Texas Sheet Cake lovers crave rich creamy EZbake dessert with fudgy crumb simple steps and crowdpleasing slices Versatile feeds large groups
Ingredients
Scale
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup water
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk (or 1/2 cup milk with 1/2 tablespoon vinegar, left to stand 5 minutes)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup unsalted butter (for frosting)
4 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/3 cup milk
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 pinch salt
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a large baking sheet or jelly roll pan (about 18×13 inches) and line with parchment if you like for easy removal.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
In a small saucepan, combine water, butter, and oil. Heat over medium heat just until the butter melts and the mixture is hot and shimmering. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs and buttermilk (or milk-vinegar combo) until smooth. Pour the warm butter mixture into the egg mixture, whisking quickly to prevent curdling.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. A few lumps are okay—the goal is a glossy, pourable batter, not a fully smooth paste.
Transfer the batter to the prepared sheet and spread evenly to the edges. Bake 20–25 minutes, until the top looks set and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
Meanwhile, make the frosting: In a small saucepan, melt the butter. Whisk in the cocoa powder and hot milk until smooth. Remove from heat and whisk in powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt. If the frosting is too thick to pour, splash in a touch more milk, a teaspoon at a time, until it pours slowly and coats the back of a spoon.
When the cake is done, pour the warm frosting over the cake while it’s still hot or just warm. Use a spatula to spread the frosting into an even glossy layer. Let it set for about 15–20 minutes before slicing for clean cuts.
Notes
Texas sheet cake—a fudgy, chocolatey crowd-pleaser baked in a sheet pan with a glossy chocolate frosting, perfect for potlucks and family gatherings.
