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Texas Chocolate Sheet Cake: Crowd-Pleasing Recipe with Fudgy Frosting

This Texas chocolate sheet cake is the perfect dessert for feeding a crowd with rich chocolate flavor and minimal effort. The moist cake features a signature fudgy frosting poured over the hot cake, creating an irresistible texture that has made it a beloved Southern classic.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 24 servings
Calories: 320
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ingredients
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 6 tablespoons milk
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

Method
 

Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 13x9-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt until well combined.
  3. In a medium saucepan, combine the butter, water, and cocoa powder. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the butter melts and the mixture comes to a gentle boil.
  4. Pour the hot chocolate mixture over the dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
  5. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the eggs, sour cream, and vanilla extract. Add this to the batter and mix until smooth.
  6. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  7. While the cake bakes, prepare the frosting. In a medium saucepan, combine the butter, milk, and cocoa powder. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
  8. Gradually whisk in the powdered sugar until the frosting is smooth. Stir in nuts if using.
  9. Pour the warm frosting over the hot cake as soon as it comes out of the oven. Use a spatula to spread it evenly across the surface.
  10. Allow the cake to cool completely before slicing and serving.

Notes

Pour warm frosting over hot cake for signature fudgy texture. Don't overmix batter. Can substitute plain yogurt for sour cream. Cake tastes better the next day. Store covered at room temperature for up to 3 days.