Texas sheet cake recipe
This Texas sheet cake recipe makes a rich, fudgy chocolate sheet cake topped with warm cocoa icing. Quick, crowd-pleasing, and perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
- For the Cake:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter 2 sticks, melted
- 1 cup water
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup sour cream at room temperature
- 2 large eggs at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- For the Frosting:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter 1 stick
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/3 cup milk whole milk or 2%
- 4 cups powdered sugar sifted for smoothness
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup chopped pecans optional, but classic
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 10x15-inch jelly roll pan or sheet pan.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt.
- Cook cocoa mixture: In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in water and cocoa powder until smooth. Bring just to a boil, then remove from heat.
- Combine wet & dry: Pour the hot cocoa mixture over the dry ingredients. Stir until combined.
- Add eggs & sour cream: Mix in eggs, sour cream, and vanilla until smooth and glossy. Batter will be thin.
- Bake the cake: Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 20–22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Make frosting: While the cake bakes, melt butter in a saucepan. Stir in cocoa powder and milk. Bring to a gentle boil, then whisk in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth.
- Frost while warm: As soon as the cake comes out of the oven, pour the warm frosting over it. Spread quickly—frosting sets fast! Sprinkle with pecans if using.
- Cool & serve: Let cool at least 30 minutes before slicing.
Notes
- Don’t overbake: This cake is thin, so check at 18 minutes.
- Frost warm: Pour icing while the cake is hot so it soaks in slightly.
- Sift powdered sugar: Prevents lumpy frosting.
- Use room temp eggs & sour cream: Helps batter mix smoothly.
- Work fast: The frosting sets quickly, so have a spatula ready.