In efforts to diversify the recipes on Oinkcooking, I begged for ideas from my friends on what to include. There were quite a few requests for desserts. I am not a baker (I think I have mentioned that before). Baking and I don’t tend to get along. I can do simple cookies and cakes, but get more technical and I am ready to head to the bakery to get what I need instead. That’s why I love my mom’s Texas Sheet Cake recipe! It is easy…like SUPER EASY!
A recipe I am sure she acquired a a church recipe exchange in the 80’s, it was a favorite whenever she made it. I even called her to let her know I made one for Oinkcooking and she responded with “Oh I love that cake. It is so easy and tastes so good. I haven’t made it in years.” I am sure she’d be proud how mine turned out…I sure am!
I was curious to hear more about the Texas Sheet Cake – where it originated, what time period, etc. It seems nobody really knows, but in this great article from the Dallas Morning News they say one of their research showed that it could have originated from former First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson. Who really knows where this came from, but springtime is here and people are gathering again in the nice weather! Bring this rich “little black dress of cakes” to the next gathering and soak in the gratitude!
Ingredients
Cake
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 cups flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 stick butter
- 4 tablespoons cocoa
- 1 cup water
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
Frosting
- 1 stick butter
- 6 tablespoons milk
- 4 tablespoons cocoa
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 ½ cup chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, etc.)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º.
- Combine sugar, flour and salt in a large bowl. Set aside
- In a saucepan, add 2 sticks of butter, 4 tablespoons of cocoa and 1 cup of water. Bring to a boil.
- In a small bowl, beat together 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla, baking soda and sour cream.
- Combine all 3 mixtures into one and whisk together.
- Spray a half sheet pan (one of my Top 11 Kitchen Accessories I Can’t Live Without) with a cooking spray. Pour mixture into pan and place in preheated oven. Bake for 20-30 minutes until center is done and toothpick comes out clean.
- While cake is baking, make the frosting.
- Heat 1 stick butter, 6 tablespoons of milk and 4 tablespoons cocoa until butter is melted (I did mine in a microwave for ease). Pour into medium sized bowl. Add 4 cups of powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla and chopped nuts. Mix well together with a whisk.
- When cake is done, let stand for 5 minutes. Pour frosting over the top and cover whole top (do it after the 5 minutes so that some of the frosting soaks into the cake). Let cake cool. Cut and serve.
Easy recipe and a delicious cake
Looking for the recipe for Texas Sheetcake cookies!
This cake turned out amazing; however, my husband doesn’t like chocolate on chocolate, so he suggested I ice it with homemade cream cheese frosting instead. I did, plus I added Oreo cookie (only) crumbles on top, and it was even more delicious than the recipe here!
You advertised Texas Sheetcake Brownies. Where is the recipe??
This is just like the Texas Sheet Cake recipe I’ve had for about 40 years! I got it from a friend. Everyone raves about this cake when I make it and they want the recipe!!! My recipe calls for 1/2 cup of Crisco and no Sour Cream. Next time, I’m going to use sour cream instead and see how it tastes!
Does this call for self rising flour?
Can I get you recipe for your Texas sheet cake?
Can this recipe be cut in half? Just the two of us here… 😉