High Altitude Chocolate Texas Sheet Cake with Frosting

Sink your fork into a slice of decadent, tender chocolate cake lovingly topped with a luscious layer of glossy, fudgy frosting. Whether you are a seasoned baker or a novice in the kitchen, join me as we unravel the secrets to creating the perfect High Altitude Texas Sheet Cake.

For all you chocolate lovers (like me) check out these other high altitude chocolate recipes…Chocolate Fudge Cake with Chocolate Fudge Frosting, Chocolate Crinkle Cookies, Chocolate Espresso Brownies, and 3-ingredient Chocolate Cookies.

If you have never had Texas Sheet Cake be prepared for your life to change. This cake is made up of a thin but surprising moist chocolate buttermilk cake and topped with a thick layer of the most delicious chocolate fudge frosting. This chocolate sheet cake is absolutely addicting and delicious!

High Altitude Texas Sheet Cake

High-altitude baking has unique challenges, especially with recipes with high sugar content. But have no-fear, this Texas sheet cake recipe is absolutely perfect for higher elevations. If you’re at a lower or higher elevation, see my High Altitude Baking Adjustments for guidance on adjusting recipes.

I bake this High Altitude Chocolate Texas Sheet Cake at 8,000 feet of elevation.

Original Texas Sheet Cake Recipe

The original recipe for this Texas Sheet Cake was my grandma’s, so for many decades it has been baked in Illinois at sea level. I had to make a few adjustments for high altitude but I wanted to include the sea level adjustments for anyone that travels or doesn’t live at high elevation.

CAKE BATTER ADJUSTMENTS:

2 cups all purpose flour

2 cups white sugar

4 tablespoons cocoa powder

Why you’ll love this Texas Sheet Cake Recipe

SOFT AND MOIST. This high altitude chocolate sheet cake recipe has luscious butter and rich, fatty buttermilk for a perfectly soft and moist chocolate cake.

ONLY TAKES 40 MINUTES. One of the best things about this delicious chocolate cake recipe is the fact that from START to FINISH it only takes 40 minutes, frosting and all!

VERSATILE PRESENTATION. Leave the chocolate frosting shiny and untouched or top it with chopped up nuts, sprinkles, or mini chocolate chips.

SERVE WARM OR COLD. This Texas sheet cake recipe requires little to no planning ahead. The frosting is poured on while the cake is hot. So you get to decide if you want to serve it while it’s warm and dripping gooey frosting or let the cake cool and serve beautiful cut pieces, showing off the perfect layers.

FEED A LARGE CROWD. Make this cake for a birthday party or any other special occasion and feed a crowd with it. This chocolate cake recipe easily serves 24 people. Or if you don’t need a large cake then see below in recipe variations for Texas Sheet Cake Recipe for 13×9 pan.

PERFECTED AT HIGH ALTITUDE. Skip experimenting with sea level recipes and risking flat or runny Texas Sheet Cake. Instead use this High Altitude recipe. I make this recipe at 8,000 feet of elevation.

Recommended tools:

Large & medium bowl OR stand mixer – this recipe is easy enough to whisk together in just a bowl, but I tend to multitask while I bake so I often use my electric stand mixer. You will need a bowl for the chocolate cake batter and chocolate frosting.

Small saucepan – the cake batter and frosting both have a melted chocolate mixture

Measuring cup and spoons – when measuring dry ingredients, especially flour, spoon the ingredient into the measuring cup and then level off to get the correct amount

Half sheet cake pan – use a 13 x 18 inch pan with 1 inch sides (also called jelly roll pan)

Find all of my favorite basic kitchen tools here and check them out on Amazon.

High Altitude Texas Sheet Cake Ingredients:

Chocolate Cake

Flour – use all purpose flour to add structure and prevent the collapse of the cake

White sugar – the perfect kiss of sweetness

Butter – moisture, richness, and fat

Cocoa powder – gives the cake its chocolate flavor and rich color

Water – moisture

Buttermilk – moisture and richness. Make easy buttermilk by combining 1/2 cup whole milk & 1 1/2 teaspoons vinegar

Large eggs – adds structure

Vanilla extract – enhances the chocolate flavor and adds flavor

Baking soda – leavening agent

Salt – balance the flavors

Frosting

Butter – moisture, richness, and fat

Cocoa powder – gives the frosting it’s chocolate flavor and rich color

Whole milk – moisture

Powdered sugar – the foundation of the frosting

Vanilla extract – enhances the chocolate flavor and adds flavor

See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for the full ingredients list.

Overview- How to make High Altitude Texas Sheet Cake:

• Preheat oven to 350 F – this recipe is quick and easy, so make sure to preheat your oven first
• Melt and bring to a boil the butter, cocoa powder, and water. Let cool for a minute.
• Combine sugar and flour in a large bowl.
• Add chocolate mixture to the bowl and mix.
• Add remaining ingredients to the bowl and mix.
• Bake for 20 minutes.
• Start making the frosting 8 to 10 minutes before the cake is done.
• Melt and bring to a boil the butter, cocoa powder, and milk.
• Mix all the ingredients together in a medium bowl.
• Pour frosting over hot cake.

Recipe Variations:

SMALLER SIZE. If a big sheet pan cake is too big for you or your family then cut the recipe in half. Bake the cake in a 9×13 pan instead.

CRUNCHY TOPPING. Add a little crunch to this chocolate cake by topping the frosting with chopped pecans or walnuts, mini chocolate chips, or sprinkles. No need to use an exact measurement, instead measure with your heart.

FAQs:

How do you know when a cake is done?

• smells fragrant
• edges of the cake pull away from the sides of the pan
• top and edges are golden brown or no longer shiny for chocolate cake
• toothpick comes out clean
• the top of the cake bounces back when pressed gently
• temperature 200-210 degrees

How many people does a half sheet cake feed?

A half sheet cake will make 24 servings of 3″x3″ pieces or 54 servings of 2″x2″ pieces.

How to cut a sheet cake?

Lightly score or mark on the cake where you intend to cut, then cut along those lines. A half sheet cake pan will produce 24 servings by cutting 4 x 6 or 54 servings by cutting 6 x 9.

Can Texas sheet cake be frozen?

Texas Sheet Cakes can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. The cake needs to be stored in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in plastic wrap to prevent the cakes from drying out.

Save this recipe for later on Pinterest!

Check out these other high altitude recipes:

If you make this delicious High Altitude Texas Sheet Cake recipe leave a comment below and let me know how they turned out. If you have any questions, post them below and I would love to help you out.