Here’s how my summer is going so far: Morning time: Poke around the house with the kids until they start strangling each other. Lunchish: Get kids out of the house to run errands. Forget to feed them lunch. (??? Okay I’ll be honest I think I was in denial about preparing another meal and just fled the house instead) Target time: Party Poppers! Firework Oreos! Water balloons! So much fun stuff for the 4th, but the food court in Target (what do you call it? You know, where they have the pizza and popcorn.) was CLOSED. The guy’s walking off and I’m like hold up! And he’s like, naw I’m on my lunch break. (???) Pool time: I promised the kids we would go to the pool in the afternoon, but it’s already 3pm and still no lunch. So I head to McDonald’s and get in the 100-car-length drive through line. Then I realize that the pool closes at 4 and if we don’t leave immediately we won’t get to swim. So we leave and go swim. My kids at this point have had nothing to eat since a 10am muffin. (That we made together!! Fun in the kitchen! See, sometimes I feed them!!) McDonald’s time: When the pool closes at 4pm, I feel so bad that the kids haven’t eaten that I give in when they ask me to go to the slightly-farther-away McDonald’s that has a Play Place. Nope: Play Place is closed. We don’t get our food until 4:45. (Why is there so much traffic in Sacramento??) After that I took the kids to Costco for some stuff we needed, because I like to torture myself on days when I skip the baby’s nap and drag it out even longer. But they loved the samples! Making up for missed lunch. Are you guys ready for the 4th of July?? I’m so excited. We will be making Nana’s Fall-Off-the-Bone Ribs and “Barb”-ecue Sauce, My Favorite Coleslaw, and Mexican Street Corn Dip. And of course this Texas Sheet Cake.
Recipe for Texas Sheet Cake
This Texas Sheet Cake recipe is perfect for big parties because it’s SUPER easy and makes a ton. I made this last week, and then immediately sent the leftovers to work with Eric. Three days later I made it again because I was regretting sending it in to work. Had one piece and realized I had an entire cake to myself and that is bad news. I distributed between neighbors. Then last week I was writing out the final recipe and was doing some serious Texas Sheet Cake pondering, and decided I wanted to add brown sugar and even more cocoa, so I started making it again. Eric heard me get the pan out and turn on the gas burner and said, “Again??” It was 10:30pm. It was worth it guys. The final batch of this cake was definitely the best. Traditional Texas chocolate sheet cake calls for all white sugar and about 1/4 cup of cocoa. In this cake, we’re using half brown sugar and half white sugar, and doubling the cocoa. It makes it extra rich and chocolatey! And it’s so moist!
What is a sheet cake?
A sheet cake is a single layer cake baked in a large, flat pan, usually rectangular. It’s usually 2 inches deep, but as you can see in this recipe, the height of the cake will vary by the length and width of the pan you use.
What’s the difference between sheet cake and regular cake?
All sheet cakes are “regular” cakes, but not all “regular” cakes are sheet cakes. Sheet cakes have just one layer and are wide, thin, and rectangular. Think of a big rectangular grocery store birthday cake meant to serve a horde of hungry kids. When someone thinks of a “regular” cake, they might imagine a round cake with multiple layers, but technically that could be called a “layer” cake. Sheet cake, schmeet cake, I say – they’re all delicious!
Texas Sheet Cake Recipe Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need–simple ingredients you likely have in your pantry! (Ingredients listed again in the recipe below.)
Texas Chocolate Sheet Cake Frosting Ingredients
How to make a Texas Sheet Cake
Before we dive into details, here’s a basic overview. (Full instructions are included in recipe below!) Pan Sizes: (Ovens vary! Be sure to check your cake with a toothpick!)
If you are baking this in a 9×13” pan, bake for 23-25 minutes. If you do a 10×15” pan, bake for about 20 minutes. If you bake it in a 12×18” pan, bake for about 18-20 minutes.
Next, the frosting. DON’T forget the frosting!
How to make Texas Chocolate Sheet Cake frosting
How to store Chocolate Texas Sheet Cake
Great party dishes for large crowds
The Best Cheese Sauce Ever (Shake Shack Copycat) « The best cheese sauce for fries, roasted potatoes, broccoli, asparagus, nachos, burgers, hot dogs, enchiladas, burritos, the list is endless! Carol’s Legendary 7 Layer Dip « Spicy bean dip on the bottom plus sour cream, guacamole, tomatoes and cheese . . . you just can’t beat it. Easy Baked Meatballs « Perfect for making ahead and freezing. Best Hummus « from Love and Lemons. Mexican Street Corn Dip (Elote) « The perfect combo of sweet corn and savory tart cheese. Easy Cheeseburger Sliders « Soft Hawaiian rolls stuffed with extra cheesy beef and topped with a butter and mustard glaze.
Update! I’ve become slightly obsessed with sheet cakes. Here’s a White Texas Sheet Cake that you are going to love! If you don’t have a lid that covers the pan above the frosting line, just wait until the frosting has cooled completely before covering. You can cover it with plastic wrap as soon as that “shell” appears on top of the frosting. If you do it while the frosting is hot, you will have a sad sticky mess. If you plan to make this recipe ahead for a party, I recommend freezing the cake by itself and making the frosting on the day of the party. You want that glaze to be shiny and new. Speaking of parties, what else is on your menu? If you’re entertaining enough people to warrant a Texas sheet cake, you might need other ideas for a large crowd!
More sheet cakes you won’t be able to resist!
Lemon Sheet Cake with Lemon Glaze « based off the original chocolate version! Mississippi Mud Cake « kinda like Texas Sheet Cake…except there’s also a layer of marshmallow cream. Almond Sheet Cake « this is one of my personal favorites!! You could decorate the top of this with strawberries and blueberries for your 4th of July festivities this week. Chocolate Cherry Sheet Cake with Fudge Frosting « this is stupid easy. Texas Cowboy Cookies « one of the top recipes on the blog! I know this isn’t a sheet cake, but it is a TEXAS recipe, so I feel like I need to include it :) Banana Chocolate Chip Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting « from A Family Feast. Pumpkin Sheet Cake with Caramel Frosting « from Bless This Mess.
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