The BEST Texas Sheet Cake Recipe – A Crowd-Pleasing Classic

If you're looking for a dessert that's quick to make, feeds a crowd, and disappears fast — this Texas Sheet Cake is it. Rich, fudgy chocolate cake topped with a warm poured chocolate frosting that sets into the most irresistible glaze. It's a Southern classic for a reason, and once you make it, you'll understand why it shows up at every potluck, BBQ, and family gathering.

The best part? It comes together in one bowl (well, almost!) and bakes in under 20 minutes. Weekend dessert, sorted. 🍫

Equipment

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• Sheet Cake Pan — an 18x13" pan is ideal for this recipe
• Silicone Spatula Set (5-piece) — for spreading batter and frosting evenly

Ingredients

For the Cake

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup butter (2 sticks)
• 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup sour cream
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Frosting

• 6 tablespoons milk
• 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• ½ cup butter (1 stick)
• 3¾ cups powdered sugar

Instructions

Make the Cake

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease an 18x13" sheet pan.
2. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine water, butter, and cocoa powder. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat and let cool.
3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt.
4. In a small bowl, mix together sour cream, eggs, and vanilla.
5. Add the sour cream mixture to the flour mixture and stir until combined.
6. Add the cooled chocolate mixture to the batter and mix until smooth with no lumps.
7. Pour into your prepared pan and spread evenly with a spatula.
8. Bake for 15–20 minutes, or until set. Start checking at 15 minutes — a toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean.

Make the Frosting

1. About halfway through baking, start your frosting. Add milk, cocoa, and butter to a saucepan and bring to a boil.
2. Remove from heat and stir in powdered sugar. Use a hand mixer to beat out any lumps.
3. Pour the hot frosting over the hot cake and spread evenly with a spatula. Let set for about 10 minutes before serving.

Pan Size Note

• 18x13" sheet pan or jelly roll pan — bake 15–20 minutes
• 9x13" pan — bake 20–25 minutes due to thickness
• Always start checking for doneness with a toothpick at the earliest time!

Tips for Success

• Don't skip pouring the frosting over a hot cake — that's the secret to that perfectly fudgy set!
• The sour cream keeps this cake incredibly moist for days (if it lasts that long 😄)
• Add chopped pecans to the frosting before it sets for a classic Texas twist

 

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