Old Fashioned Chocolate Sheet Cake
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Old Fashioned Chocolate Sheet Cake is just like Grandma used to make! It's made with real butter, cocoa, buttermilk, powdered sugar and vanilla for a slice of heaven on a plate!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
I never knew Miss Beryl, but she made the best chocolate sheet cake around. Her daughter, Joann, shared her vintage recipe with me. After I took one bite, I knew I had to share it with you. I know this Old Fashioned Chocolate Sheet Cake will be one of your favorite desserts too!
This chocolate cake is so rich and decadent you won't be able to stop eating it! Every bite will remind you of a cake your Grandma made back in the day.
Plus, this cake is deliciously dense and luscious all at the same time.
Did I say it was made with rich chocolate? Enough said.
How to Make Chocolate Cake
STEP 1: In a large mixing bowl, add 2 cups sugar, 2 cups self-rising flour, and 4 Tbsp. cocoa. Mix together and set aside.
STEP 2: In a saucepan, add 1 stick of butter, 1 cup oil, and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil for 1 minute, then pour over the dry ingredients in the mixing bowl. Beat dry and wet ingredients together for 1 minute on medium speed with a mixer.
STEP 3: In a separate bowl, whisk 2 eggs and ½ cup buttermilk. Pour into the mixing bowl with the rest of the ingredients and beat for 1 minute on medium speed until everything is combined.
STEP 4: Pour batter into a greased and floured 13 X 9 inch sheet pan or dish. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes.
How to Make Chocolate Icing
STEP 1: In a separate saucepan, mix 1 stick butter, 3 Tbsp. cocoa and 4 Tbsp. milk together. Boil for 1 minute. Mix well and remove from heat.
STEP 2: Add 1 lb. powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon of vanilla and blend with a mixer until smooth. If icing is too thick, add tiny teaspoons of milk until it is shiny. Taste the icing and if it's too grainy, blend it with a mixer until it becomes smooth and creamy.
STEP 3: Pour icing over cake starting at the edges and working towards the middle until it covers the top of cake. Allow icing to cool before serving.
What if I Can't Find Self-Rising Flour?
Self-rising flour is a staple in the south, but if you can't find it in your location, here's how you make it! Just substitute the following ingredients for self rising flour in this recipe.
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 Tablespoon baking powder
- ½ tsp. salt
More Chocolate Desserts
Do you love chocolate as much as I do? If so, try these other chocolate goodies from my recipe box...
- Chocolate Strawberry Tart
- Salted Chocolate Toffee Bars
- Chocolate Raspberry Mousse
- Chocolate Covered Cherry Bark
- Mocha Latte Icebox Pie
- Raspberry Mocha Twists
Recipe Card
Old Fashioned Chocolate Sheet Cake
*See notes in blog post for detailed tips, photos and instructions.
Ingredients
CHOCOLATE CAKE
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 cups self-rising flour
- 4 Tablespoons cocoa
- 1 stick butter
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup water
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup buttermilk
CHOCOLATE ICING
- 1 stick butter
- 3 Tablespoons cocoa
- 4 Tablespoons milk
- 1 pound box powdered sugar 4 cups
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
CHOCOLATE CAKE
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a mixing bowl, add sugar, flour and cocoa. Stir and set aside.
- Boil butter, oil and water in a saucepan for 1 minute. Pour contents into dry ingredients in mixing bowl. Blend with a mixer on medium speed for 1 minute.
- In a separate bowl, whisk eggs and buttermilk together. Pour into contents in mixing bowl.
- Mix batter for 1 minute on medium speed until combined.
- Pour batter into a 13 X 9 inch greased and floured pan.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.
CHOCOLATE ICING
- In a saucepan, mix melted butter, cocoa and milk together. Boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat.
- Add powdered sugar and vanilla. Blend with a mixer on medium speed until creamy and smooth.
- If icing is too thick, add tiny amounts of milk until icing is shiny.
- Taste icing. If it is grainy, blend with a mixer on high speed until smooth.
- Pour icing over hot cake, starting at edges and working towards middle until cake is completely covered.
- Cool for 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Use a mixer to make the icing or it will not set up properly.
- Special thanks to my friend, JoAnn, for sharing her mother's recipe with me! It's the best cake I've ever tasted!
Nutrition
Nutrition info is an auto generated estimate.
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This is what we call Texas Sheet Cake. I first tasted this cake 57 years ago at a meeting I attended. It was the absolute best chocolate cake ever! The recipe I managed to get did have a little cinnamon in it. I thought the buttermilk is what made this so Divine. Yummy 😋 I absolutely love this cake!
Hi Anna! It seems that this cake is called different names depending on the region. Some folks tell me that they put nuts on top. Others say they put Coca Cola in it! All I know is that it's the most delicious cake I've ever made in my life! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
is it buttermik for the icing or regular whole milk ?
Hi Lynn. It's regular milk.
Some recipes call for baking soda to offset the acid in the coco powder and/or buttermilk. I don't understand why this one doesn't?
Also could you substitute Kefir for Buttermilk?
Hi Charlene. This is an old fashioned recipe handed down through the years. It calls for self rising flour which already comes with the proper measurement of baking powder and salt. It works perfectly without the baking soda. I have never tested it with Kefir so I can't guarantee the results.
This is one of my families’ favorite cakes! I think I have made this cake over 20 times since you posted this recipe! I remember having this cake at my grandmothers but never had the recipe. Thank you for sharing my friend!
That's awesome, Vonna! So happy you found the recipe! 🙂
This cake, is absolutely amazing. Just like your grandma made! My husband said this was the BEST chocolate cake ever!
Thanks Sherry! It really is an awesome cake! 🙂
By far the best cake I have ever had! I have had this cake many times as Miss Beryl is my grandmother. She was known for her delicious cakes at church bake sales. This recipe won't disappoint!
Thanks Kim! Yes, I was thrilled to make this recipe in honor of Miss Beryl. So glad to hear from her granddaughter since this is an amazing recipe! 🙂
Looks delicious!
I need to make one for you Carol! You would love it! 🙂
Literally the best chocolate cake. And if you keep it in the fridge it gets all fudgy...yum!!
Oh yay! So happy you liked it! I did the fridge thing too and it was better the next day! 🙂
Jessica made this cake for me today for my birthday and it was absolutely wonderful! Best chocolate cake I’ve ever tasted!❤️
Oh my gosh...that's so exciting! Happy Birthday Pam! So glad this cake was part of your celebration. 🙂
Love your recipes Debi and can't wait to try this cake!
Thanks so much, Kathy! You're gonna love this one. It's SO yummy!
It’s chocolate/chocolate, moist and yummy! All you need is a cup of coffee!
What could be better, right?
This chocolate cake is moist, rich and decadent! The icing makes it fabulous and a classic showcase dessert. A true keeper recipe. Thanks!
Thanks Jane! I love that it's a vintage recipe that just keeps on thriving. The cake is so dense it almost tastes like a brownie. I love the icing too! 🙂
5 stars on this one! This cake is amazing. Old fashion, home made chocolate. Yes!
I'm so glad you like this cake! It is definitely a keeper! 🙂