This delicious chocolate sheet cake is definitely a “go to.” I almost always have the ingredients on hand and can make it in under an hour with just a moments notice. That comes in handy for funeral dinners, impromptu get togethers, and when my husband forgets to tell me that I need to make a cake for the concession stand tonight the rare bout of miscommunication. I also am thankful that it is sheet cake-sized, so I can easily get 20 servings from the recipe.
Chocolate Sheet Cake
- 2 c. sugar
- 2 1/2 c. flour
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1 c. hot water
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 3 Tbsp. cocoa
- 1 c. oil
- 1 c. buttermilk (I use 1 Tbsp. vinegar + 1 c. milk, mix and let sit for a few minutes)
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- a few drops of red food coloring (I omit this when my family will be eating the cake, but it does give it a rich color)
Dissolve soda in hot water. Add all ingredients to a large bowl. Mix till batter is smooth. Pour into greased and floured (I just spray mine with non-stick spray) 10 1/2 x 15 cookie sheet pan. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Spread with icing while hot.
Icing
- 1/2 cup butter
- 2 Tbsp. cocoa
- 3 Tbsp. milk
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- powdered sugar
Melt margarine in a saucepan. Mix in cocoa and milk until well blended. Remove from heat. Add vanilla and enough sifted powdered sugar (this is one time I do make the effort to sift… I don’t want lumpy icing) until icing is creamy and a good spreading consistency.
If it’s not needed right away, or plans unexpectedly change, this cake freezes beautifully. In fact, I think it tastes even better after having been frozen. Comforting, chocolatey, easy-peasy sheet cake.
That looks delicious!
Sure, no problem to say “Thanks” for cake!
Great looking cake, too! YuM!
This looks so good! I love chocolate cake and this looks easy to make! Thanks for the recipe and I’ll let you know how mine turns out!
I just subscribed and maybe I’ll talk to you on Twitter. I just started it a few days ago…so I look like a total dork on there most of the time!
-Kim
Wow! I was online this morning looking for a sheet cake recipe! Thanks! This looks great~
Mmm, looks yummy! Do you freeze it with the frosting on it?
This looks delicious! I’ll have to try it sometime for sure!
I’m printing this one out
It sounds like a real keeper.
Oh boy! This does look good!
What a wonderful recipe! Thanks for sharing it with us.
Yummo!!!!!
Yummy ~ looks delicious! I could use a slice right now!
I made this last night and it was tasty
Thanks!
this looks gorgeous! but question what do you mean by soda??
charna
Baking soda. Sorry about that! I went back and edited the recipe. Thanks for letting me know.
I was wondering too if you freeze it frosted or without frosting?
It look delicious!
I freeze it frosted.
I made this cake yesterday. YUM! I was excited to try this as I’ve never made a sheet cake before. It wasn’t until I was making the frosting that I realized your directions weren’t specific enough for a newbie like me! I wasn’t sure if the frosting should have a cup or two of powdered sugar. After going with two and “icing” the cake, I really should have used more like four.
The cake was tasty and the football team ate it up! I did end up making two, the second frosted with lifeasmom’s buttercream. Both were a hit!
Sorry about that. I have never once taken the time to actually measure how much powdered sugar I use. Whoops! But yes, more like 3 to 4.