Chocolate Sheet Cake

This is a yummy and easy crowd-pleasing dessert. It yields 16-20 pieces, so if my crowd were a real crowd, I’d double the recipe.

Cake 

• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine
• 1/4 cup baking cocoa
• 1 cup water
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. In a large bowl, combine the first four ingredients.
   
2. In a small saucepan, bring butter, cocoa and water to a boil. Add to dry ingredients (step 1) and mix well.
   
3. In a small bowl, beat eggs. Add buttermilk and vanilla; mix well. Stir into cocoa mixture.
   
4. Pour into a greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan.
   
5. Bake at 375F for 20-22 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted near the center comes out clean.

 
Frosting

• 1/2 cup butter or margarine
• 1/4 cup baking cocoa
• 1/3 cup milk
• 2 cups icing (or confectioner’s) sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. While cake is baking,  bring butter, cocoa and milk to a boil in a saucepan, stirring constantly.
   
2. Remove pan from heat; add sugar and vanilla. Mix well.
   
3. When cake is done, spread frosting over hot cake.
4. Cool frosted cake on a wire rack. 

Recipe adapted from this recipe found in Taste of Home.

Comments

[rosemary]

Mmm. That sounds like a great recipe. Buttermilk gives a good flavor boost to chocolate cake. The recipe is printed and ready to go. Thanks!

[Cindy Swanson]

Rebecca, I make a virtually identical cake! It's often referred to as "Texas sheet cake." It's incredibly delicious, and I usually have a really hard time stopping once I start eating it. I haven't made it since I found out that I'm diabetic!

[Islandsparrow]

This sounds like a winner - so simple and I love using buttermilk in cakes.

[Jeannie]

YUMMY! =)

[beccy]

Oh yummy, and easy to make, just what I like!

[Robin]

Rebecca, I saw this earlier, when I was linking to RRU, and I couldn't wait to read it "officially". Oh!My!WORD! it sounds wonderful! I've never used buttermilk in a cake before, but I imagine it gives it a richness not found otherwise.

I WILL be trying this, and licking my fingers in the process.

Thank you for letting me host RRU this month (and incorporating it with SSD). I've already found more recipes to try than I thought possible. I might have to stop blogging a bit in order to get to them all.

Not really ;).

[Sandy]

This does look a lot like a Texas Sheet Cake that I make. Mine has pecan halves on the top and is always the first dessert gone at any potluck.

[Barbara H.]

That looks luscious. It looks very similar to one I have seen at church potlucks but have never gotten a recipe for. Cakes are not my best thing, but I want to give this one a try.

[beverly]

This sounds so yummy! thank you very much for the recipe!

[ellen b]

Looks very chocolatey good...

[Joy T.]

It's nice to see someone else who likes to use buttermilk in their cake mixture. I tell people I use it and they look at me like I've gone mad. Great recipe, I'll be printing this one out!

[theotherbear]

I've never used buttermilk in a cake. Must try this!

[Robin]

Hey Rebecca...do you know who's hosting next month? :)

[rebecca]

It's breakfasts at Home, but not alone.