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    Serena Lissy » Recipes » Recipes

    Published: Jun 14, 2021 · Modified: Jan 8, 2022 by serena · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Texas Sheet Cake

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    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.

    Texas Sheet Cake in a jelly roll pan topped with pecans.

    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

    Ingredients for Texas Sheet 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

    Texas Sheet Cake Process
    • 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

    • Chocolate Cake with Earl Grey Buttercream
    • Simple & Easy Sugar Cookies
    • Red Wine Chocolate Cupcakes
    • S’mores Cake

    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.

    Looking For More Recipes?

    Subscribe to my free newsletter to get new baking tips in your inbox monthly. Find me sharing new recipes and tips on Pinterest, Instagram, or Facebook.

    Piece of Texas Sheet Cake

    Texas Sheet Cake

    Moist chocolate cake is topped with creamy, fudgy chocolate frosting and chopped pecans. This Texas-sized cake is perfect for large gathering and will satisfy any chocolate-lovers cravings.
    5 from 13 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 11 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Cooling Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 1 minute minute
    Servings: 35 pieces
    Calories: 176kcal
    Author: Serena

    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

      Recipe Source: SerenaLissy.com
      This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database via Spoonacular API, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators. While this information can be helpful in estimating the nutritional information of a recipe, it is by no means accurate or official and is not evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
       
      All images and content are copyright protected. Do not use our images without prior permission.

      Nutrition

      Serving: 1Piece | Calories: 176kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 74mg | Potassium: 58mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 187IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg
      Tried this Recipe? Pin it Today!Mention @SerenaLissy or tag #serenalissy!

      As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases. What that means is if you click on one of our affiliate links, they may toss a few pennies our way for a commission.

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      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Jessica Terry says

        January 06, 2018 at 7:00 pm

        I have never done a sheet cake before. This looks like something easy enough to do and I am sure my whole family would love it!

        Reply
        • serena says

          January 07, 2018 at 12:33 pm

          It's super simple and delish. Enjoy 🙂

          Reply
      2. Jean says

        January 06, 2018 at 9:26 am

        What a great recipe! I have never heard of this type of cake before, but now I totally want to give it a go! I could do with a slice right about now with a nice cup of tea 🙂

        Reply
      3. Jeanine says

        January 06, 2018 at 8:10 am

        Yum! I have never had a sheet cake before. This looks and sounds amazing though and like something my whole family would rather enjoy!

        Reply
      4. BRittany says

        January 05, 2018 at 6:17 pm

        I grew up on sheet cakes! I have been making a bunch of them lately and I would love to try this one out! My kids would flip!

        Reply
        • serena says

          January 07, 2018 at 12:37 pm

          It's delicious and super easy to make. Enjoy 🙂

          Reply
      5. Erica says

        January 05, 2018 at 1:23 pm

        Am I the only one who had never heard of Texas sheet cake? I was totally expecting to see a pic of a vanilla cake in the shape of Texas. Haha. So I looked it up online after I read your post and now realize this is totally a thing. And it looks so good! I love chocolate nutty cake. Yum!

        Reply
        • serena says

          January 07, 2018 at 12:36 pm

          LOL! I had no idea either!

          Reply
      6. kimberly lewis says

        January 05, 2018 at 10:16 am

        this looks so good! can you deliver to Utah? lol

        Reply
        • serena says

          January 07, 2018 at 12:35 pm

          LOL! Nope but you can easily make it 🙂

          Reply
      7. Terri Steffes says

        January 05, 2018 at 7:38 am

        I can honestly say that the Texas sheet cake is probably my all time favorite dessert, especially served warm with good vanilla ice cream!

        Reply
        • serena says

          January 05, 2018 at 8:37 am

          YUM! Going to have to give that a try!

          Reply
      8. BRIANNE says

        January 05, 2018 at 7:14 am

        What a delicious cake. I don't think I've ever had this before but now want to try it!

        Reply
        • serena says

          January 05, 2018 at 8:41 am

          It's a super tasty cake. Definitely worth a try

          Reply
      9. Hirra Pervaiz says

        January 05, 2018 at 3:34 am

        I always wanted to try Texas Sheet cake. Your recipe seems easy to follow. I'm definitely trying it out soon.

        Reply
        • serena says

          January 05, 2018 at 8:40 am

          Thanks! Yes, it's super simple

          Reply
      10. Cindy Ingalls says

        January 04, 2018 at 9:34 pm

        Love the addition of the pecans!

        Reply
        • serena says

          January 05, 2018 at 8:38 am

          Yes, it's really a nice combo

          Reply
      11. Maria Katsulos says

        January 04, 2018 at 7:08 pm

        I've lived in Texas for my whole life and I've never even heard of this, OMG. But I see pecans and I click, LOL. Definitely have to try this!!

        Reply
        • serena says

          January 04, 2018 at 8:48 pm

          I thought the same thing? I was wondering if I was the only person out there that lived in TX and hadn't heard of it. Glad I'm not alone 🙂

          Reply
      12. Melissa Chapman says

        January 04, 2018 at 12:08 pm

        That sheet cake looked amazing and I love nuts on my desserts. I think that cake goes well in any season so I will consider it now while we are snowed in.

        Reply
        • serena says

          January 04, 2018 at 8:47 pm

          I'd definitely consider it while snowed in. Great way to take your mind off the yucky weather

          Reply
      13. Krystal Butherus says

        January 04, 2018 at 11:26 am

        I'm always interested in recipes that are simple to make, looks good and tastes good. This looks like it does not disappoint!

        Reply
        • serena says

          January 04, 2018 at 8:46 pm

          Nope it didn't. Definitely a tasty cake

          Reply
      14. Cara @ Street Smart Nutrition says

        January 04, 2018 at 8:59 am

        I remember growing up eating Texas sheet cake - I always looked forward to the end of the meal because I knew it was coming up next! And pecans are my favorite so I love that you piled them onto your version of this cake!

        Reply
        • serena says

          January 04, 2018 at 9:02 am

          It took me a while to develop a love for pecans, but now I use them all the time. yum!

          Reply
      15. Taylor Aube says

        January 04, 2018 at 8:57 am

        This sheet cake looks so yummy and sounds so easy to make. I really love pecans so that added touch really makes this quite the treat!

        Reply
        • serena says

          January 04, 2018 at 9:02 am

          The pecans are such a nice addition to this. Thanks 🙂

          Reply
      16. Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says

        January 04, 2018 at 3:31 am

        This looks delicious - I don't think I have ever tried Texas Sheet Cake before!

        Reply
        • serena says

          January 04, 2018 at 9:01 am

          This was the first for me also.

          Reply
      17. Michelle says

        January 04, 2018 at 1:54 am

        Whoa, that's one loaded cake! Looks incredible.

        Reply
        • serena says

          January 04, 2018 at 9:00 am

          Thanks so much 🙂

          Reply
      18. Natalie says

        January 03, 2018 at 11:46 pm

        what a delicious cake! Looks so good!

        Reply
        • serena says

          January 04, 2018 at 9:00 am

          Thanks so much!

          Reply
      19. Marie says

        January 03, 2018 at 9:46 pm

        Oh my! 🙂 This looks so fudgy and delicious. Love the addition of pecans on top for that tasty crunch!

        Reply
        • serena says

          January 03, 2018 at 10:14 pm

          Those pecans are a nice addition, and I think if I didn't use them someone in Texas might kick me out of Austin 🙂

          Reply
      20. Jillian says

        January 03, 2018 at 9:26 pm

        I love Texas sheet cake but I may become addicted to this recipe!

        Reply
        • serena says

          January 03, 2018 at 9:31 pm

          I can't believe I went all these years without it! I'm kinda addicted to it also 🙂

          Reply
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