Original Texas Sheet cake
This Original Texas Sheet Cake is a rich, thin chocolate cake topped with warm cocoa frosting and chopped walnuts. It is simple to make, deeply chocolatey, and perfect for potlucks, parties, or anytime you need an easy crowd-pleasing dessert.
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Servings: 10
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups white sugar
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 cup butter
- 2 eggs
- 5 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 6 tablespoons milk
For the Frosting
- 5 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup butter
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
Instructions
Preheat the oven.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a jelly roll pan thoroughly.
Prepare the dry mixture.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, sugar, and baking soda.
Add the sour cream and eggs.
- Beat the sour cream and eggs into the dry mixture until incorporated. Set aside briefly.
Prepare the cocoa mixture.
- In a saucepan, melt 1 cup of butter. Add 5 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder and the milk. Bring the mixture to a boil, then remove it from the heat.
Combine the batter.
- Allow the cocoa mixture to cool slightly, then pour it into the flour mixture. Stir until the batter is smooth and well blended.
Transfer to the pan.
- Pour the batter into the prepared jelly roll pan and spread it evenly.
Bake the cake.
- Bake for about 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool the cake.
- Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool completely.
Prepare the frosting.
- In a saucepan, combine 1/2 cup butter, the milk, and 5 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder. Bring to a boil, then remove from the heat.
Finish the frosting.
- Stir in the powdered sugar and vanilla extract until smooth and fully combined. Fold in the chopped walnuts.
Frost the cake.
- Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled cake.
Serve.
- Allow the frosting to set slightly before slicing and serving.
Notes
To make this recipe gluten free, replace the all-purpose flour with a high-quality 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend that contains xanthan gum, or add xanthan gum if your chosen blend does not include it. Also verify that the cocoa powder, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, sour cream, and any other packaged ingredients are certified gluten free or free from cross-contact concerns. Because gluten-free cakes can be slightly more delicate, allow the cake to cool fully before frosting and slicing for the best texture.