Let’s take a poll. Do you call this luxurious chocolate recipe a chocolate sheet cake, a sheath cake, a Texas sheet cake, or a Texas brownie cake?
No matter what you call it (or how you slice it), this classic chocolate sheet cake recipe is just good. Crazy good, in fact.
Classic Chocolate Sheet Cake Recipe

I found a really interesting post online that attempts to unravel the great sheet cake mystery for anyone who is interested in this piece of American culinary history.
Chances are, you know someone who has made a variation of this popular dessert.
Sheet cake is an incredibly luscious cross between a cake and a brownie recipe. It is rich and dense like a brownie while still holding onto that lovely cake-like texture.
And the frosting. Oh, my. The frosting. I bliss-out a little just thinking about pouring the warm, chocolatey frosting on top of a Texas sheet cake.

If you’re a fan of nuts, you can also add chopped pecans to the icing before pouring it on top of the sheet cake. I really love pecans on my Texas sheet cake but my kids don’t care for them so we usually leave that part out.
My husband is not a fan of traditional cake, so he always asks me to make this amazing chocolate sheet cake for his birthday.

I’m happy to oblige. The chocolate lover in me simply can’t get enough of this moist, delicious sheet cake recipe.
If you make this recipe, be sure to try a piece while it’s still warm. It’s pure Texas chocolate sheet cake heaven.
Email This Recipe?
Get this recipe emailed to your inbox + all of our latest delivered straight to you!

Are you a fan of sheet cake? I’d love to hear what you call this recipe in your area, and how my recipe varies from the one you know and love!
Be sure to follow me on Instagram for more scrumptious recipes. :)
Classic Chocolate Sheet Cake
Ingredients
Cake
- 2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup 2 sticks butter
- 1 cup water
- 4 tablespoons cocoa
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 eggs lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Icing
- 1/2 cup 1 stick butter
- 6 tablespoons of milk
- 4 tablespoons cocoa
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3 3/4 cups powdered sugar
- Optional 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans my family prefers without nuts
Instructions
- Cake
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour anย 11 x 17 x 1-inch sheet pan (18 x 13 x 1-inch works too)ย sheet cake pan.
- In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking soda and salt and set aside. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan, add the water and the cocoa and bring to a boil stirring often. Remove from heat and add the granulated sugar, sour cream, eggs, vanilla, and the flour mixture. Stir until blended. Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Icing
- In a medium pan heat the butter, cocoa and the milk and bring it to a boil, stirring often. Remove from the heat and whisk in the vanilla and the powdered sugar until smooth.ย If you're having the optional pecans, add those now.
- Pour over cake while it is still hot. Cool before cutting. Makes 20 servings

Save This Recipe?
Enter your email and we’ll send it straight to you + get all our latest recipes.
Did you make this?
I would love to hear from you! Make sure to leave your review below and follow on Pinterest for more!
Texas sheet cake in this part of Kansas!๐
Can I use self rising flour and not add the baking soda or the salt?
Debbie, you can do whatever you want, but I can’t possibly predict the outcome as this would no longer resemble my recipe.
Can you use gluten-free flour?ย
Looks absolutely delicious! May I ask, what kind of flour did you use? All-purpose?
Looks great. I haven’t had sheet cake in a long time, thanks for the idea
Nothing beats a good chocolate sheet cake. Love that crackly frosting!!!