I spend a lot of time thinking about cake.
How will I prepare my next cake?
When will I serve my next cake?
Why am I not eating a piece of cake right now?
Oh. Wait. I kind of am eating a piece of cake right now. Nice.
I do not, however, spend a great deal of time thinking about where cakes come from.
Which is why I am not entirely sure why this ridiculously delish cake is called a ‘Texas Sheet Cake’.
I can only assume that it has something to do with a cake that is larger than life originating from a state that is larger than life.
And I will admit that this cake’s epic reputation was very intimidating.
I’ve been thinking that maybe I’m just not Texas-y enough to come up with my own version of this gem.
But I really, really wanted to make it.
Ok. Fine. I really, really wanted to eat it.
So I pulled myself up by my spurs and got together with my own version of a Texas Sheet Cake.
I channeled Lady Bird Johnson.
I could feel the spirit of Sam Houston giving me strength.
I heard the cheers of J.R. Ewing and Matthew McConaughey keeping me going all the way to the chocolaty, glazed ending.
I chopped this chocolate for the glaze on top. Because the cake itself is on the thinner side, I went with a glaze rather than a full-blown frosting.
The cake is almost like a brownie cake.
That’s what I think, and that’s what A. told me. After his third piece. Yeehaw.
Would you like a piece?
Fantastic. I’ve saved one just for you.
If you can’t make it to my chuck wagon, be sure to bust out your chaps and bake a Texas Sheet Cake for yourself STAT.
Now get along, little doggies.
Texas Sheet Cake
For the cake:
2 c. all-purpose flour
2 c. white sugar, granulated
3/4 c. unsalted butter, softened
3/4 c. buttermilk
2 large eggs
1/2 c. cocoa powder
1 tbsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. cinnamon, ground
1/2 tsp. salt
For the glaze:
1 c. heavy cream
10 oz. bittersweet chocolate
1/4 c. white sugar, granulated
2 tbsp. unsalted butter
Preheat oven to 350°.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and cocoa powder and set aside.
In a large bowl, cream the sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time until mixed through. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture alternating with the buttermilk and scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Beat until just blended.
Spread the mixture out over a 12″ x 16″ rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper, using a rubber scraper to smooth the batter as evenly as possible across the pan.
Bake the cake for 20 minutes or until a cake tester inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean. Set the baked cake aside to cool slightly before glazing.
Meanwhile, roughly chop the chocolate for the glaze and set aside. Bring the heavy cream and sugar to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove the cream mixture to a heat-proof bowl and add the chopped chocolate and butter. Whisk the glaze until smooth and glossy. Spread over the top of the cake and serve.
YIELD: one 12″ x 16″ cake, approximately 14-16 servings
It’s just one of those things that everybody just knows how to make in Texas. Someone always makes it anytime the family gets together. Try putting pecans on top, then the pour-over glaze for an extra Texan touch. Pecans are very Texas.
PS. We don’t call it Texas Sheet Cake here. If someone says, “”Mom made a sheet cake,” we just know it’s this.
tried this cake and it really came out well. everybody loved it
just want to know that if I want to make this cake without egg then whats the substitute to it? thnxxxx
Hi Vinny! No sweat – to bake this cake without the eggs I would simply increase the buttermilk to one full cup and then add an additional teaspoon of baking soda. I hope this helps! I’m so glad that the cake was a hit!!
My goodness! Your partner (if you are partnered) must be the happiest person in the world!
I enjoy following you on Flickr.
A good HOMEMADE sheet cake is such a treat. Yours looks Texas-y enough for me. YUM!
Texas Sheet Cake is one of my absolute favorite desserts ever. I so want a huge piece of your cake right now. It’s calling my name.
Wow – this is not the sheet cake that I grew up with. This looks amazing. I love the chocolate glaze on the top!!!
Wow, I’d take that cake in a corner with a fork and just eat!
Get along little doggies! You are so funny! Sounds like your Mom should have baked more cakes for you!
Nothing quite compares to a chocolate cake made with buttermilk…..and yes, I find myself thinking about cakes day in, day out! Let’s face it, life is too short to eat bad cake! Great post. Glad were Foodbuzz friends!
I have been craving chocolate sheet cake, yours looks wonderful!
I hope you don’t have 3 responses from me! I was sold on this fabulous cake with your first photo…this would last about a day and a half in our house. So wonderful and chocolaty…..mmmmmmm.
Not certain my first reply went through…but this looks fabulous!!!! Your photos have my mouth watering~
Oh, my…you reeled me in with that first photo. The perfect sheet cake…yum.
Found you through Foodbuzz, love your blog and your photography.
Looks delicious! I could almost hear your Texas twang…
That looks ridiculously good…I’m so hungry right now, so I feel like I could eat the whole thing. That is why it is not a good idea to look at pictures of sinful foods when you’re starving! lol
Thanks for the add on Food Buzz! I love meeting other bloggers who love food!
I loove it! Looks soo good! Everything that’s chocolate makes me crazy! I have to keep your recipe!
I’m def a chocolate lover!
this cake looks sooooooo good!
Your blog always makes me drool, it’s not a bad thing tho. haha
love it
I’ve spend a lot of time lately looking around for a recipe of the Texas sheet cake. I’m not a big fan of chocolate but my hubby is and he is Texan, so I was thinking this was the perfect combination. I think I have to look no further ’cause yours seems just perfect.
Sigh. Sheet cake…I love sheet cakes because they’re usually big enough that no-one can really tell that I’ve been hanging around stealing little slivers of it all day. Looks delicious!
Oh my gosh. Please, tell me you’ll sell this to me and deliver it within 1 hour?! This is amazing!
Since you have so much would u send several slices to Chicago? thanx!
I had never heard of Texas sheet cakes before, but that one looks delightfully fudgy and so moist. Thanks for saving a piece
Holy mother that looks amazing!! I would eat up the entire pan!
One more sinful recipe..ohh I love it, really beautiful and looks so delicious!!
i’m a tx girl here to say, it doesnt get much better than this! Found you on FoodGawker. Cannot wait to see more!
This looks sooo good! I love texas sheet cake, but I haven’t made it in so long.
Bingo on the name of the cake. I made one from Cook’s Illustrated once and that was the explanation they gave. Also, if Matthew McConaughey was anywhere near my kitchen, I’d stop everything I was doing, grab the bowl of that glaze, slather it all over him and lick it off (don’t tell my husband I said that).
Oh, and that cake looks absolutely divine.
Oh Scarletta, you evil woman! Guess what the Boy and I are baking right now??? I can hardly wait!!!
The cake looks amazing, especially the frosting. In my mind the Texas sheet cake would be shaped like Texas. I am just saying…maybe next time.
I love that this is like a brownie cake. I really want to make this.
you had me at the glaze! I’ve been looking at the title in my google reader and foodbuzz inbox all day and finally, I clicked. that glaze makes this way more than a texas sheet cake. I’m not here to tell you what to do or anything but texas sheet cake really doesn’t cut it for this dessert.
A yee haw after the 3rd piece says this cake is a winner! I’ve made a version of this once, but it must have been over 10 years ago… I need to give it a go again, I know my kids will love it! Love that JR cheered for you too!!
I’ve never made sheet cake, but only because I’m terrified of eating the whole thing in one sitting. Because I would.
Yum, I have a recipe for sheet cake but I think I’ll have to make a switch to yours. You had me at buttermilk and cinnamon. I bet this was gooood!
This looks pretty simple to make. It would certainly feed a crowd. I bookmarked it. You never know when the church will ask you to make a cake.
Mmmmmm – a chocolate cake the size of Texas eh? That’s my kind of chocolate cake. The photo is great – it looks like you just couldn’t resist long enough to snap the shot
I would like a piece. Yummy!
Thanks,
Christine
christinespantry.blogspot.com
Looks delicious! I have never tried one of these.
I love the thin layered cake with the creamy chocolaty ice cream!