A timeless favorite, this Texas Sheet Cake is sure to win over the chocolate lovers at your table. Finished with a rich, homemade fudge frosting packed with toasted pecans, it’s destined to become your go-to dessert for any occasion.

Ingredients to Make Texas Sheet Cake Recipe

Texas Sheet Cake is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser and a potluck favorite. People always get excited when it shows up for dessert—and it couldn’t be easier to make, which only adds to its charm. This from-scratch chocolate sheet cake is poured into the pan and topped with a warm, homemade fudge-style frosting while the cake is still hot. Traditionally, it’s loaded with big, buttery Texas pecans, but any variety works just fine. Every time I serve it, it’s a surefire hit. Ingredients you’ll need to make Texas Fudge Cake: (Scroll down for the full printable recipe card.)

Flour – All purpose flour forms the base of the batter.
Sugar – Both granulated sugar and light brown sugar for sweetness.
Leavening – Baking soda and salt add lift to the cake and balance the flavor.
Butter – Melted unsalted butter for richness.
Cocoa Mixture – Boiling water mixed with unsweetened cocoa powder gives the cake its signature flavor.
Liquid – Buttermilk adds moisture.
Flavoring – Vanilla extract for creamy floral notes.
Whole Eggs – Large eggs stabilize the batter.
Fudge Frosting: Butter, cocoa powder, heavy cream or half and half, vanilla extract, powdered sugar and toasted pecans.

How to Make the BEST Texas Sheet Cake Recipe

This cake is an absolute classic without a doubt. It’s imperative that all bakers learn to make it and once you do make this scratch made cake, you’ll be hooked!

Heat Oven and Prepare the Pan: Preheat the oven to 325°F. Spray a 15x10x1-inch jelly roll pan with baking spray.
Toast the Pecans: On a separate sheet pan spread pecans in a single layer. Toast for 6-8 minutes or until fragrant. Set aside.
Sift the Dry Ingredients: Use a whisk to sift together flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking soda and salt.
Make the Cocoa Mixture: Stir together, boiling water and cocoa until dissolved. Add melted butter mix well.
Combine: Pour over flour mixture. To the bowl add buttermilk, vanilla and eggs. Mix with a whisk until fully combined.
Transfer the Cake Batter to the Pan: Pour the chocolate cake batter evenly into the prepared pan.
Oven: Bake per the recipe until a toothpick inserted into the center comes back clean.
Make the Fudge Frosting: Melt together butter, cocoa powder and cream together on the stovetop. Whisk until smooth. Do not boil. Remove from the heat. Add vanilla.
Beat in the Confectioner’s Sugar: Use an electric mixer to beat in the powdered sugar one cup at a time. Beat until smooth. You can add additional cream 1 Tbsp at a time, if needed to thin. Don’t thin the icing too much, it will melt on the hot cake making it easy to spread.
Add Toasted Pecans: Mix in toasted pecans.
Frost the Top of the Cake: Spread evenly on hot cake.
Cool and Enjoy: Place on a cooling rack to cool in the pan. Store at room temperature or

Quick Tips for Making Chocolate Sheet Cake Recipe

Kitchen Equipment You’ll Need: A rimmed jelly roll pan or similar size rimmed sheet pan, an electric hand mixer or a whisk, large bowl, medium bowl, small bowl, measuring cups and spoons and a saucepan to make the frosting. You’ll need spoons and an offset spatula to spread the frosting evenly over the cake. You’ll also need a baking sheet pan to toast the pecans for the frosting.
Cocoa for a Rich Chocolate Flavor: Recipes for Texas Sheet Cake have varying amounts of cocoa in the batter. I’ve seen as little as two tablespoons used which to me, is hardly an addition at all. My recipe uses 1/2 cup which I feel yields a nice balance of chocolate in the batter that complement’s the flavor of the fudge frosting. That being said, Texas sheet cake is not a deep dark chocolate cake yet it’s still so delicious.
Combine the Water with the Cocoa Powder Off the Heat: When mixing together the boiling water with the cocoa powder for the cake batter, I’ve found it’s best to do it the way I recommend in the recipe and not on the stovetop. Doing so, ensures that the cocoa will dissolve. Add the butter last and it will come together silky smooth.

Recipe Variations and Substitutions

Toasted Nuts: It’s well worth the small amount of effort to toast the pecans for the frosting. You can use more or less pecans, or sprinkle them on top of the frosting, if you prefer. You could also use walnuts.
Buttermilk: You could use sour cream in place of buttermilk in a pinch.
Frost the Cake While It’s Hot: It’s important to frost this cake while the cake is hot. It melts a bit into the cake which makes it even more irresistible.
Adjust the Frosting Thickness: When making the frosting, you can add small amounts of additional cream if needed, to thin. The frosting does melt ever so slightly when you put it on the cake making it easy to spread so, go easy with any additional cream.
Alternate Pan: Texas sheet cake is a thin cake by it’s very nature when baked in a jelly roll pan. It’s almost equal parts cake and frosting. It’s best made in a jelly roll pan, but it can be made in a half sheet pan or a 13×9-inch deep cake pan, too. When making that change, the cake will be thicker and will take longer to bake. Add 5-10 minutes checking the center for doneness. (The fudgy frosting will also be thicker).
Serving Options: I enjoy most cakes cold. That said, this is one rare exception. When this cake is served warm or at room temperature, the frosting melts in your mouth. It’s perfectly fine to serve it either way.

Storage and Leftovers

Leftovers: Store leftover Texas Sheet Cake covered with aluminum foil at room temperature for 3-4 days or chilled in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Freezing: You can freeze this fudge cake for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge and enjoy.

More Southern Style Cake Recipes to Make

If you’ve got an occasion to celebrate, we’ve got a cake to make it happen. More homemade cake recipes you may like to try:

Banana Pudding Layer Cake combines two desserts into one.
Homemade Buttered Rum Cake for Mardis Gras and the fall and winter holidays.
Better than a bakery Italian Cream Cake recipe.
Start your day with this Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake.
This luscious Coconut Cream Cake is a keeper.
This Reese’s Cake is a chocolate peanut butter extravaganza!
Old fashioned Oatmeal Cake with Broiled Coconut Pecan Icing.
Pineapple Upside Down Cake made with fresh pineapple.
Easy Carrot Cake Recipe is another sheet cake that’s easy to transport to other locations.
Cookies and Cream Cake from Southern Living.

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