Extra moist, richly chocolatey, smothered with a glossy fudge frosting, this Texas Sheet Cake recipe takes the classic you know and love and amps it up a notch. I’ve tweaked this recipe to absolute perfection and I think you’ll love my take on this well-loved sheet cake. Recipe includes a how-to video!
I originally shared this recipe for Texas Sheet Cake over on Spend with Pennies!
I’m so in love with this cake. The tender chocolate crumb, the sleek, fudgy, shiny frosting, how simple it is to make…
Chocolate lovers, you’re going to want to try this one.
Chances are you’ve had or at least heard of Texas sheet cake before (fun fact: Texas sheet cake didn’t actually originate in Texas, just like German chocolate cake isn’t from Germany!). It’s a southern classic, baked in a jelly roll pan and perfect for bringing to a party or potluck. Or polishing off by yourself, I don’t judge.
Texas sheet cake is a classic, and the age-old recipe was almost perfect as-is. Almost. You know I can’t resist tweaking anything I try, and this recipe was no exception. I wanted the crumb to be just a bit softer, moister, more flavorful, and richer than the original, and oh did we get there. I took a few notes from my (best ever) chocolate cake recipe:
- Brown sugar in addition to granulated adds both moisture and a depth of flavor.
- A splash of vanilla extract, for added flavor of course.
- A sprinkle of instant coffee enhances the chocolate flavor without making the cake taste like coffee.
- Extra cocoa powder, for an even more intense chocolate flavor.
These small modifications make this cake a chocolate-lover’s dream.
And that frosting! That beautifully glossy blanket of chocolate fudge frosting is simple to make and absolutely heavenly. It’s made on the stovetop like a ganache, but it’s not quite as heavy, instead it’s light and melts in your mouth, giving way to that perfect chocolate crumb.
Storing
Chances are you won’t have any leftovers. But just in case you want to make it in advance:
Texas sheet cake can be stored covered or in an airtight container at room temperature for several days. It will keep longer in the refrigerator, but keep in mind that the fridge tends to dry out cakes, even if they are covered. This cake can also be frozen. Allow it to cool completely and then cover tightly with plastic wrap and freeze for up to 2-3 months.
Enjoy! For a peanut buttery variation, try my peanut butter sheet cake!
More Chocolate Recipes to Try:
Let’s bake together! Head on over to my YouTube channel where I’ve already uploaded over 200 recipe videos that you can watch for free!
The Best Texas Sheet Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter cut into 8 pieces
- 1 cup (235 ml) water
- ⅓ cup (33 g) cocoa powder
- ½ cup (125 g) sour cream
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups (300 g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (100 g) light brown sugar, firmly packed
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon instant coffee optional
FROSTING
- 6 Tablespoons whole milk
- ½ cup (113 g) salted butter cut into pieces
- 6 Tablespoons natural cocoa powder
- 4 cups (500 g) powdered sugar sifting is recommended (after measuring) to avoid any lumps
- ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup toasted pecans optional, see note
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and thoroughly grease and flour a 10x15 jelly roll pan (or spray with baking spray).
- Combine butter, water, and cocoa powder in a medium-sized saucepan over low heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the butter is melted. Increase heat to medium and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and allow mixture to cool for 15-20 minutes.1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, 1 cup (235 ml) water, ⅓ cup (33 g) cocoa powder
- While butter/cocoa mixture is cooling, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and instant coffee in a large bowl.2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour, 1 ½ cups (300 g) granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon baking soda, ¾ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon instant coffee, ½ cup (100 g) light brown sugar, firmly packed
- In another bowl, whisk together sour cream and eggs and vanilla. Stir this into your dry ingredients until combined.½ cup (125 g) sour cream, 2 large eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Once the chocolate mixture has cooled for at least 15 minutes, stir into your flour/sour cream mixture until mixture is smooth and completely combined.
- Spread batter into prepared jelly roll pan and bake on 350F (175C) for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- Once cake has finished baking (or several minutes before), begin preparing frosting.
FROSTING
- Combine milk and butter in a medium-sized saucepan and cook over medium/low heat until butter is melted. Once butter has melted, remove from heat and whisk in cocoa powder until combined. Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract and whisk until smooth.6 Tablespoons whole milk, ½ cup (113 g) salted butter, 6 Tablespoons natural cocoa powder, 4 cups (500 g) powdered sugar, ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pour over cake while cake is still warm. If using pecans, sprinkle over frosting now.1 cup toasted pecans
- Allow frosting to harden (about one hour) and then slice and serve!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Liz
I want to make this and know leftovers can be frozen but could I half the recipe and make it in a 1/4 sheet cake pan for a small gathering? It sounds delicious and I’m never afraid to try new recipes on friends and family when they come from you as I know they will always turn out delicious. Thanks.
Sam
Hi Liz! I think that would work great, enjoy!
Jennifer
Question: can I make this three days in advance? Would it still be fresh? Wanted to make for thanksgiving.
Also, should I keep it in the fridge if I’m making it ahead?
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Hi Jennifer! We actually cover this in the post 😊
Susan
This is the BEST sheet cake I have ever made!!! I have to bring it everywhere I go! My son’s friends (a bunch of big guys) just love it!! Thank you for sharing your talents and recipes!
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
So happy it’s such a hit for your crew, Susan! Thanks for coming back to let us know how you like it ❤️
Kathy
Made this for a large gathering yesterday and it was a huge hit! The amount of sugars nearly put me off but I pushed ahead and I’m glad I did. Almost everyone asked for seconds!
Gregg
Hi Sam, I don’t see where the brown sugar is incorporated into the recipe. What am I missing?
Thanks, Gregg
Sam
Hi Gregg! You’ll want to stir it in at step 3. I’m sorry it should say “sugars” not just sugar. 🙂
Cheryl
This was sooo good. I made it in a glass 9 x13 x 2. Baked at 325 for 28 minutes. It was thicker than a traditional Texas Sheet Cake but our family is all about the cake! A little trouble with the frosting because I had a hard time getting it smooth when I added the cocoa. Using a wire whip helped but it was getting thicker so I added the powdered sugar and a bit more milk to make it pourable. The frosting was good and enjoyed it as a change from buttercream. Definitely make this again!
sarah
Everyone loved it! It was even requested as a birthday cake. Thanks for the recipe!
Sam
I’m so glad everyone enjoyed it so much, Sarah! 🙂
Kinze
Is there a way to add cherries to this recipe without messing it up? Like cherry pie filling or canned cherry?
Sam
Unfortunately I don’t have a good suggestion for adding cherry unless you added it on top afterwards.
Sophia
Best sheet cake recipe I’ve made! Will be consistently coming back to this one!
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much, Sophia! 🙂
Jennifer
Delicious! This tastes just like the sheet cake my mom made when I was growing up. My entire family loved it. We will be using this recipe many times. Thank you.
Sam
I’m so glad everyone enjoyed it so much, Jennifer! 🙂
Harriet Armstrong
Could you brewed coffee instead of instant coffee granular coffee and if so how much?
Sam
Hi Harriet! That will work just great. You can replace the 1 cup of water with coffee. 🙂
Maureen
Do you use sweetened or unsweetened cocoa powder?
Sam
Hi Maureen! Unsweetened cocoa powder here. 🙂
Linda
In my grandmother’s sheet cake there was always a hint of cinnamon. Have you ever made your cake with it in it?
Sam
Hi Linda! I have not tried it in mine. This has an incredible flavor as it is. 🙂
Arron
I’ve never made Texas Sheet Cake before but I have someone requesting it for their birthday and I have yet to have one of your recipes disappoint. My question is, do you think this would work if I tried to do 9 inch round cakes and stack them? Any suggestions on making it work?
Sam
Hi Arron! It is a super moist cake so it tends to fall apart when baked that way. I have baked it in a 9 x 13 and it was just pretty crumbly so I’m not sure it would end up being stackable. You could use my chocolate cake. It’s an excellent cake. 🙂
Bina
I halved the recipe and made it in a 7″x10″ pan. It seems a bit thicker than the cake in the pic but it is delicious! I just had three pieces :-/ The cake itself is moist and nice and the frosting decadent. I will say that like some other reviewers, I had to add more water (I ran out of milk) in the frosting to make it pourable. I also did not end up using all the powdered sugar (which is good, since I had three pieces of cake in one sitting) because the consistency was fine and the sweetness was fine too. I think I used 2/3 or 3/4 of the actual amount. I topped it with chopped walnuts — yummy!!!
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed the cake so much! 🙂
Bina
Actually, make that four pieces :-/ I made myself give some to neighbors and a friend so I wouldn’t finish the rest of it. They all enjoyed it.
Quick question… I want to make it again for a family get together but a few of the family members do not eat eggs. I first was thinking about using an egg substitute but then I came across a very similar recipe to yours that did not use eggs at all. Thoughts on this? Do you think I can just leave them out or would you recommend I sub something else for the eggs? If so, what?
Thanks for your help!
Sam
I definitely have had to give stuff away so I stopped eating it so you aren’t alone! Unfortunately I am not quite sure how make this egg free. If you do try a substitute and it works I would love to know what you did. 🙂
Bina
Me again. I left the eggs out but followed everything else the same. The batter was quite thick but the cake turned out pretty yummy (texture was a touch off, but not that noticeable). It will work for the family get together for the egg-free peeps. I wonder if I should add more water or a touch more sour cream to make the batter easier to spread?
Sam
Unfortunately I don’t know how adding more will liquid will work here. 🙁
Rose Ruble
I made this cake today for my daughter’s 50th Birthday. It’s been a long time since I’ve made this cake. I noticed in some of the recipes it calls for buttermilk, is there a difference in taste????
Sam
Hi Rose! Some recipes rely on chemical reactions from the buttermilk. I am sure there are taste differences, but you can’t go wrong with this one. 🙂