Chocolate Buttermilk Texas Sheet Cake

Description:
This chocolate buttermilk Texas sheet cake is a moist, fudgy chocolate cake topped with a sweet chocolate frosting. You make this cake on a cookie sheet, so it’s perfect for feeding a crowd.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 24
Calories: 298 kcal

Ingredients

Cake

• 1 cup (227 g) salted butter

• 1 cup (227 g) water

• ¼ cup (21.5 g) cocoa powder

• 2 cups (400 g) granulated sugar

• 2 cups (280 g) all-purpose flour (I use fresh milled flour but regular flour is fine.)

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• ½ teaspoon salt

• 2 large eggs, room temperature

• ½ cup (120 g) buttermilk, room temperature

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 tablespoon of cinnamon (optional)

• Chopped pecans or walnuts to sprinkle on top (optional)

Glaze (Frosting)

• ½ cup (113.5 g) salted butter

• 6 tablespoons milk

• ¼ cup (21.5 g) cocoa powder

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

• Pinch of salt

• 4 cups (480 g) powdered sugar

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a cookie sheet pan (13×18"). Set aside.

2. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine butter, water, and cocoa powder. Bring to a boil.

3. In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, flour, baking soda, and salt.

   • Once the cocoa mixture boils, remove from heat and pour over dry ingredients.

   • Whisk until combined.

4. In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla.

   • Stir into the batter until fully combined.

5. Pour batter into prepared pan.

   • Bake for 17–22 minutes, or until edges begin pulling away.

   • When about 7–10 minutes remain, start the frosting.

6. For the frosting:

   • In a saucepan, combine butter, cocoa powder, and milk. Bring to a boil.

   • Remove from heat and pour into a bowl with vanilla, salt, and powdered sugar.

   • Mix (electric mixer on low works well) until smooth.

7. Pour frosting over cake after it cools for 3–5 minutes.

   • Spread evenly.

   • Cake should still be warm so frosting spreads easily.

Notes

• Serve with fresh berries or a scoop of ice cream.

• Best results come from room temperature ingredients.

• For accuracy, use grams when possible.

• If using cups, lightly spoon flour into the measuring cup (don’t pack it).

Nutrition (Per Serving)

• Calories: 298 kcal

• Carbohydrates: 46g

• Protein: 2g

• Fat: 13g

• Saturated Fat: 8g

• Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g

• Monounsaturated Fat: 3g

• Trans Fat: 0.5g

• Cholesterol: 47mg

• Sodium: 200mg

• Potassium: 61mg

• Fiber: 1g

• Sugar: 37g

• Vitamin A: 391 IU

• Calcium: 21mg

• Iron: 1mg