The Pioneer Woman’s Easy & Perfect Texas Sheet Cake Recipe

Texas sheet cake represents a Southern classic beloved for its rich, decadent chocolate flavor and incredibly moist texture.

Generations of home bakers have cherished this simple yet irresistible dessert that brings warmth to family gatherings.

Soft and tender crumb meets intense chocolate richness in a cake that spreads across a large rectangular pan, making it perfect for feeding a crowd.

Each bite promises a deeply satisfying chocolate experience that melts smoothly on your tongue.

The recipe combines traditional ingredients with straightforward techniques that even novice bakers can master with confidence.

Its popularity stems from the cake ability to deliver maximum flavor with minimal effort.

The aroma of warm chocolate and hints of vanilla will draw people into the kitchen, creating an atmosphere of comfort and anticipation: Get ready to bake a crowd-pleasing masterpiece!

Why Pioneer Woman’s Texas Sheet Cake is a Sweet, Chocolatey Favorite

• Unleash Chocolate Decadence: This Texas sheet cake delivers an intense, rich chocolate experience that melts in your mouth with deep, velvety cocoa flavors guaranteed to satisfy any chocolate lover's craving.
• Master Quick and Easy Baking: The recipe offers a straightforward method that transforms simple ingredients into a stunning dessert in under two hours, making it perfect for novice bakers seeking impressive results without complicated techniques.
• Enjoy Versatile Crowd-Pleaser: Perfect for potlucks, family gatherings, and casual celebrations, this cake serves a large group effortlessly and provides that comforting, homemade dessert everyone will adore, with its moist texture and indulgent chocolate frosting generously covering the entire sheet pan.
• Savor Nutty Textural Delight: The addition of finely chopped pecans in the frosting introduces a delightful crunch and subtle nuttiness, elevating the cake's flavor profile and providing an unexpected textural contrast to the smooth, glossy chocolate surface.

Ingredients for Pioneer Woman’s Texas Sheet Cake

• Plain Flour: Fine powder that creates the cake's structure and provides stability.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweet ingredient that adds sweetness and helps create a tender texture.
• Kosher Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances the sweetness of the cake.

• Butter: Rich ingredient that adds moisture and creates a tender crumb.
• Cocoa Powder: Deep chocolate flavor that gives the cake its signature dark color and taste.
• Boiling Water: Helps bloom the cocoa powder and create a smooth chocolate base.

• Buttermilk, Eggs: Provide moisture, richness, and help bind the cake together.
• Baking Soda: Leavening agent that helps the cake rise and become light.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds depth and enhances the overall flavor profile.

• Butter, Cocoa Powder: Create a rich, chocolatey frosting base.
• Milk: Helps achieve the right consistency for the icing.
• Powdered Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps thicken the frosting.
• Pecans: Adds crunch and nutty flavor to the cake topping.

How to Make Pioneer Woman’s Texas Sheet Cake

Step 1: Prepare the Oven and Baking Pan

Preheat the oven to 175°C (350°F). Grease an 18×13-inch sheet cake pan thoroughly or line with parchment paper for easy cake removal.

Step 2: Mix Dry Cake Ingredients

• All-purpose flour
• Granulated sugar
• Kosher salt

Step 3: Create Chocolate Base

Melt 2 sticks of butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Watch carefully to prevent burning.

Step 4: Blend Cocoa Mixture

• 4 heaping tablespoons cocoa powder

Stir continuously until the mixture becomes smooth and well combined.

Step 5: Incorporate Boiling Water

Pour boiling water into the cocoa-butter mixture. Let it boil for 30 seconds, then remove from heat.

Step 6: Combine Chocolate and Dry Ingredients

Slowly pour the hot chocolate mixture over the dry ingredients. Stir gently to combine and slightly cool the mixture.

Step 7: Prepare Wet Ingredient Blend

• Buttermilk
• 2 eggs (beaten)
• Baking soda
• Vanilla extract

Step 8: Create Cake Batter

Gradually add the buttermilk mixture to the chocolate-flour mixture. Stir until just combined, then pour into the prepared pan.

Step 9: Bake the Cake

Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Step 10: Craft the Decadent Frosting

• 4 heaping tablespoons cocoa powder

• Milk
• Vanilla extract
• Minus powdered sugar

Fold in finely chopped pecans.

Step 11: Ice the Warm Cake

Pour and spread the frosting evenly over the warm cake, allowing it to set slightly before serving.

Pro Tips for Pioneer Woman’s Texas Sheet Cake

• Melt Chocolate Precisely: Gently heat cocoa and butter together, stirring constantly to prevent burning and create a silky smooth base for your cake.
• Check Freshness First: Verify expiration dates on cocoa powder and baking soda to guarantee maximum rising power and rich chocolate flavor.
• Spread Icing Strategically: Pour warm frosting while cake is still hot, allowing it to naturally settle and create a glossy, even coverage across the entire surface.
• Measure Ingredients Accurately: Use level measuring cups and spoons to ensure perfect proportions that guarantee the classic Texas sheet cake texture.
• Rest Before Serving: Let the cake sit for 30 minutes after frosting, allowing flavors to meld and the texture to become wonderfully moist and tender.

How to Store Pioneer Woman’s Texas Sheet Cake

• Vacuum-Seal Method: Protect the cake's moisture and flavor by using a vacuum sealer. Remove air completely, preventing freezer burn and preserving the cake's delicious texture for up to 3 months. Wrap individual slices or the entire cake in food-safe vacuum seal bags for maximum freshness.
• Layering Technique: Create a protective barrier using parchment paper between cake layers. Stack slices carefully in an airtight container, separating each piece to prevent sticking and maintain the cake's delicate chocolate frosting. This method keeps the cake fresh for 4-5 days in the refrigerator.
• Room Temperature Preservation: Store the cake in a cool, dry place using a cake dome or container with a tight-fitting lid. Keep away from direct sunlight and heat sources to prevent frosting from melting. Consume within 2-3 days for optimal taste and texture.

Delicious Variations of Pioneer Woman’s Texas Sheet Cake

• Chocolate Pecan Decadence: Enhance the richness by toasting pecans before adding them to the frosting, creating a deeper, more intense nutty flavor that complements the chocolate.
• Mocha Espresso Infusion: Replace boiling water with strong brewed espresso to add a robust coffee undertone that elevates the chocolate's complexity and depth.
• Salted Caramel Chocolate Remix: Drizzle homemade salted caramel sauce over the cooled cake, creating a sophisticated layer of sweet and salty notes that contrast beautifully with the chocolate base.
• Mexican Chocolate Transformation: Add 2 grams of ground cinnamon and a pinch of cayenne pepper to the dry ingredients for a warming, spicy Mexican-inspired chocolate experience that tingles the palate.

Pioneer Woman’s Texas Sheet Cake: A Rich, Moist Chocolate Cake

Pioneer Woman’s Texas Sheet Cake emerges as culinary comfort straight from heartland kitchens.

Southern charm radiates through chocolate’s rich complexity and nutty pecan accents.

Quick preparation meets delightful indulgence with this classic dessert.

Regional pride pulses within each chocolatey slice, connecting generations through shared sweet memories.

Bakers discover remarkable satisfaction crafting this straightforward yet magnificent recipe.

Share this delectable masterpiece across social networks, spark conversation with fellow chocolate enthusiasts, and spread deliciousness that celebrates Texan baking tradition.

Pioneer Woman Texas Sheet Cake Recipe

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4.6 from 9 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Rich chocolate sheet cake from Texas kitchens brings pure indulgence to dessert tables. Moist chocolate layers topped with glossy pecan frosting promise pure comfort for family gatherings and sweet celebrations.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Base Ingredients:

• 400g (2 cups) granulated sugar
• 250g (2 cups) plain flour
• 226g (2 sticks) butter
• 200g (1 ¾ sticks) butter
• 2 whole eggs, beaten

Liquid Ingredients:

• 240ml (1 cup) boiling water
• 120ml (½ cup) buttermilk
• 90ml (6 tablespoons) milk
• 5ml (1 teaspoon) vanilla extract
• 5ml (1 teaspoon) vanilla extract

Dry and Supplemental Ingredients:

• 1.5g (¼ teaspoon) kosher salt
• 30g (4 heaping tablespoons) cocoa powder
• 30g (4 heaping tablespoons) cocoa powder
• 5g (1 teaspoon) baking soda
• 65g (½ cup) pecans, finely chopped
• 430g (1 pound minus ½ cup) powdered sugar

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 175°C (350°F) and meticulously prepare an 18×13-inch sheet cake pan by greasing and flouring, or lining with parchment paper for effortless cake removal.
2. Sift together plain flour, granulated sugar, and kosher salt in a large mixing bowl, ensuring a uniform distribution of dry ingredients.
3. Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat, monitoring carefully to prevent scorching.
4. Incorporate cocoa powder into the melted butter, stirring continuously until achieving a smooth, homogeneous mixture.
5. Pour boiling water into the cocoa-butter blend, allowing it to briefly bubble before removing from heat.
6. Gently cascade the hot chocolate mixture over the dry ingredients, stirring to create a cohesive base and slightly reduce the temperature.
7. In a separate vessel, whisk together buttermilk, eggs, baking soda, and vanilla extract until thoroughly combined.
8. Fold the buttermilk mixture into the chocolate batter, mixing until just incorporated, then transfer the batter to the prepared sheet cake pan.
9. Position the pan in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center emerges clean.
10. While the cake bakes, craft the icing by melting butter and blending with cocoa powder in a saucepan.
11. Remove the butter-cocoa mixture from heat and stir in milk, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar until achieving a silky consistency.
12. Fold chopped pecans into the icing, then generously pour and spread over the warm cake, ensuring even coverage.

Notes

• Transforms ordinary baking ingredients into a luxurious chocolate experience with minimal effort and maximum flavor impact.
• Represents generations of Southern culinary tradition, carrying family memories in every rich, velvety slice.
• Conquers baking challenges by using foolproof techniques that guarantee success for even novice home bakers.
• Delivers restaurant-quality dessert directly from your home kitchen without requiring professional pastry skills.
• Celebrates chocolate’s deep, complex flavor through a simple yet ingenious hot water mixing method that unlocks unprecedented moisture and texture.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 691
• Sugar: 84g
• Sodium: 0.4g
• Fat: 37g
• Saturated Fat: 23g
• Unsaturated Fat: 14g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 99g
• Fiber: 1.5g
• Protein: 6g
• Cholesterol: 92mg