Homemade Chocolate Sheet Cake
Life needs chocolate, period. Would I survive without chocolate? Maybe. Would I be an enjoyable person without chocolate in my life? No. Does that make me an emotional eater? Probably, but I’m cool with that. Really though, I love love love chocolate, and I also love love love chocolate cake! It is, after all, two of the absolute best foods combined into one so of course that makes it one of the most epic things in the world of food, right? I think it’s safe to say this chocolate sheet cake recipe will have everyone swooning! Why is this homemade chocolate cake any different from all the other sheet cake recipes out there? Because I’ve always doubled the cocoa from that in the classic chocolate sheet cake recipe and it makes it 1,000 times better! I mean, 1/4 cup cocoa most definitely could not be considered enough for a whole cake! I also chose to finish this one off with some chocolate whipped cream for extra decadence (it tastes like chocolate mousse), but it’s optional so if you want to cut back on ingredients feel free to leave it off. Then of course I like to add some fresh strawberries, because strawberries and chocolate just go together, plus they add that gorgeous red color.
Chocolate Sheet Cake Ingredients
For the chocolate cake itself, you’ll need:
All-purpose flour Granulated sugar Baking soda Salt Unsalted butter Unsweetened cocoa powder Hot water Buttermilk Eggs Vanilla extract
For the homemade chocolate icing, you’ll need:
Unsalted butter Unsweetened cocoa powder Salt Milk Vanilla extract Powdered sugar
And the optional toppings include:
Brown sprinkles Fresh strawberries Chocolate whipped cream
How to Make Chocolate Sheet Cake
Butter an 18×13-inch baking sheet and dust with cocoa powder. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, sugar and salt. In a separate bowl, melt the butter. Stir in the hot water and cocoa powder. Pour flour mixture into the butter mixture and stir to combine. Add the eggs, vanilla and buttermilk and stir. Bake until the cake is set.
How to Make Chocolate Icing
Cook butter, milk, salt and cocoa powder in a saucepan until the butter is melted. Whisk in vanilla and powdered sugar, then pour over chocolate sheet cake. Let the chocolate icing set at room temperature before slicing the cake.
Can I Use a Buttermilk Substitute?
If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, just measure out 1/2 cup milk, remove 1 1/2 tsp of it then replace that with 1 1/2 tsp white vinegar or lemon juice. Stir and let it rest 3 minutes before adding to the chocolate cake batter.
Can I Use Dutch Process Cocoa Powder?
Without having tried it myself, I can’t say for sure. I used regular unsweetened cocoa powder, so I recommend using that if possible. It makes this cake richer and more chocolatey!
Why Ice the Cake When It’s Still Warm?
Normally, I’d advise you to wait until your cake has cooled completely before icing it, but with this chocolate sheet cake you want to ice it while warm. The icing oozes into the cake a little bit and makes it super moist. Trust me, it’s best to add the chocolate icing to a warm cake!
Tips for the Best Chocolate Sheet Cake
The water added to the chocolate cake batter should be very hot. Warm tap water won’t do, you’ll need to heat the water on the stove or in the microwave. Begin making the homemade chocolate icing as soon as the sheet cake comes out of the oven. Wait to pipe on the chocolate whipped cream until you’re ready to serve the cake.
More Sheet Cake Recipes You’ll Love:
Carrot Sheet Cake Lemon Sheet Cake Pumpkin Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Coconut Sheet Cake
More Chocolate Cake Recipes to Try:
German Chocolate Cake Chocolate Cake with Marshmallow Frosting Flourless Chocolate Cake Classic Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Buttercream Chocolate Zucchini Cake with Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
