients blend seamlessly.
• Select high-quality Dutch-processed cocoa powder for deeper, richer chocolate flavor that elevates the entire dessert.
• Line your baking sheet with parchment paper for easier cake removal and guaranteed clean edges every single time.
• Toast pecans briefly in a dry skillet before adding to the cake or frosting to intensify their nutty, warm flavor profile.
• Check cake doneness early to prevent drying out; a few moist crumbs on the toothpick mean perfect, tender results.

Serving Texas Sheet Cake with Flair

• Chocolate Lover's Dream: Serve this decadent Texas Sheet Cake with a cold glass of milk or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the ultimate chocolate indulgence.
• Party Pleaser Presentation: Slice into neat squares and arrange on a decorative platter, garnishing with a light dusting of powdered sugar or extra chopped pecans for a professional touch.
• Dessert Pairing Perfection: Complement the rich chocolate flavor with a hot cup of coffee or espresso, creating a classic flavor combination that brings out the cake's deep cocoa notes.
• Weekend Brunch Delight: Cut into smaller bite-sized pieces and serve alongside fresh berries or a fruit compote to balance the cake's intense chocolate flavor and add a refreshing element to your spread.

Storage Tips for Texas Sheet Cake

• Fridge-Friendly Strategy: Store your Texas sheet cake in an airtight container, keeping it refrigerated for up to 5 days. Cover tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to maintain moisture and prevent absorption of other refrigerator odors.
• Freezer Magic: Slice the cake into individual portions before freezing. Wrap each piece separately in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Frozen cake stays delicious for 2-3 months, perfect for sudden sweet cravings.
• Room Temperature Delight: Leave the cake at room temperature for up to 2 days if serving soon. Place a clean kitchen towel loosely over the top to keep it fresh and prevent drying out.
• Smart Serving Tips: Cut cake pieces with a warm, clean knife for smooth edges. Separate layers with parchment paper when stacking in storage containers to prevent sticking and maintain the cake's beautiful texture.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Calories: 350 kcal

Servings: 25

Texas Sheet Cake Ingredient Essentials

• Sugar: Provides deep sweetness and helps create a tender cake texture with beautiful caramelization.
• Eggs: Bind ingredients together and add richness and structure to the cake's crumb.

• All-Purpose Flour: Creates the fundamental structure and provides necessary gluten for cake's consistency.
• Cocoa Powder: Delivers rich chocolate flavor and beautiful dark color to the cake.
• Baking Soda: Ensures proper rising and lightness of the cake by creating air bubbles.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances the sweetness.

• Butter: Adds incredible flavor, moistness, and creates a smooth, tender cake texture.
• Water: Helps blend ingredients smoothly and keeps the cake moist.
• Sour Cream: Introduces tanginess and creates an incredibly soft, tender cake crumb.

• Confectioners' Sugar: Provides smooth, silky texture and sweet base for the icing.
• Cocoa Powder: Intensifies deep chocolate flavor and creates rich dark color.
• Butter: Helps create glossy, spreadable icing with luxurious mouthfeel.
• Milk: Adjusts icing consistency and helps blend ingredients seamlessly.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds complex depth and rounds out chocolate's flavor profile.

• Pecans: Optional crunchy topping that adds nutty richness and textural contrast.

Tools to Make Texas Sheet Cake Smoothly

• Large sheet pan (13×18 inch): Essential for spreading the cake batter evenly and achieving the classic thin sheet cake texture.
• Saucepan: Perfect for melting butter and creating the rich chocolate base mixture.
• Large mixing bowl: Crucial for combining dry ingredients and mixing the cake batter smoothly.
• Whisk: Ideal for blending ingredients without creating lumps and ensuring a consistent mixture.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Necessary for accurately portioning ingredients like sugar, flour, and cocoa powder.
• Wooden spoon or spatula: Great for stirring and folding ingredients together gently.
• Toothpick: Helpful for checking cake doneness by testing for moist crumbs.
• Sifter: Useful for ensuring confectioners' sugar is lump-free when making the icing.
• Electric mixer (optional): Can help achieve a smoother batter if you prefer, but not mandatory.

Decadent Texas Sheet Cake Recipe

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4.7 from 29 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 25 1x

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Description

Rich chocolate Texas sheet cake delivers pure indulgence through its moist, tender crumb and silky chocolate frosting. Quick chocolate lovers will adore this classic Southern dessert that melts in your mouth with intense cocoa flavor.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 cups (473 ml) sugar
• 2 cups (240 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (227 g) butter (for cake)
• 1 cup (237 ml) water
• 2 large eggs
• ¼ cup (25 g) cocoa powder (for cake)
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ¼ cup (60 ml) sour cream
• ¼ cup (57 g) butter (for frosting)
• ¼ cup (25 g) cocoa powder (for icing)
• 1 box (454 g) sifted confectioners’ sugar
• ¼ cup plus 2 tbsps (89 ml) milk
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• Optional: chopped pecans

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Ignite the oven to 350°F (175°C) and meticulously coat a 13×18-inch sheet pan with butter or cooking spray.
2. Cocoa Base: Melt butter, water, and cocoa powder in a saucepan over medium heat, whisking until a silky, uniform mixture forms.
3. Dry Ingredients: Combine sugar, flour, and salt in a large mixing bowl, ensuring even distribution.
4. Batter Formation: Pour the molten cocoa mixture into dry ingredients, stirring vigorously to create a consistent batter.
5. Egg Integration: Whisk eggs and baking soda into the mixture, blending thoroughly until a smooth consistency develops.
6. Final Mixing: Fold in sour cream and vanilla extract, stirring until the batter achieves a glossy, even texture.
7. Baking Process: Spread the batter evenly across the prepared pan and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick emerges with minimal crumbs.
8. Icing Creation: In a saucepan, combine butter, cocoa powder, and milk, bringing to a gentle boil while continuously stirring.
9. Icing Finish: Remove from heat and whisk in powdered sugar and vanilla extract until the mixture becomes perfectly smooth.
10. Cake Completion: Pour warm icing over the hot cake, allowing it to cascade down the sides. Optionally, sprinkle chopped pecans while the icing is still warm.
11. Serving: Allow the cake to cool completely in the pan for approximately one hour before slicing into delectable squares.

Notes

• Prevent Dry Cake: Measure ingredients precisely and avoid overmixing to maintain moisture and tenderness.
• Cocoa Powder Tip: Use high-quality unsweetened cocoa for rich, deep chocolate flavor and smooth texture.
• Icing Consistency Check: Whisk powdered sugar gradually to achieve a glossy, pourable icing without lumps.
• Pan Preparation Hack: Use parchment paper for easy cake removal and clean cutting of perfect squares.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 25
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 25 g
• Sodium: 150 mg
• Fat: 15 g
• Saturated Fat: 9 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 50 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 40 mg