Chocolate Sheet Cake
Our best-loved chocolate sheet cake topped with chocolate buttercream is simply delicious and feeds a crowd!
Servings: 24
Ingredients
Cake
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups sugar
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup hot water
- ⅔ cup vegetable oil
Frosting
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 5 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3½ cups powdered sugar, sifted
- chopped nuts, sprinkles for topping (optional)
Instructions
Cake
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- To make the cake, mix flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.
- Add eggs, buttermilk, hot water, and oil and beat together with a hand mixer until combined and smooth (it should be runny). Pour into a greased 11x15-inch baking dish.
- Bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Frosting
- To make the frosting, melt butter in a medium pot over low heat. Add cocoa powder, milk, and vanilla and whisk until smooth. Add powdered sugar and whisk until smooth.
- Remove from the heat and pour over the warm cake. Spread frosting quickly and add nuts or sprinkles right away, since frosting sets up quickly.
Video
Notes
Make ahead of time. Make the cake as instructed, but do not add frosting. Once cool, cover with plastic wrap and store on the counter for up to 24 hours, or freeze for 2 months. When ready to serve, make frosting and add it to the cake.
Feed a crowd. This cake makes a lot, so it has become a staple for get-togethers and birthday parties in our house. We change out the sprinkles based on the occasion and usually serve it with different kinds of ice cream. If you like chopped pecans, you can add those too by mixing them into the frosting before spreading it onto the cake.
Store leftovers, covered, at room temperature for 2-3 days or in a freezer-safe container and freeze for 1-2 months.
Nutrition
Serving: 1slice | Calories: 223kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 253mg | Potassium: 70mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 34g | Vitamin A: 160IU | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg