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Easy Chocolate Cake (Texas Sheet Cake)

This cake is great for feeding a crowd. It's so simple and can be thrown together in 20 minutes, baked in 20 minutes, and frosted within 10 minutes after that. In less than an hour you have a decadent chocolate cake ready to go!
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 24 slices
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

Cake
  • 1 cup butter
  • 4 tbsp cocoa powder
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 1/4 cup sugar
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 eggs beaten
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup sour cream
Icing
  • 4 tbsp cocoa powder
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 3-6 tbsp milk of choice
  • 3 cups powdered sugar

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 400F. Grease and flour a large sheet pan or 9x13 pan.
    2. A large sheet pan will yield more slices than a 9x13, and the slices will be thinner (great for a larger crowd).
  2. In a small saucepan over low heat, melt butter, cocoa powder, and water. Stir frequently.
  3. While the butter mixture is melting, whisk together the sugar, flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium-sized bowl.
  4. Once the butter is melted, pour the mixture into the dry ingredients and mix until combined.
  5. Add in eggs and vanilla.
  6. Gently fold in the sour cream.
  7. Pour the mixture into your prepared pan.
  8. Bake for 15-20 minutes in a large sheet pan. Or 20+ minutes in a smaller glass pan.
    9. I always check my cake after about 15 minutes, this cake bakes very quickly.
  9. Allow to cool for 10 minutes.
  10. While the cake cools, melt the cocoa powder, butter, and milk in a pan.
  11. Whisk in the powdered sugar.
    12. You can use more or less powdered sugar depending on how thick you want your icing. If the icing is too thick, just add another tablespoon or two of milk.
  12. While the icing is still hot, pour it over the cake. And serve.