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You are here: Home / Recipes / Dessert

Homemade Chocolate Sheet Cake & Chocolate Frosting

By Susie Weinrich · Date Nov 28, 2022· 6 Comments · May contain affiliate links.

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Chocolate Sheet Cake, sometimes called Texas Chocolate Sheet Cake or Texas Skip Cake… a whole lot of names for one cake recipe. It is a rich, moist, chocolatey cake topped with one of the best boiled chocolate frostings you have ever had!

Chocolate sheet cake cut into squares and placed on a cake pedestal

Once the chocolate cake comes out of the oven you pour on the frosting and it forms a delicate crystallized layer over the top. Once you have had this frosting you will never forget it.

Now, if it is a low calorie cake, keto, or “diet” cake that you are looking for- turn back now… this is NOT the recipe for you! But, if you want one of the best chocolate cakes you have ever had, you are in the right place.

Read on-

Boiled Chocolate Frosting

I know that boiled frosting seems counterintuitive, but it works like magic! This is an old fashioned recipe, and our grandmothers knew what they were doing!

boiled chocolate frosting being poured onto the chocolate sheet cake

By boiling the frosting you allow the sugar to crystalize when it is poured on the cake. You end up with an delicate crystalized layer of frosting on top, and under that layer is warm fudgy frosting!

Buttermilk or Sour Milk

My hand written recipe calls for “sour milk” which is basically the same thing as buttermilk when it comes to baking. Back when this recipe was written you wouldn’t dare buy an entire carton of buttermilk just to use ½ cup.

Instead you mix ½ cup milk with 2 tablespoons of white vinegar and let it sit a few minutes to create a “homemade” buttermilk.

You can use either buttermilk or sour milk, both work great!

How to Make Chocolate Sheet Cake & Boiled Frosting

Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour an 18x12x1 sheet pan.

chocolate cake cut into squares and layed out evenly on parchment paper

If you are using the sour milk method combine ½ cup milk and 2 tablespoons white vinegar and set aside. You can skip this step if you are using buttermilk.

In a large bowl combine 2 cups flour, 2 cups white sugar, 1 teaspoon salt. Set aside.

In a saucepan over medium heat boil 2 sticks of butter, 1 cup water, and 3 tablespoon cocoa powder. Remove from the heat and stir into the flour/sugar mixture.

Crack and lightly whisk 2 eggs into a seperate bowl. Temper them slightly by adding a little of the warm batter into the eggs. Once they are tempered stir them into the batter.

pile of three pieces of cake with a bite taken out of the top piece

Add ½ cup buttermilk (or ½ cup sour milk if using that method), 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon vanilla. Stir to combine.

Pour into your prepared sheet pan. Bake for 18-22 minutes until cooked through.

Boiled Chocolate Frosting

While the cake bakes, make the chocolate frosting so it can be poured on as soon as the cake comes out of the oven!

In a saucepan over low heat mix together:

  • 1 cup butter
  • 3 tablespoon cocoa powder
  • 5 tablespoon milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Once that is melted together stir in the powdered sugar. Stir until it is well combined.

Assemble the cake

As soon as the cake comes out of the oven pour on the frosting. Spread it evenly and then let it sit for an hour or two to crystalize and cool.

  • step 1 frosting being poured onto chocolate cake
  • step 2 chocolate frosting drizzled over chocolate sheet cake

Serve cut into squares. You can serve with whipped cream, ice cream, or just as is!

a piece of chocolate cake on a white plate with a fork taking a bite

Storing Chocolate Cake with Boiled Chocolate Frosting

Cut the cake into squares and store at room temperature, covered, for up to a week. (but I doubt it will last that long!)

Variations on the Chocolate Sheet Cake Recipe

We like this chocolate sheet cake as is, however you can dress this cake up to match your own taste buds. Here are just a few ideas:

  • Stir a ½ cup chopped pecans, peanuts, or walnuts into the frosting before pouring over the cake.
  • Sift powdered sugar over the frosting after it is poured on the cake for extra flair.
  • Add a little mint extract to the frosting and then top each square with an Andes Chocolate Mint.
  • Crush 2 Heath Candy Bars and add it to the frosting for a sweet crunch.
chocolate sheet cake with frosting cut into squares and piled on a cake plate

Homemade Chocolate Sheet Cake Recipe with Boiled Chocolate Frosting

Chocolate sheet cake cut into squares and placed on a cake pedestal

Homemade Chocolate Sheet Cake with Boiled Chocolate Frosting

A deliciously rich homemade chocolate sheet cake with a boiled chocolate frosting. This is a classic chocolate sheet cake recipe can also be known as Texas Chocolate Sheet Cake.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate Save Saved!
Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 22 minutes minutes
cooling time: 1 hour hour
Total Time: 1 hour hour 52 minutes minutes
Servings: 24 servings
Author: Susie Weinrich

Ingredients

Chocolate Sheet Cake

  • 2 cups All Purpose Flour
  • 2 cups Sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 cup Butter - (salted or unsalted)
  • 1 cup Water
  • 3 Tablespoons (heaping) Cocoa
  • 2 Eggs
  • ½ cup buttermilk - If you do not have buttermilk you can use sour milk = mix ½ cup milk with 2 Tablespoons white vinegar and let sit for 2-3 minutes.
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Chocolate Frosting

  • 1 cup Butter
  • 3 Tablespoons Cocoa
  • 5 Tablespoons Milk
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla
  • 3 ½ cups Powdered Sugar

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350. Prepare a large sheet pan (18x12x1) by greasing and flouring.
  • If you are using sour milk method- combine ½ cup milk with 2 tablespoon white vinegar and set aside. If you are using buttermilk you can skip this step.
  • In a large bowl combine flour, sugar and salt. Set aside.
  • In a saucepan over medium high heat bring to a boil 1 cup butter, 1 cup water, and 3 Tablespoons cocoa. Remove from heat and stir into the flour/sugar mixture.
    Next add 2 slightly beaten eggs (you may want to temper your eggs slightly with a tablespoon of the warm batter ), ½ cup sour milk, 1 teaspoon baking soda, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Stir to combine.
    Pour into prepared sheet pan.
  • Bake for 18-22 minutes.
  • While the cake is baking prepare your frosting so it can be poured on as soon as the cake comes out of the oven.
  • In a saucepan over low heat mix together 1 cup butter, 3 tablespoon cocoa powder, 5 tablespoon milk, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Stir until it is melted and then add the 3 ½ cups powdered sugar. Stir until it is well combined.
  • As soon as the cake comes out of the oven pour the frosting over the cake. Smooth with a offset spatula or knife. Let rest 1 hour for the frosting to set before serving.
  • Store at room temp, covered, for up to a week.

Recipe Tips and Notes:

Sour Milk or Buttermilk:
Either will work in this recipe.
If you do not have buttermilk you can make your own by combining ½ cup milk with 2 tablespoon white vinegar, let it sit for a few minutes and then give it a stir. 
Did you make this recipe?Connect with me and let me know by commenting below!
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Serving: 1slice

Dessert & Cake Recipes

Here are a few other dessert and cake recipes to check out!

  • Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Icing
  • Cherry Pie Bars
  • Easy Apple Pie Bars
  • Summer Berry Cobbler
  • Raspberry Lemonade Icebox Cake

Originally posted Sept 17, 2017 Copy & Photos updated on Dec 31, 2019

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About Susie Weinrich

Susie Weinrich is the recipe developer, food photographer, and content creator behind Mom's Dinner. She has over 20 years experience in the food industry. Currently, Susie shares all her recipes and food knowledge on Mom's Dinner. You will find her recipes are easy to follow and full of tips and tricks to make sure the recipe you are making turns out perfect!

Comments

    5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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  1. Deanne Sund says

    August 17, 2019 at 11:34 am

    For years I have been stressing over menus that would use everyday ingredients, normal proportions of ingredients, and of course creative & delicious- not too much to ask, right?!!😬
    HALLELUJAH! I Finally found you & your common-sensed, delicious menu ideas! THANK YOU!

    Reply
    • Susie says

      August 17, 2019 at 11:45 am

      Oh my gosh… best comment I have ever received! Thank you so much- you totally get it. That is partly why I created this site- nobody has time to chase down lavender syrup or some crazy ingredient like that to only use it one time! Right!? Real food, simple recipes, easy to find ingredients.

      Reply
  2. John says

    August 12, 2018 at 4:43 pm

    5 stars
    This is a “last meal” type of dessert!

    Reply
    • Susie says

      August 12, 2018 at 11:25 pm

      morbid, but correct. LOL

      Reply
      • Alan says

        January 09, 2023 at 6:42 pm

        Susie, my mother-in-law used to make this cake, bless her heart
        she went home to be with the Lord in 2019 and I’ve been searching for the recipe and came across your site, best cake ever, however, she used granulated sugar instead of confectioners sugar. Would it be possible to substitute for granulated?
        Thank you,

      • Susie Weinrich says

        January 10, 2023 at 8:32 am

        I love it when I can provide a long lost family recipe! It’s the same way with my Iowa ham balls, people comment all the time that their grandparents or in-laws made them but the recipe was lost.
        I have not tried it with granulated sugar in the frosting. I tried to look up some similar recipes and they all call for powdered sugar. I think the powdered sugar gives you a smoother frosting.

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Meet The Author:

Susie Weinrich is a professional food photographer and recipe developer. Her thoroughly tested recipes and step-by-step guides give readers confidence in the kitchen.

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