The first time I made chocolate sheet cake for TheRoomDad, I brought it with us to tailgate at a college football game. When TheRoomDad’s friend took his first bite, his knees got weak. Since that tasting, I have shared the cake at many group events. Last year, I brought the cake to the retirement party of the beloved receptionist at our school. I originally baked a glazed lemon cake for the event, but this happened.
So, I baked the chocolate sheet cake as a back up. People again had to grab onto something for support after the first bite hit their lips. It’s that good. There are many recipes available for chocolate sheet cake. I checked. The Pioneer Woman has a no-fail version that uses butter. My recipe uses margarine. You may also see versions of something called Texas sheet cake that are basically the same thing. I have not compared the recipe I currently use to the one my mom always used, but I am sure they would be close– fudgy cake, frosting that absorbs into the top layer while the cake is hot, a little pecan crunch to balance the moistness of the cake. Heaven. We had friends join us for Easter dinner last weekend, and I dusted off the recipe and served a slice of sheet cake to everyone with a scoop of vanilla or coffee ice cream. It did not disappoint.
Ingredients
- 2 c. flour
- 4 T. cocoa
- 1 t. baking soda
- 1 c. water
- 1 c. margarine (2 sticks)
- 1 t. vanilla
- 1/2 c. buttermilk
- 2 eggs
- 2 c. granulated sugar
Cake Directions
- Sift together flour, sugar, and baking soda in a large mixing bowl.
- Boil water, margarine, and cocoa until melted stirring to combine. Pour the liquid over the dry ingredients and mix well.
- Add buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla. Mix well.
- Place in a greased 10 x 15 in. sheet cake pan and bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes.
- Prepare frosting while the cake is baking and pour the frosting over the cake while it is hot (important!).
Frosting
- 1/2 c. margarine (1 stick)
- 6 T. buttermilk
- 4 T. cocoa
- 1 t. vanilla
- 1 c. chopped pecans
- 1 (1-lb) box powdered sugar
Frosting Directions
- Bring margarine, buttermilk, and cocoa to a boil in a medium pan.
- Add vanilla, nuts, and sifted powdered sugar. Mix well. It will seem to dry at first but keep mixing.
- Pour over the hot cake. Gently spread close to the edges with a spatula. The heat of the cake will help the frosting spread to the edges.
