Chocolate Sheet Cake

4.50 from 2 votes

This Texas Sheet Cake is a decadent classic. Moist chocolate cake baked in a large sheet pan that is topped with a warm chocolate frosting. It is easy to make and will disappear in no time.

Prep Time15

Cook Time25

Total Time40

Course: Dessert Recipes

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Author: Erin Sellin

Ingredients

Cake

1 cup water
1 cup unsalted butter
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup sour milk see notes below

Frosting

1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/3 cup sour milk see notes below
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 2/3 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup walnuts (optional)

Instructions

To make the cake

Preheat oven to 350º F. Grease and flour a 15x11 in jelly roll pan.
Bring water and butter to a boil in a small saucepan.
1 cup water, 1 cup unsalted butter
In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside
2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 cups granulated sugar, 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt
In a 2 cup measuring cup whisk together sour milk, eggs, and vanilla until well combined. Set aside.
2 large eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/2 cup sour milk
Once the water is boiling, add it to the flour mixture, stir until combined.
Pour in the milk mixture and mix until it is smooth and incorporated.
Pour into prepared pan, and bake for 20-25 minutes until a tester comes out clean.
Remove the cake from the oven and immediately prepare the frosting, you want to pour the frosting on the cake while it is still warm.

To make the Frosting

Heat butter, milk, and cocoa powder in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring frequently.
1/2 cup unsalted butter, 1/3 cup sour milk, 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract and powdered sugar until smooth and pourable.
2 2/3 cup powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
If you’re adding nuts to the frosting, you can gently fold them into the frosting. Or you can sprinkle them on top after it is frosted.
1 cup walnuts
Pour the frosting over the warm cake and spread into a thin layer.
Allow the frosting to set up for about an hour before serving.

Notes

To make sour milk, fill a 1 cup measuring cup with milk, leaving about ¼ inch of room in the cup (or remove about 3 Tablespoons of milk). Then top the milk with white vinegar to the 1 cup line.

Can use buttermilk in place of sour milk if desired

Nutrition