Chocolate Texas Sheet Cake

Chocolate Texas sheet cake is made with a moist and velvety chocolate cake topped with a fudgy chocolate frosting while the cake is still warm. It's a crowd-pleasing classic!

Prep Time: 20

Cook Time: 30

Total Time: 50

Servings: squares

Ingredients

Cake:

2 cups (260 g) all-purpose flour
2 cups (400 g) granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
¾ teaspoon fine sea salt or table salt
1 cup (226 g) salted butter , sliced
1 cup water
¼ cup (18 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
⅔ cup (155 g) sour cream
2 large eggs , whisked
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract

Icing:

½ cup (113 g) salted butter , sliced
3-4 Tablespoons (15 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
⅓ cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups (330 g) sifted powdered sugar
⅛ teaspoon salt

Instructions

Chocolate cake

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter a half sheet pan (18x13 inches) and set aside.
In a large bowl combine 2 cups flour, 2 cups sugar, 1 teaspoon baking soda and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Set aside.
Heat 1 cup butter, 1 cup water and 1/4 cup cocoa in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a light boil and then remove from heat and let sit 2 minutes. Then pour into the flour mixture. Stir until combined.
Stir in 2/3 cup sour cream, 1 Tablespoon vanilla and 2 eggs. Pour mixture into prepared pan.
Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes clean. Halfway through cooking, start making the icing.

Chocolate icing

Melt 1/2 cup butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Stir in 3-4 Tablespoons cocoa powder. Once the mixture has melted and comes to a light simmer, remove from heat and slowly whisk in 1/3 cup milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla and a pinch of salt. Then slowly stir in powdered sugar.
Evenly pour the icing over the cake immediately when it comes out of the oven. Immediately spread out evenly with a rubber spatula.
Allow to cool and then cut into squares.

Notes

Storage: Store leftovers in a covered container for up to 3 days. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Nut lovers: Chop 1/2 - 3/4 cup pecans and mix into the frosting.

Half the recipe: You can half this recipe and bake in a 9x13" baking dish.

Nutrition