Texas Sheet Cake

 


What is Texas Sheet Cake?

Texas Sheet Cake is a very simple chocolate cake recipe made in a 10×15 sheet pan that’s two inches deep (also known as a jelly roll pan). You can also use a 12 x18 baking pan, but the cake won’t be as thick and will cook faster. Once cooled, you cover the sheet cake in a thick layer of warm, buttery homemade chocolate icing, right in the pan.

The difference between Texas Sheet Cake and regular cake is the thickness of the cake. Traditional cakes are thicker and sometimes layered. You also remove the cakes from the pans and then frost. Texas Sheet Cake is made in one pan. The thin layer of batter bakes quicker than traditional cakes. You then frost the cake right in the pan.

Ingredients for Texas Sheet Cake

This is one of those recipes that needs to be followed as written. Cakes are a science, so, unfortunately, I don’t have substitutions for any of the following ingredients. You are, of course, welcome to experiment, but I can’t offer guidance or guarantee results. Here’s what you need to make Texas Sheet Cake:


All-Purpose Flour – creates the structure of your crumb.

Brown Sugar, Granulated Sugar, and Powdered Sugar – these sugars do more than sweeten the cake and the icing. Brown and granulated sugar soften the cake crumb and add moisture. Powdered sugar creates structure in icing.

Baking Powder and Baking Soda – leaven the cake and create a light, airy crumb.

Butter– creates a light, tender texture and helps the cake rise. It also adds richness to the icing.

Unsweetened Cocoa Powder – adds a deep chocolate flavor to the cake and the icing.

Coffee– adds depth to the chocolate.

Eggs– provide structure to help leaven the cake.

Mayo – adds moisture and richness to the cake.

Heavy Cream– thins the icing and adds richness.

Vanilla – adds depth to the icing.



Tips For Making Perfect Texas Sheet Cake

For a richer chocolate flavor, use dark cocoa powder.

Grease your sheet pan with melted butter, dust it with flour, and then freeze it while you make the batter. That way, the batter doesn’t move the butter around when it hits the pan, creating spots that your cake could stick to. 

You serve this cake in the sheet pan it was baked in, so I’d avoid using parchment. Your knife could shred the parchment as you slice the cake, and little bits of paper could get caught up in the slices.

To add a little texture and crunch to your cake, top it off with chopped nuts before you frost it. Toast them for extra yum-factor.

You can frost the cake while it’s still warm for an ooey-gooey, though slightly sloppy experience. If you want cleaner cuts, wait until the cake has completely cooled before icing it. And then let it sit for a bit and allow the icing to solidify some.

Texas sheet cake is traditionally served warm, but it’s also delicious at room temperature, chilled, or frozen. (IE Anytime.)


Can You Make The Cake Ahead?

Yes, you can make Texas Sheet Cake ahead of time. However, to keep the icing glossy, I would frost it the day of. Bake the cake up to 2 days ahead of time. Let it cool, wrap it in plastic, and then aluminum. Leave it at room temperature or freeze and then thaw. Make your icing when you’re ready to serve.


How To Cut Texas Sheet Cake

The beauty of this cake is that it’s simple to slice. You don’t have to cut through multiple layers hoping your slices are even. Instead, you cut through one layer in easy-to-manage squares or rectangles. We did brownie-sized 3×3 slices and got 15 pieces out of it. But you can cut 2×3 pieces and get 25 servings! This is the perfect cake for large gatherings like potlucks or school bake sales.


How To Store Texas Sheet Cake

Texas sheet cake can be stored at room temperature for up to three days. To prevent it from drying out, wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap and then in a layer of aluminum foil. You can also freeze the double-wrapped cake for up to 2 months. It’s perfect for chocolate emergencies. (Beth and I have those at least once a week). You can thaw it at room temperature overnight. But you don’t have to bring it to room temperature to enjoy it. On hot summer days, I eat it straight from the freezer.



Ingredients

Cake

2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting ($0.28)

1 cup granulated sugar ($0.40)

1 cup brown sugar, light or dark ($0.44)

1/2 tsp salt ($0.04)

2 tsp baking powder ($0.12)

1/2 tsp baking soda ($0.02)

1 cup salted butter (2 sticks) ($2.50)

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted ($0.31)

1 cup coffee, hot ($0.15)

2 eggs ($0.78)

1/2 cup mayonnaise ($0.87)

1 tsp vanilla extract ($0.72)

Icing

1 cup salted butter (2 sticks) ($2.50)

1/4 cup heavy cream ($0.40)

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted ($0.31)

1 tsp vanilla extract ($0.72)

2 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted ($0.71)


Instructions 

Place a rack in the center of your oven and preheat it to 350°F. Grease a jelly roll pan (10×15) with a 2-inch rim with melted butter. Lightly flour the pan. Shake off any excess and place in the freezer.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.

In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter, then brown it. Take the pan off the heat.

Add the unsweetened cocoa powder to the brown butter, and stir to incorporate.

Place the pan back over medium heat. Add the hot coffee, and stir. Take the pan off the heat.

Add the eggs and vanilla to the mayonnaise and combine. Add a few tablespoons of chocolate to temper (warm) the egg mixture.

Once the egg mixture is warm, mix the chocolate and egg mixture together.

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir just enough to combine.

Add the batter to the sheet pan and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the cake has a slight spring when you press a finger on its surface and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.

Once the cake is out of the oven, make the icing. Set a large saucepan over medium heat, and add the butter, heavy cream, cocoa, vanilla, and powdered sugar. Stir until incorporated.

Pour 3/4 of the warm frosting over the center of the cooled cake. Begin to spread it over the cake with a spatula and add more frosting if necessary to cover the cake from end to end. Cut, serve, then sit back and enjoy the marathon of compliments you're going to get!

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