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I love cake – moist layers with frosting in between and on top – how could the not be good?! Layer cakes are beautiful and fun, but sometimes they just aren’t practical. Large potlucks, family gatherings, picnics or feeding a child’s teammates call for a quicker cake that can serve a lot, but be just as delicious (or what I call a basic go-to cake). For me, this is the Texas sheet cake I grew up with. Mom would make this when we had a church potluck and my mouth would be drooling as I could hardly wait for the potluck to come! This is simple and practical, but something your family will want time and again!
Frosting the cake while it’s hot creates that fudgy layer between the cake and frosting that is so iconic of Texas sheet cakes!
Watch how to make this Texas chocolate sheet cake:
Texas Chocolate Sheet Cake
This homemade cake is a simple yet delicious dessert that's fit for any occasion. Chocolate and buttermilk form a moist cake while smooth and fudgy icing on top finishes off this exceptional treat.
Ingredients
For the sheet cake
- 2 cups white granulated sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 3 tbsp cocoa
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the chocolate frosting
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 6 tbsp whole milk
- 3 tbsp cocoa
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 ½ cups powdered sugar
Instructions
For the sheet cake
- Preheat oven to 350°F. In a small kettle, melt butter over medium heat. Add water and cocoa and bring to boil. Set aside.
- Sift sugar, flour, and salt into a large bowl (I sift directly into the bowl of my stand mixer). Pour hot butter, water and cocoa mixture over dry ingredients and mix well to incorporate. Add eggs, buttermilk, baking soda, and vanilla and mix.
- Pour into greased jelly roll style pan. Bake in preheated oven for 28-30 minutes until a toothpick inserted in cake comes out clean with a few moist crumbs. While the cake is baking, prepare the frosting.
- Let cool for 5 minutes, then frost with the following frosting.
For the chocolate frosting
- In a small kettle, melt butter with milk and cocoa and bring to boil. Pour into a large bowl and add vanilla and powdered sugar. Mix slowly to incorporate sugar, then on high to achieve a smooth frosting.
- While the cake is still warm, pour frosting over the top and spread evenly.
Nutrition
Serving: 1servingCalories: 313kcal
Kaleb, I love your videos! Watching them makes me want to bake. You make everything seems so easy and relaxing:)
Thanks so much Willow!