Chocolate Buttermilk Sheet Cake Recipe. This deliciously moist chocolate cake with poured chocolate icing is sure to become your family’s favorite if it’s not already. It’s been a family treasure of ours for decades, and a dessert I never pass up.
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April Pinterest Challenge
It’s time for our April Pinterest challenge, and this month it’s all about Mother’s Day gifts, recipes and craft ideas.
If this is your first time to join us for a Pinterest challenge, this is how it works. Our host Cindy over at County Road 407, selects a photo for us to recreate, and each participant puts their own spin on the photo.
The exception this month is that we’re sharing our favorite ideas to celebrate moms. Be sure to check out all the links, and photos at the end of my post for everyone participating this month.
If you’re popping over from Create and Ponder, welcome to Thistle Key Lane. I adore Lora’s sweet handkerchief wreath. How about you?
To see last year’s April’s PC post click on Door Basket With Fresh Flowers.
Carrying On A Tradition
For Mother’s Day this year, I’m honoring my mom by baking her chocolate buttermilk sheet cake. This was always our most requested cake for every birthday, family get together and 4th of July celebration.
It has a special place in my heart, and I love the flood of happy memories that come to mind with each and every bite. I think my mom would be thrilled to know how much we still love the cake she baked countless times for us.
Mother’s Day is bitter sweet for me since loosing my mom. Fortunately I live close enough to my daughter and grand littles that we get to spend the day together.
I’m not sure how long this recipe has been around, maybe since the 40s or 50s. If you know, please share in the comments. It’s also known as old fashioned chocolate sheet cake, and Texas chocolate sheet cake. I mostly just call it delicious, because that’s exactly what it is.
The secret to this cake is the chocolate icing that is poured over an already moist and scrumptious cake. Alright, I’m just going to say it… life doesn’t get much better than this. Yum!
Chocolate Buttermilk Sheet Cake Recipe
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9″x13″ cake pan.
Combine butter, cocoa and water in a small sauce pan. Use low heat, stirring continuously until butter is completely melted.
In a large bowl beat buttermilk, eggs, baking soda and vanilla extract with an electric mixer until smooth.
Gradually pour melted butter cocoa mixture into the bowl with the buttermilk mixture, beating until combined.
In a medium bowl combine sugar, flour and salt. Gradually add to buttermilk mixture and beat until smooth.
Pour cake batter into a greased 9″x13″ pan. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the center is set.
Remove from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool.
Chocolate Buttermilk Icing Recipe
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa or unsweetened dark cocoa
- 1/3 cup buttermilk
- 16 ounces powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
In a medium sauce pan combine butter, cocoa and buttermilk. Use medium heat stirring constantly until butter is melted and mixture is smooth.
Remove from heat and stir in powdered sugar, vanilla extract and chopped pecans.
Pour over cake while it is still warm. Let cool completely before slicing.
Recipe Notes
For the icing you can also use unsweetened dark cocoa, which is what I used this time. It’s not a huge difference, but I do think the dark cocoa makes the icing taste a little bit richer. I also love the dark color of the icing.
By the way it’s normal for the icing pool in the corners of the cake. If your family is anything like mine, you’ll know what it is like to call dibs on those corner pieces.
CHOCOLATE BUTTERMILK SHEET CAKE RECIPE
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9"x13" cake pan.
- Combine butter, cocoa and water in a small sauce pan. Use low heat, stirring continuously until butter is completely melted.
- In a large bowl beat buttermilk, eggs, baking soda and vanilla extract with an electric mixer until smooth.
- Gradually pour melted butter cocoa mixture into the bowl with the buttermilk mixture, beating until combined.
- In a medium bowl combine sugar, flour and salt. Gradually add to buttermilk mixture and beat until smooth.
- Pour cake batter into a greased 9"x13" pan. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the center is set.
- Remove from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool.
Notes
Chocolate Buttermilk Icing Recipe
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa or unsweetened dark cocoa
- 1/3 cup buttermilk
- 16 ounces powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
Shop Supplies With These Links
- 9″x13″ baking pan
- set of glass mixing bowls
- stainless whisk 12 inch
- stainless measuring cups
- silicone oven mitts
- 4 qt. stainless sauce pan
Be sure to follow Thistle Key Lane on Pinterest, where the boards are up to date with recipes that you can use right now!
Looking for more chocolate inspiration? Here are two more recipes to try out.
Up next is Carol of BlueSky At Home, sharing her book gift ideas for Mother’s Day. You’re going to love these suggestions!
Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope you will enjoy and treasure this chocolate buttermilk sheet pan cake recipe as much as we do.
Cheers!
©2024 Chocolate Buttermilk Sheet Cake Recipe post first appeared on Thistle Key Lane.
This cake looks SO flavorful and moist. Yummy!
Thanks Laura! It’s a recipe that never disappoints!
I’m so glad you shared this delicious chocolate cake recipe. I remember it as Texas sheet cake, but have forgotten about it. Printing off to put in my “to-make” file.
I’m so happy you remember this one too Carol! Delicious!!
This recipe is like a blast from the past, Michelle! My Grandma made a version similar to this but with pecans on top for all our birthdays and holiday events. It’s been FOREVER since I’ve had one though and since I don’t have her recipe and is no longer with us I’m going to use yours to surprise my Dad for Father’s Day. He will be tickled pink! Sending you a ton of hugs and thank yous for the recipe, CoCo
The men in our family love this recipe too! Hope your dad enjoys it! By the way this icing has pecans, but I think I need to double up on the quantity next time. 😉
Yum, this looks fantastic Michele! I would be pretty excited if one of my kids baked this for me 😉 Thanks for sharing your family recipe xx
Thanks Cindy! I hope it will become a family favorite for you too!
Wow, this sounds delicious. But I’d have to have a big scoop of good vanilla ice cream to go with:) The frosting totally makes it and now my mouth is watering! Pinned!
You can sit next to the Mister, because he likes vanilla ice cream with his cake too LOL! Thanks for pinning Lora!
This is a great idea. Especially for the sweet memories.
I don’t know how long it’s been around but we’ve been eating it since the 60’s and will keep on eating it until we can’t. It’s the dark fudginess and pecans that make it the best cake ever. Although I’ve never made one because I thought it was hard! Thanks for showing me it isn’t. Glad you could join us. Total yum!
You know me I only like the easy recipes LOL! I hope you’ll give it a try for one of your family get togethers. Happy Mother’s Day to you Cindy!
Wow, Michelle. My mouth is watering. I have a bit of a thing for sweets and your cake looks amazing. It reminds me of one my grandma used to make. I can’t wait to try it, and I’m also sharing a link to your recipe in my weekly recap. I think my readers will love it too!
Thank you Jen for sharing! It’s probably the same recipe your grandma made. Some things never go out of style! 😊
Love this recipe! We make ours with sour cream, instead of buttermilk. I’m delighted to be featuring your post at the EXTRA BIG Tuesday Turn About this week! Pinned!
Thank you so much Julie for the feature! Big hugs!