This cake is a perfect example of my foodie motto put into action. More chocolate = more better. My mom gave me the recipe for Texas Sheet Cake several years ago. I’ve made it a few times, but it wasn’t very chocolatey. After looking at other recipes for Texas Sheet Cake that I found in old church cookbooks, I decided to double the cocoa in mom’s recipe. Now we’re talking! The photo doesn’t show the color as well I wish, but the extra cocoa gave the cake a deeper color and flavor – more like brownies.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 2 cups flour
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 stick butter
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 4 Tbs. cocoa
- 1 cup water
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup buttermilk (or milk soured with 1 Tbs. vinegar)
- 1 tsp. vanilla
In a large bowl, stir together the flour, salt, soda and sugar.
In a saucepan, combine the butter, oil, cocoa and water. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and stir into the dry ingredients. Then add the eggs, milk and vanilla, stirring by hand to combine. The batter will be thin. Pour into a greased jelly roll pan 10”x15”. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
This cake gets iced while both the cake and the icing are still hot. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 stick butter
- 4 Tbs. cocoa
- 3 3/4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 4 Tbs. milk
- 1/2 cup pecans
In a small saucepan, bring the butter and cocoa to a boil. Remove from the heat and add the powdered sugar, vanilla and milk. Stir it by hand until smooth, then stir in the pecans. Spread on the cake while the cake is still hot and the icing is hot.
Does anyone know why this is called Texas Sheet Cake? I’ve always assumed it is because it makes a large cake, but that might not be right.
A coworker brought this for a luncheon one day and I have been DYING to find the recipe! (she wrote it down, but I promptly lost it). Thank you!!!
Yum!! Do you think it would work to pour this batter into a muffin tin and make cupcakes?
Cathy, I bet that would work fine. I’m guessing that it will make about 24 cupcakes, but I’ve never done it so I don’t know for sure. Let us know how it turns out if you try it.
I agree about more chocolate being a good thing! Love this cake 🙂
This looks absolutely wonderful!
Thank you, I sure will!
I am so going to make this cake! I linked it on my blog too. Thanks!
This is a great recipe! Can’t wait to try it. The photo makes my mouth water.
Oh my, that looks YUMMY! I haven’t had a piece of that in a long time. I think I might can find all of the ingredients here in Guatemala. I’ll have to look around. I’d love to bake one, soon. 🙂
Chocolate and pecans? Count me in! This sheet cake sounds delicious.
So, I rarely have milk or buttermilk in the house, but almost always have yogurt. Could I substitute?? I’d leave out the pecans for my crew, otherwise this looks amazing!
I bet it would work just fine with plain yogurt or sour cream instead of the buttermilk. Let me know if you try it.
Made this last night and let me just say YUMMM!!!! I intended to add 1 tsp. cinnamon as this is they way my Aunt made it years ago. Didn’t miss it, and if it had been any better I’m sure I would have hurt myself 🙂 My 5 year old decided as she saw me baking that this would be a great opportunity for a “pretend” 6th Birthday party. We had candles, party hats, and your delicious cake. Nevermind that her b’day is 10 months away!
Happy “un-birthday” to your daughter! Sounds like a fun reason to celebrate to me!
I’m from Tx and we just call it sheet cake…lol Anyway it’s my favorite cake outside sour cream pound cake, which is to die for. My mom’ s recipe has cinnamon which is what makes it over the top wonderful. I haven’t made one in years. It was our family Christmas cake while I was growing up
Thank you for posting and reminding me what I’ve been missing.
I always thought when I saw recipes for Texas sheet cake it was because it started here. Might be the size thing. Oh and we make ours in a 9×13 and not a sheet pan… go figure..
I have a recipe very similar, but it omits the nuts and uses coffee in the recipe. Its one of my favorites!
Oooh! Coffee would be a great addition!