Fudgy Chocolate Sheet Cake with Cocoa Icing
This Fudgy Chocolate Sheet Cake with Cocoa Icing is the perfect way to serve dessert to a crowd. Who doesn’t love a tender, frosted slice of chocolate cake??
A cousin of the Texas Sheet Cake, the frosting does not contain chopped pecans but feel free to add about 3/4 cup of finely chopped nuts for a heavenly alternative.
Why You Must Make
- This recipe serves a crowd! It is made in a half-sheet pan and can be cut into 24 squares (or even more if you slice smaller portions).
- It’s perfect for chocoholics with both chocolate cake and chocolate frosting.
- Since it’s a thin cake, it doesn’t take long to bake! You’ll be digging into it in no time!
It’s pretty much a given that any party I’m hosting will have a chocolate dessert on the menu! From an exquisite flourless chocolate cake topped with berries to blissful molten lava cakes to dense, delectable fudgy brownies, I’ve made them all. But if I’m feeding a crowd, a chocolate sheet cake makes the most sense. Squares of this dense cake are topped with cocoa icing that’s reminiscent of fudge. Yeah, how can that be bad??
How to Serve
- This cake has more chocolate intensity than our favorite chocolate syrup brownies, so a scoop of vanilla ice cream is a nice complement.
- Sweetened whipped cream and berries would also jazz up these squares of deliciousness!
- Adding fresh raspberries or sliced strawberries with a sprig of mint provides a pop of color to an otherwise brown dessert.
- Squares of this cake would be a delicious base for a chocolate sundae. Just add a scoop of ice cream, a dollop of whipped cream, and some chocolate or fudge sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions
A sheet cake is a cake baked in a jelly roll pan or a rectangular baking pan with short sides. Often sheet cakes are rolled around fillings to make a jelly roll cake.
A Texas sheet cake is a chocolate sheet cake that’s frosted with a chocolate frosting filled with chopped pecans.
My half-sheet cake pan measures 18 x 13-inches. A full sheet pan would not fit into most home kitchen ovens.
24 servings is standard from a half-sheet pan. It’s easy to slice into 4 sections from one short end to the other and 6 sections from one long end to the other. Of course, smaller slices will provide more servings.
You May Also Like:
- Easy Apple Cake from Wonky Wonderful
- Hot Fudge Caramel Ice Cream Bar Cake from Belly Full
- Fresh Blueberry and Lemon Cream Pie from Creative Culinary
- Triple Chocolate Cheesecake
- Jacques Torres’ Secret Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Triple Chocolate Cheesecake
Chocolate Sheet Cake
The perfect way to serve chocolate cake to a crowd!
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 2 cups flour
- 2 cups sugar
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 2 egg yolks
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
- 4 tablespoons (½ stick/2 ounces) butter
- ¾ cup vegetable oil
- ¾ cup hot water
- ½ cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder
For the icing:
- 1 stick (8 tablespoons/4 ounces) butter
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º. Grease 18- by 13-inch (half-sheet cake-sized) rimmed baking sheet.
- Put flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl and whisk to combine. Whisk eggs and yolks, vanilla, and sour cream in another bowl until smooth.
- Microwave chocolate, butter, oil, water, and cocoa in a large Pyrex measuring cup or microwave-safe bowl till the chocolate is soft. Whisk till smooth...microwave a little longer if all chocolate is not melted.
- Whisk chocolate mixture into flour mixture until well combined. Whisk the egg mixture into the batter, then pour it into the prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
- About 5 minutes before the cake is done, heat butter, cream, cocoa, and corn syrup in a large saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until smooth. Take off the heat and, whisk in powdered sugar and vanilla. Spread warm icing over hot cake.
- Let cake cool to room temperature on a wire rack, for about 1 hour, then refrigerate until icing is set, about 1 hour. Cut and serve.
Notes
Adapted from Cook's Country.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
24Serving Size:
1 sliceAmount Per Serving: Calories: 312Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 38mgSodium: 82mgCarbohydrates: 48gFiber: 2gSugar: 36gProtein: 3g
48 Comments on “Fudgy Chocolate Sheet Cake with Cocoa Icing”
This was so good! My kids were asking for more! Can’t wait to make it again!
OMG that icing! I am obsessed! Every chocolate lover’s dream.
nothing beats a chocolate sheet cake as far as I’m concerned. can’t wait to make this recipe!
Such a delicious and simple dessert! It was the perfect cake to bring to a dinner party. Thanks for another delicious recipe!
Your desserts always look divine and this is no exception, Liz =) Sheet crowds are great for crowds =) Ps Chocolate is pretty much a must for any party, nest-ce pas?
This slice of chocolate heaven is just what I need to satisfy my chocolate craving. I doubt that there would be any leftovers.
You can never go wrong with a fudgy chocolate cake! This is perfection 🙂
Such lovely bake, dear! I could finish them in no time. xoxo
Wow – just two days ago I asked my mom for the chocolate sheet cake of my childhood. It was the best and I’m hoping to recreate it soon to share with my children. My favorite way to eat it was with vanilla ice cream. I would mix the cake and ice cream in a bowl to a gooey, yummy blend. Takes me back to being a kid when life was simple…
Your cake looks perfect! Wishing I had some to close my day today…
Anything chocolate is always my favorite dessert. If I am making a dessert for a gathering it is always chocolate too. I will have to put this one on my list. It looks so yummy!
This chocolate cheesecake looks so stunning, Liz. Love how beautifully you have served it with vanilla ice-cream.
This looks really good — who can resist chocolate? Or a sheet cake? In fact, in times like these we all need more sheet cakes. 🙂 Anyway, good stuff — thanks.
Oh wow that looks fabulous! Your photos are amazing Liz!
Chocolate and vanilla ice cream is a classic. I have noticed all your lovely chocolate desserts lately.
I love a good sheet cake! This looks delicious!
Liz, Sheet cakes are wonderful, especially chocolate ones. Although these days I’m mostly laughing when I see a sheetcake (courtesy of Tina Fey’s hysterical SNL Weekend Update bit), when it comes to yours, I’m just drooling.
While I don’t normally love chocolate on chocolate I so want a slice of this with vanilla ice cream and raspberries. My FAVORITE combination of flavors! Looks lovely Liz.
This looks wonderful. I love flourless chocolate cake and have always wanted to recreate that fudgy intense chocolate flavor in a regular cake, but my general experience with cake is lacking. This looks delicious and not too difficult!
– Sierra
@https://sweetenedendeavors.blogspot.com/
I love sheet cakes and this one is outstanding! That fudge frosting – swoon!! Another winner Liz!
Oh, yes, Liz! This is the perfect chocolate dessert for a crowd. Delicious!
My goodness Liz, another chocolate masterpiece. This is perfect for parties and potlucks, love the frosting.
This recipe comes at the right time. My teen’s friends have started to hang at our home for lunch. I was wondering what to make for them next! they will devour this!
Pinning to my favorite chocolate board! This looks fantastic – everyone would love it. Thanks!
I just posted a texas sheet cake recipe that I used from Cook’s Country and I googled and saw that you used it also. Man was it ever delicious. We saw the episode a coupleweeks ago and I knew I had to try it!
this looks seriously great! thanks for sharing, lots of love happening for this and all your posts 🙂
this cake looks sinfully delicious. Love the strong chocolate flavor.
Thanks for sharing Lizzy
I love Cook’s Country! This cake looks so rich, I know my husband would love it. I am definitely bookmarking it 🙂
How funny. Just awhile ago I thought that it was odd that I’d never seen a sheet cake on food blogs. This looks delicious!
Oh – I’ve actually made this one! I loved the deeper chocolate flavor in this cake than some other texas sheet cakes I made in the past. This one stays true to the flavor. I can vouch that it some GOOD EAT!!
Your picture is gorgeous Lizzy!!
Brandie
This cake sounds amazing! It would be especially good with a glass of soy milk! I love that it is baked in a sheet, and easy to prepare :)!
Thanks, everyone!!! Chocolate ALWAYS goes over well here 🙂
How absolutely gorgeous, Lizzy!! That looks so bautiful and rich- yum! 🙂
Thank you for emailing me about the recipe compilation for Monet. I will certainly participate and send Kate the recipe as soon as I can!
xx,
Tammy
One of my favorite things to eat, that icing is da’bomb
That looks really dense, almost like a brownie. I’m sure I would love this!
Oh my word does this cake look soooo good. I wish I had a huge piece (or two) of it right now. 🙂
OOhhh your pictures are teasing me the chocolate is calling me LOL I think I need another chocolate fix today 🙂 yummy!!! And beautiful pictures!
Oh if they can’t get it finished feel free to send some over here. My daugher’s birthday is coming up and I am sure she would love it if I tried this recipe out for her.
You have truly elevated the humble chocolate sheet cake, Lizzy!
Chocolate and vanilla ice-cream are always perfect combination! Lizzy, the chocolate sheet cake make me craving for the chocolate 🙂
Oh, that does look tempting, tempting enough to lure Mr. Rosemary, the only one here who can give up sweets. Poor Nick, till next time.
This looks amazing! I love a good chocolate sheet cake. Yummy!
Poor Nick but what willpower! Great idea to make this when he’s away, though. I can’t honestly imagine there will be a crumb of evidence left of it on his return!
simple, elegant great photo!
Another great cake in your blog and great pictures that just make everyone want that cake 🙂
Sweets would be a hard one for me to give up too. I love me some chocolate cake!
Ohhhhh this looks so scrumptious Lizzy! My only worry is that I doubt I’d be able to let it cool down for 2 hours before devouring it!!!!!!! Yes… I love chocolate… 😉
Manu (Manu’s Menu)
Liz, wonderful dessert and gorgeous photos:)
Excellent!