If you're looking for a recipe that is moist, rich, and will please any crowd…look no further than this Texas Sheet Cake Recipe. Texas Sheet Cake is a classic southern recipe that's easy to make and full of flavor. This cake has all the features of your favorite chocolate sheet cake with an extra sweet and crunchy touch from toasted pecans on top! The perfect dessert for your next party or family get-together.
What is a Texas Sheet Cake?
There are a lot of stories about the origin of Texas Sheet Cake, but many indicate a similarity to a recipe that appeared in the Dallas Morning News in 1957. Of course, its name is also likely inspired by the cake's large size. It seems that everything is bigger in Texas--cake included. Cooked in a massive jelly roll pan this cake is perfect for serving at large gatherings.
My First Sheet Cake
I have been coming back and forth from California to Texas for well over a decade. I have now lived in Austin for quite a while and in all this time I have never had a Texas Sheet Cake. And I probably would not have had one if it weren't for Bake from Scratch magazine. Which I must say, I'm slightly obsessed with.
Since this is the first recipe from the magazine that I have tried and also my first Texas sheet cake, I left the recipe exactly as written. I wanted to see how their recipes were written, to know if they were easy to follow, and most importantly, if they worked.
This recipe did not disappoint. At first, I thought it was just going to be too sweet. But the flavors all came together and it turned out to be a nice, rich, fudgy cake. Put on some warm chocolate frosting with a spread of toasted pecans...How could it really be bad?!?
Ingredients for The Cake
Just like the cake, this is a sizable list of ingredients, but you should have most in your pantry and the whole thing comes together very easily.
- Granulated Sugar
- Water
- Canola oil
- Whole buttermilk
- Unsalted butter
- Eggs
- Vanilla
- All-purpose flour
- Unsweetened cocoa powder
- Ground cinnamon
- Baking soda
- Kosher salt
- Toasted pecans
- Whole milk
- Confectioners sugar
How to Make Texas Sheet Cake
- In a bowl: Mix together sugar, water, canola oil, buttermilk, butter, eggs, and vanilla.
- In a second bowl: Mix together cocoa powder, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.
- Combine: Gradually add flour mixture to sugar mixture.
- Pour into sheet pan: Pour mixture into prepared sheet pan and spread with a spatula.
- Bake: At 400° for about 20 minutes, until cake springs back when lightly touched.
How to Make the Frosting
- In medium saucepan: Combine butter and milk cooking slowly until butter is melted.
- Whisk in: Powdered sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla, salt and cinnamon.
- Pour over: The chocolate cake while still warm. Spread with spatula and top with chopped pecans.
Is a Sheet Cake the Same As a Regular Cake?
Close but not the same. The main difference is the size of the pan. A sheet cake is usually cooked in a 15 x 10 jelly roll pan. A regular cake is usually cooked in a 9 x 13 cake pan.
Do You Need to Refrigerate The Cake?
No it's not necessary. It may last a little longer if covered and stored in the refrigerator. Now if you actually live in Texas where it is warm and humid, I'd suggest the refrigerator.
More Cake Recipes To Try
Would I Make It Again?
I'm excited to report that the recipe worked, it was easy to follow and had no glaring errors. You know the kind... The ingredient list has listed 2 cups of sugar, but the directions to make the recipe only uses 1 cup of sugar. I have no doubt everyone reading this has experienced this at least once in his or her life. From my time at America's Test Kitchen we saw that a lot when researching and testing recipes from other sources.
So I hope you like this cake as much as we did. I will say, it would make a great 4th of July dessert if you find yourself needing one. If you are looking for other simple and quick recipes you could try Apple Cinnamon Muffins or even more simple are our Special K Bars. If it's summer and it's just too hot to turn on your oven, you could always go with Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream.
Please let us know if you make the recipe and how it turns out for you. We are going to continue with our Friday food reads, so please follow along as we work our way through our cookbooks to test and try recipes.
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Texas Sheet Cake
Ingredients
Cake
Bake From Scratch
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup canola oil
- ½ cup whole buttermilk
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
- 2 large eggs lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup chopped toasted pecans
Frosting
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- ⅓ cup whole milk
- 1 pound confectioners' sugar
- ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400° F. Spray a 15x10 inch jelly roll pan with baking spray and then dust with flour.
- In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, 1 cup water, oil, buttermilk, melted butter, eggs and vanilla until smooth.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. Gradually add flour mixture to sugar mixture, whisking until smooth. Pour batter into prepared pan.
- Bake until cake springs back when lightly touched in center, about 20 minutes. Pour warm chocolate frosting over the cake, spreading with a spatula. Sprinkle with chopped pecans.
- Let cool completely before serving.
Frosting
- In a medium saucepan, combine butter and milk. Cook over medium low heat, stirring occasionally, until butter is melted. Whisk in confectioners sugar, cocoa, vanilla, salt and cinnamon until smooth. Use immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
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Nancy says
I was introduced to Texas Sheet Cake when I started working in an office about forty years ago (yikes!). Anyway, I thought it was common knowledge in office culture. I haven’t made it in years because I have no willpower when it’s around.
So, here’s the thing—my recipe is basically the same *but* it starts out with heating the water, then dumping the rest of the cake ingredients to the pot. The same with the frosting—heat water and add cocoa, powdered sugar, etc., to the pot. And no cinnamon but I know other recipes include cinnamon.
Also, I’ve seen recipes that use sour cream or plain yogurt in place of the buttermilk.
So, I’ve said enough and I hear a Texas Sheet Cake calling my name:
oh Naaannnccy • come bake
Texas Sheet Cake 🧏♀️
Jeanette says
One of the best cakes I have ever made and/or eaten. Fun and easy to make, I think my five year old grandson could take a spoon and eat the whole thing (it's that good) with a glass of milk.
Dar says
Love Texas Sheet Cake.
Mother in law introduced me to it 48 years ago. Unfortunately my husband was military for 32 years & we ended up in Colorado Springs twice and have lived here for 19 years. That means we are at 7000 ft above sea level. I have tried all the usual fixes to stop it from rising too much too quickly. The first time I baked at altitude I had an oven FULL of Texas Sheet Cake!
The only way to bake it safely is to put it in a triple sheet cake pan with the regular height lip. It bakes up without overflowing but changes the consistancy of the cake making it to tall and airy, losing the fudgey consistancy!
Thanks for introducing others to this heavenly cake. Be very careful trying to make it at high altitude!
If anyone knows of a sure fire cure for this, please let all of us up here in the thin air know the secret.
Trish says
Been making for years, I put walnuts on top.
Tina Dugger says
For special occasions, my family always requested that I make it.I have made this for years. If you are one that has not made it, try it you won't be disappointed. It is absolutely 💯 heavenly. Especially while it is still a little warm. You won't regret making it.
Linda says
I'll take that corner cut!
Luna says
This looks simply delicious. I'll have to try it!
Oscar says
This recipe looks so good, can't wait to make it this weekend.
Nora says
Love this sheet cake! It really has a little bit of everything! Delicious!
Jerika says
Would love to try this Texas Sheet Cake with my daughter.:) This will be the first time we will be trying it. Thanks!:)
Freya says
This was full of so much good stuff and tasted fantastic! Loved how easy it was to make!
Alexandra says
So delicious - the perfect treat!
Andrea says
love this sheet cake and how easy it is to make! so good!
Jan says
wonderful sheet cake recipe
Lexas says
This texas sheet cake was absolutely delicious. Gone in no time!
Sara says
I'd never heard of Texas cake before, but man does it look glorious, I could have the whole thing.
Nailil says
This looks absolutely delicious. I love the big chunks of nuts on top. And the recipe doesn't seem so hard to make. I need to try this.
ayana pitterson says
I have never had one before either. I am honestly not a sweets fan but everyone in the family is for sure. I do like the simplicity of the recipe though and might give this a try.
Renee @ The Good Hearted Woman says
Texas sheet cake is always trouble. First you take one tiny little piece, and then another tiny little piece, and pretty soon if you're not careful, you'll have pieced and slivered your way through a quarter of the cake! (Seriously, this looks delicious! Love the pecans.)
serena says
You are so correct! That's exactly what happened!