Texas Sheet Cake – Rich, Moist Chocolate Sheet Cake Topped with Chocolate Frosting and Toasted Pecans. Tried-and-True, Quintessential Texas Dessert Recipe.
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My friend Kelly Jaggers is back with another wonderful dessert recipe! Her nostalgic memories behind this recipe, beautifully expressed, make it taste even sweeter. ~ Tori
One of my most treasured possessions is a cookbook that was created by the PTA of my elementary school. The cookbook was a fundraiser for a computer lab, something that was almost unheard in the early 1980’s, and contains recipes for everything from appetizers to desserts. The recipes were submitted by staff and students, and it contains mostly easy to make, kid-friendly recipes for tried-and-true family favorites.
My father and mother were members of the PTA, and along with the board they saw that the students needed to become computer literate to compete in the future. The problem was a lack of funds. While the school district agreed that computers were the wave of the future, there was little budget for a computer lab that could accommodate an entire classroom of students at one time. Never ones to back down in the face of adversity, the PTA decided to raise the funds needed though a series of fund raisers. We had a school carnival where we sold tickets to play games, enter a maze, and participate in a raffle for prizes donated by local businesses. We also had an auction presided over by my father, and we sold cookbooks.
I remember that putting the book together was quite a chore. All the recipes were submitted by students and teachers, and there was even art work created by the students for each section. It took the help of a lot of people to transcribe the recipes considering our school only had two computers. The volunteers would type up each handwritten recipe, format each page, and finally, once it was all printed, bind each book. The book clocked in at a hefty 282 pages! It was a labor of love, and when it was all said and done our school had 14 new state-of-the-art (for the time) Apple IIe computers!
As I said before, many of the recipes are for kid-friendly fare, as the kids were asked to submit their favorite treats, but some of the recipes are a little more mature and challenging. There are even some exotic recipes such as gulab jamon (fried dough balls soaked in cardamom syrup from India) and Singapore Style Fried Chicken (fried chicken marinated in five spice powder and Shaoxing wine). I have used the book as a resource in the past since the recipes are very reliable.
A Texas made cookbook isn’t complete without the quintessential Texas dessert – Texas Sheet Cake. The origins of this cake are a little murky, as are the claims from Texans far and wide that it is our invention. The cake became popular in the South in the 1950’s just after German Sweet Cake or German’s Chocolate Cake became popular. The Texas Sheet Cake has a similar flavor, but is much, much easier to prepare, making it immensely popular.
What I know for certain is this cake is one of my absolute favorites. It is a staple of holidays, birthday parties, and pot lucks from Houston to El Paso, and it is easy to understand why. The cake is baked and served in a jelly-roll pan and it is incredibly moist. The fudge like frosting is poured onto the cake while it is piping hot, so it soaks into the top of the cake just a little, and you can add some toasted pecans if you like (and I do like). The cake is simple to prepare, it actually tastes best baked a day ahead, and it requires no fancy decorating skills.
If you want the best possible Texas Sheet Cake I recommend you use full fat sour cream, whole milk, and regular, not Dutch-processed, cocoa powder. Some recipes I have tried substitute ½ cup buttermilk for the sour cream, but I prefer the sour cream version as I find the cake has a better texture. If you don’t like nuts, by all means do not add them, but a Texas Sheet Cake is not the same without toasted pecans. If this cake is being baked for the holidays add a teaspoon of cinnamon in with the dry ingredients for some spicy warmth.
Food Photography and Styling by Kelly Jaggers
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Texas Sheet Cake
Ingredients
Cake Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup butter (2 sticks)
- 1 cup water
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Frosting Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter, melted (1 stick)
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1 pound powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 1 cup chopped pecans, toasted (optional)
NOTES
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350°F and spray a 13-inch x 18-inch x 1-inch jelly roll pan with non-stick cooking spray. In a large bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. Whisk the mixture until well combined and set aside.
- In a medium sauce pan over medium heat add 1 cup of butter, water, and 1/3 cup cocoa powder.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring often, then remove from the heat and add to the flour mixture. Mix to combine then add the sour cream, eggs, and vanilla and mix thoroughly.
- Spread the mixture into the prepared pan and bake for 20-22 minutes, or until the cake springs back when gently pressed in the center and the edges of the cake are coming away from the sides of the pan.
- While the cake is baking prepare the frosting. In a medium bowl combine ½ cup melted butter, milk, and ¼ cup cocoa powder and mix until smooth. Add the powdered sugar to a large bowl and add the butter mixture and vanilla.
- Whisk until no lumps remain. Cover with plastic wrap or a damp tea towel until the cake has finished baking.
- Pour the frosting on the cake as soon as it comes out of the oven. Spread the frosting to the edges of the cake.
- Then immediately sprinkle the toasted pecans over frosting.
- Let the cake cool completely to room temperature before serving.
Nutrition
tried this recipe?
Let us know in the comments!
Jan says
I live at high altitude. Do I need to adjust the recipe? If so, how? Thank you.
Sally says
Hi
Do I add the HOT chocolate mix to the flour, or should I
Allow it to cool before adding.
Thank you,
Sally
Marcus says
Cocoa powder is not the same as hot chocolate mix.
Diane Green says
Every time I make this cake it is commented on with good review. Instead of pecans I have done the Andie’s mints pieces which they love. Now at a get-together I hold a sheet of paper down the middle and sprinkle half mint and half pecan.
Great cake recipe, and if your from Texas it needs to be in your cook book we love it here.
ASHLEY E STANKOWICH says
I make it every all the time .My mother is from Texas i am a Texan at heart i was born in Pennsylvania but its in my cook book .
Stephanie says
I made this!! So YUMMY!!
Abby (@ No Fail Recipes) says
This cake is so good. I have made it twice now. The first time I followed the direction exactly and it was wonderful. The 2nd cake, I used brown sugar in the cake recipe instead of the regular sugar and that was really good too!
LaTrice says
I can’t wait to make this scrumptious Texas Sheet Cake very soon!!
teresa says
dont havd a jellyroll sheet pan can i use a cookie sheet instead and can i use margarine instead of butter.i live in calgary so with the powered sugar do i measure out 16 ozs on the measureing cup.thanks for your time
Susan says
I have been making this for many years. No on cookie sheet/ use a 9x 13 if no jelly roll pan. No on the margarine-won’t be good. 2 cups of powdered sugar will work for the 16 oz. I do use a little more – probably 2&1/2—3 cups by the time I’m done. Be sure to pour & spread the frosting on while cake is HOT. I always serve the cake the NEXT day…
Geri Grimes says
Just printed this out from the newsletter! Can’t wait to make it for our next Oneg or Taste of the Town event for our Synagogue, especially since I am a resident of Central Texas y’all!!!
Edi Fu. says
Is there anything else I could use instead of the sour cream?
Sandy Spencer says
In our family we have used sour cream, buttermilk or mayo. All are great!
Penn says
Greek yogurt
Helen Burton says
Have been living in Texas since 1978. This is the first time I have heard of this cake. Looks great.
Patricia Carberry-Harris says
Yes, I think I do need this!
Debbie Nazaroff says
Made mine last Wednesday, for National Chocolate Cake Day!
Noah Sarid says
That looks amazing!
Karen says
My handed down recipe for this Texas sheet cake calls for the buttermilk, or vi egaf added tl milk jf nk buttermilk on hand. I m going to try the sour cream version on my next cake. I also mix the nuts in with the icing, instead of on top. ? Im sure delicious either way!! Very old recipe!
Mary Plate Carlsen says
Wow! This looks just like my Aunt Suzie’s chocolate cake (and she’s from Texas!) 😉 It’s my favorite…soo rich and delicious!
Lilly Hayden says
sweet!! i’m definitely making this!! Delicious and easy- perfect combination!
Suzie Bergstrom says
<3
Teresa Sanders says
My gosh, this looks so good!
Anna Ash Yarow says
I’d make it in a flash as I ❤️ your recipes but doing the 21 day fix(so far so good). I’ll save this recipe. Between you and the #overtime cook and her #somethingsweet cookbook I have gotten out of control!!!
Katy Hall says
I was just talking about that cake today at the office!