We love making this scratch cake to take to outdoor picnics or large barbecue get-togethers.
It's made in a jelly roll pan, frosted and cut into squares that will feed a large crowd.
This cake is a big hit no matter when I make it and seems to be the most asked for any functions including birthday parties!
The cake is super simple to make and I even give you an option to make Texas Sheet Cake in any flavor with a doctored cake mix.
Of course, you can decorate these simple cakes with sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, or any kind of candies you like.
The cake tastes great just the way it is, dusted with powdered sugar with whipped cream or the traditional homemade frosting.
All recipes are below for you to choose from.
Just scroll down to the printable recipe card to check out these great recipes and pick the one you prefer.
Homemade or Boxed Cakes
If you're a hurried cook or hate to bake, you will love the simplified recipes for these sheets cakes.
I love using spice cake mix to change the regular famous flavors we all love to something different for fall.
Just use the vanilla icing recipe with cinnamon in it.
Of course, you can choose any mix and doctored it up to whatever you love, orange, lemon, pineapple the skies the limit of possibilities.
I prefer homemade scratch cakes and also really love using coffee in the frosting instead of water.
Hopefully, you will find the right cake you want to make with these super easy recipes below.
Chocolate Texas Sheet Cake measurements in the recipe card at the end of this post:
- butter
- water or extra strong coffee
- cocoa
- sugar
- flour
- eggs
- salt
- baking soda
- sour cream
- vanilla
- Frosting
- butter
- cocoa powder
- milk
- powdered sugar
- almond flavoring
- Topping: Chopped Pecan and Toasted Coconut
The Easy Way Out Doctored Cake Mix (refer to the recipe card below for the exact measurements
- boxed cake mix with pudding in the mix or add 1 package of instant vanilla pudding to the package
- eggs
- milk
- vegetable oil
Vanilla Texas Sheet Cake refer to recipe card below for exact measurements:
- butter
- water
- flour
- white sugar
- eggs, beaten
- sour cream
- almond extract
- baking soda
- salt
- Frosting
- butter
- milk
- powdered sugar
- almond extract
- walnuts
Recipes We Love
Sour Cream Coffee Cake Cupcakes
Blueberry Cake Mix Cake
Spanish Bar Cake
Hot Milk Cake
Sour Milk Cake
Pistachio Cake
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A Few Tips
Use the toothpick method and check the middle of the cake, do not over bake.
Using greased disposable pans work great for taking this Texas sheet cake to any party or outing.
Keep the cake covered loosely so the frosting doesn't start to seep and look wet.
These cakes can be dusted with powdered sugar or topped with whipped cream if you're not a frosting lover.
Texas Sheet Cake Recipe Vanilla or Chocolate
Yield: 24
Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 25 MinTotal time: 35 Min
Here are two recipes for Texas sheet cake made from scratch. One Chocolate One Vanilla. There are also instructions to use doctored cake mixes for Texas sheet cakes of any flavor.
Ingredients:
- Chocolate Texas Sheet Cake From Scratch:
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup of water or extra strong coffee
- 1/4 cup cocoa
- 2 cups of sugar
- 2 cups flour
- 2 eggs
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Frosting:
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoon milk
- 4 1/4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons almond flavoring
- Optional Topping: Chopped Pecan and Toasted Coconut
- Vanilla Texas Sheet Cake from scratch:
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup of water
- 2 cups flour
- 2 cups white sugar
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon almond extract or vanilla
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Frosting:
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/4 cup milk
- 4 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
Instructions:
- Chocolate Sheet Cake Directions:
- Beat the butter, water, cocoa in a saucepan over low heat until the butter melts.
- Add sugar, flour, salt, eggs, soda, sour cream, and almond flavoring.
- Mix well. Pour in a jelly roll style pan 15x10x1 inch size lined with parchment paper.
- Bake at 350-degree hot oven for 20 minutes.
- Make the frosting by combining butter, cocoa, and milk in a saucepan bring to a boil.
- Add the remaining ingredients and beat with an electric mixer. Spread over hot cake and sprinkle with chopped pecans and toasted coconut.
- Note: for toasted coconut place on a paper plate and microwave for 1-minute intervals until nicely browned, stirring often.
- Vanilla Texas Sheet Cake Directions:
- In a deep saucepan, bring butter and water to a boil.
- Remove from the heat, stir in the flour, sugar, eggs, sour cream, almond extract, baking soda, and salt until smooth.
- Pour into a greased jelly roll size pan ( 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in) or lined with parchment paper.
- Bake at 375 degrees for 20 to 22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean and cake is golden brown.
- Cool for 20 minutes.
- For the frosting:
- In a large saucepan, combine butter and milk. Bring to a boil.
- Remove from the heat and stir in sugar and extract.
- Stir in walnuts; spread over warm cake. ( You can also sprinkle toasted coconut of this one if you like).
- For Texas Doctored Sheet Cake Mix Recipes:
- 1 boxed cake mix with pudding in the mix or add 1 package of instant vanilla pudding to the package
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- Mix together with a mixer pour into jelly roll sized pan a 15 x 10 pan lined with parchment paper and bake at 350 for around 25 minutes using the toothpick method.
- Use the same frosting recipe
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More Cake Recipes:
1960s Pistachio Cake Mix Pound Cake
Easy Pumpkin Spice Cake Mix Cookies
Cake Mix Blueberry Muffins
Funfetti Cake Mix Cookies
4 Ingredient Pumpkin Cake Mix Cake
Disclosure: This recipe was originally shared in 2012. It was edited and re-published in 2020
