Who doesn’t love chocolate? This moist, rich, Easy Texas Sheet cake is a family favorite and MY personal favorite since I was a child.
Being a mom is one of the most amazing jobs in the entire world. One of my favorite quotes sums it up best.
“Making the decision to have a child – it is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. ” ― Elizabeth Stone
Why this chocolate Texas sheet cake recipe?
I have been enjoying this Texas Sheet Cake since I was very very young. My mom has been making this cake since I was so little, I couldn’t even help stir batter yet. I believe the recipe was passed to my mom, from a friend of hers.
But this recipe has been around a long time in our family. This is the original, traditional recipe that we have.
It’s a tried and true and pretty easy version of this cake. It’s a deep, rich, chocolate cake and you will love it!
Does this have to be made in a sheet cake pan?
I suppose that it doesn’t, but then it doesn’t make it Texas Sheet Cake.
You will need to tweak your baking times to accommodate for a smaller or thicker pan.
Can I freeze Texas Sheet Cake?
I don’t think this cake is going to be as good, after it’s been frozen. To give it a longer shelf life, we store in the refrigerator for up to one week, in a sealed container.
We layer the pieces between waxed paper to eliminate the issue of it all sticking together.
From the ORIGNAL UNEDITED POST:
This recipe was originally written in 2013, for a mother’s day event I participated in. I didn’t want to take apart the highlights of the original post, so I left a few pieces, like the quote at the top, and this little gem from my son who as of the editing of this post, is now almost 28 years old and still says amazing things like this to me!
Also, THIS is why I’m a mom – this is the message I woke up to on FB this morning from my 18 year old, almost graduated son!
Wouldn’t even matter if the whole day was bad, because just that little bit made the whole day perfect. 😉
A delicious, moist Texas sheet cake infused with rich cocoa flavor, sour cream and topped with a rich chocolate icing. This particular version is the version I’ve made since I was a teenager. Not exactly like mom’s … but close.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a jelly roll pan with cooking spray.
On the stove, melt the butter. Add the hot water and then the cocoa. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat once it’s boiling.
While waiting for that to boil, in a large bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt until blended. Pour the boiling liquid into the dry ingredients and blend. Add sour cream and stir to blend.
Pour the batter into a standard size jelly roll pan. Bake in a 350 degree preheated oven for 20 minutes. Check to make sure it’s done with a toothpick inserted near the center.
Once it’s done, remove from oven and set aside to begin cooling.
In a saucepan on the stove, melt the butter.
Add the milk, vanilla and cocoa and bring to a boil. Once boiling, remove from the heat.
Whisk in the powdered sugar. I usually sift it first because if you don’t blend it in really well, you will get little pebbles of sugar in there. They don’t look pretty, but they taste fine – so don’t stress.
Stir in the sour cream until smooth.
Pour chocolate mixture over the cooled cake and smooth out with a spatula. Nuts are optional and pecans can be substituted instead of walnuts.
Tried this recipe?Please leave us a rating and then share a photo on Pinterest or Instagram and tag us @dailydishrecipes or #dailydishrecipes — we can’t wait to see what you’ve made!
Nicole Cook is a professional food writer, a chef and baker as well as the main voice behind Daily Dish Recipes. Her family friendly and kitchen tested recipes are designed to help the home cook prepare delicious meals for their family and friends. Nicole has been featured on Today, HuffPost, Taste of Home, Buzz Feed and More. She writes and photographs alongside her daughter Brielle, the other voice of Daily Dish Recipes.
Heather, the icing is delicious! And it is indeed ooey and gooey… I forgot to mention the cake should be stored in the fridge and actually TASTES amazing cold like that.
Anyway, thanks for your sweet words and more importantly thank you for hosting this week!
I love how one bite…one whiff…one utterance of a certain food can take us to another time, another place, another age. This cake sounds amazing! It’s like chocolate bliss. Happy Mother’s Day to you, Nicole 🙂
Food memories are some of my favorite, and this one is the best. Just a very sweet, sentimental childhood memory that has carried into my adult years. Happy Mother’s Day right back at ya Heather!
I heart that shiny black coating! What can be better today than the cake you´re mom has been making forever, right? It looks really, really good Nicole. Happy day hon!
Gorgeous Texas Sheet Cake! I think I might know what your Mama’s secret ingredient is…if it’s what my Mama uses. We’ll have to compare notes! Now I want some of this decadent cake…
Oh, yeah…this could become a family tradition of ours, too. Wonderful chocolate cake!!! What a nice tribute to your sweet mother…and I love the fb message from your son! You have a wonderful family, Nicole 🙂
Woah the richness and beauty of the cake immediately comes through as you open the page and get a glimpse of the beautiful glossy chocolate ganache. Such a depth of color as I am sure the flavor.
Love that chocolate ganache on the top of your sheetcake!Does look decadent indeed and such a lovely story about your Mom not to mention the sweet message from your son :)Hope you had a great Mother’s Day Nicole!
The chocolate icing looks amazing! So rich and chocolatey! I loved the story about your mom and the post from your son was so sweet! Its little moments like that that can make my day!
Nicole, happy belated Mother’s Day to you! I hope you had an amazing weekend being celebrated by your family! This recipe is perfect for the occasion – I love the history behind it. It’s just one of those special dishes made by your mom and no other version will ever compare. I can’t get over that dark glossy icing. I have a tub of sour cream in my fridge so now I know what I’m making with it! And seriously, that message from your son is beyond sweet. It makes all the infuriating teenage antics worth it, right? 😉
That icing looks so ooey, gooey, good! It’s nice that you have a recipe like this one that makes you think of your mom every time you make it.
Heather, the icing is delicious! And it is indeed ooey and gooey… I forgot to mention the cake should be stored in the fridge and actually TASTES amazing cold like that.
Anyway, thanks for your sweet words and more importantly thank you for hosting this week!
Oooooh…sour cream? I’m trying your version!
Happy Mother’s Day, love!
Happy Mama’s Day right back at ya. Love ya!
Happy Mother’s Day! Your sheet cake looks incredible! The chocolate topping is calling me!!
Thank you so much Jennifer! The topping is probably the best part 😉
I love how one bite…one whiff…one utterance of a certain food can take us to another time, another place, another age. This cake sounds amazing! It’s like chocolate bliss. Happy Mother’s Day to you, Nicole 🙂
Food memories are some of my favorite, and this one is the best. Just a very sweet, sentimental childhood memory that has carried into my adult years. Happy Mother’s Day right back at ya Heather!
OMG look at that icing!! I want a giant slice with a cold glass of milk. Right now, for breakfast. 🙂
Would it be bad to admit I had a piece with coffee this morning 😉 haha Thanks!
You’re blessed to have such a wonderful family! Have Mom’s day Nicole!
I heart that shiny black coating! What can be better today than the cake you´re mom has been making forever, right? It looks really, really good Nicole. Happy day hon!
Gorgeous Texas Sheet Cake! I think I might know what your Mama’s secret ingredient is…if it’s what my Mama uses. We’ll have to compare notes! Now I want some of this decadent cake…
Oh, the message your son sent you makes my heart melt. So beautiful!!!
The Texas sheet cake sounds like the cake of my dreams full of rich chocolate!!! Have a very happy Mother’s Day, Nicole!
How DECADENT does this look!!!?? Mmmmmmmm
Oh wow, doesn’t that look good!! I love the simplicity of a sheet cake too!
I can’t believe I’ve never had this! I’m a chocoholic too, go figure
Oh, yeah…this could become a family tradition of ours, too. Wonderful chocolate cake!!! What a nice tribute to your sweet mother…and I love the fb message from your son! You have a wonderful family, Nicole 🙂
Woah the richness and beauty of the cake immediately comes through as you open the page and get a glimpse of the beautiful glossy chocolate ganache. Such a depth of color as I am sure the flavor.
Love that chocolate ganache on the top of your sheetcake!Does look decadent indeed and such a lovely story about your Mom not to mention the sweet message from your son :)Hope you had a great Mother’s Day Nicole!
What a sweet facebook post from your son. This cake looks like it wants me to devour it right now. Must be good, must go eat an apple.
The chocolate icing looks amazing! So rich and chocolatey! I loved the story about your mom and the post from your son was so sweet! Its little moments like that that can make my day!
Love your cake, and love the Facebook message even more! Great recipe for #SundaySupper!
Nicole, happy belated Mother’s Day to you! I hope you had an amazing weekend being celebrated by your family! This recipe is perfect for the occasion – I love the history behind it. It’s just one of those special dishes made by your mom and no other version will ever compare. I can’t get over that dark glossy icing. I have a tub of sour cream in my fridge so now I know what I’m making with it! And seriously, that message from your son is beyond sweet. It makes all the infuriating teenage antics worth it, right? 😉
My mouth is watering just thinking about this cake! I am such a fan of chocolate…and this cake looks so moist and wonderful!
This looks hands down better than any chocolate sheet cake I’ve had. I have to try it.
Wow, this looks unbelievable! What a sweet post – both your writing and the cake 🙂