27 In Articles/ Recipes

More Chocolate: Texas Sheet Cake

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Y’all probably won’t believe me when I tell you I don’t prefer chocolate. I eat it, but usually I don’t choose it. If given an option I’ll usually select cheesecake, creme brulee, a fruity pie, or pound cake. But my aunt & mother are absolute chocolate nuts! So… we had a lot of chocolate around last week.

When I was a little girl my mother often made Texas Sheet Cake, my best friend thought it was Texas Sheep Cake and called to ask if my mom could give her mom the recipe for that “shepherd cake”. It took us a while to figure out what on earth she was talking about. I vividly remember it being fudgy, delicious, and HUGE! {Baked in a shallow jelly roll pan.} It’s a much more involved than Fudge Pie but equally as tasty!

I knew when the fam was coming I had to make one. I searched All Recipes and other sites for what sounded like the closest version to Mom’s then came across one in a cookbook that DaddyBoy gave me for Christmas. It is chocked full of wonderful recipes and what makes it even more wonderful is that every recipe is accompanied by detailed explanation from the test kitchen as to why they wrote the recipe they way they did.
From the source: This huge, pecan-topped cake with three distinct layers of chocolaty goodness is made when sweet chocolate icing is poured over a cake hot out of the oven. When the cake cools, you’re left with an icing layer, a fudgy layer where the icing and hot cake have mixed together, and a bottom layer of moist cake. We wanted to pack in even more chocolate flavor.

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I rounded up Morgan and we started. I have a book called “How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk”. I haven’t read it. It may be good but I have another idea that doesn’t involve reading a book… engage your children in the kitchen. Morgan talked my ear off the entire time! We had an absolute blast. Under normal circumstances she’s not allowed to sit on the counter and I can assure you her bare feet didn’t touch any of the ingredients, nor did her fingers touch the super sharp knife! πŸ™‚

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Did I say I didn’t prefer chocolate… this cake may have changed my mind! This is evidence that I have ZERO self-control such love for my family that I insisted on being a guinea pig before serving it to them. It’s also evidence that I prefer my chocolate without nuts. As the Raiger would say: This cake is WAY delicious and super chocolaty!

Source:: Texas Sheet Cake {you have to create an account {for free} to get the recipe… trust me, it’s worth getting a free account for!}

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  • kelly
    May 14, 2009 at 2:50 pm

    Darby–Do you think it’s a really bad idea to use the deep pie crust as opposed to the regular? That fudge pie looked so good that I bought the pie crusts before you posted the correction and I’m thinking about just using them. I was just wondering! Thanks for all the great ideas you share!

  • erika
    May 14, 2009 at 2:51 pm

    I need a glass of milk just reading this post and looking at those pictures. Holy cow!!!!!!
    Too bad I didn’t get to try it.
    I remember the story about the Shepard Cake, but can’t remember who it was that thought it was called that? And I always thought it came from The Herb Garden, I didn’t know it was momma’s recipe. Makes me love it even more.
    I’ve had a very rough day and could use a piece of that cake right now.
    I love you,
    Mommasis
    PS- also glad to see my old cell phone was near by during the baking of this cake.

  • Kendra White
    May 14, 2009 at 2:59 pm

    today I was making fudge pie with JH and was thinking… I bet i am the only mom making these with “wal-mart” ingredients…. I mean flour is flour! So it did my heart some good to know you do too!!! Thanks for sharing!

  • Kellie
    May 14, 2009 at 3:13 pm

    I don’t prefer chocolate either, but I will eat it, especially the baked kind (and w/o nuts) – I used to make a Texas Chocolate Sheet Cake long ago when I was in high school and it was to DIE FOR – I’ll have to try it again soon.

    Wilson is sitting in my lap asking me if he can “LICK IT” –too funny!!!!

  • Anna
    May 14, 2009 at 3:31 pm

    these recipes are not good for me and my pregnant self!!

  • coco
    May 14, 2009 at 4:17 pm

    I just recently found your blog (have never commented before)and I love it! Your family is adorable…I have 2 girls and a boy but we are about 15 years ahead of you… You are making such great memories for your children and for yourself! The cake looks delicious (so did the fudge pie) my family would love both. I never choose chocolate either…give me pound cake or blueberry cobbler any day!

  • Eleanor Oser
    May 14, 2009 at 5:17 pm

    OH my gosh!! I looks AMAZING!!! How do you keep your figure with all of these yummy goodies around?!?!?!

  • MyLittleHappyPlace
    May 14, 2009 at 5:29 pm

    Yay for Texas-inspired yumminess!

  • No.35style
    May 14, 2009 at 5:39 pm

    What a big helper you have! I have eaten this before…so good!

  • andi
    May 14, 2009 at 6:22 pm

    hope your little guys is feeling better. πŸ™‚

  • Our Family
    May 14, 2009 at 6:22 pm

    This was on Pioneer Woman’s blog and I made it and it was DEElicious. I wanted to thank you for posting your oldest daughter’s music teacher’s blog. I randomly clicked on it and read the story of her three children and let me tell you, I will NEVER complain about the petty things in my life again and I will never take my children’s health for granted again. Reading this was such an eye opener for me and made me realize how foolish I am when I complain about not having enough money, etc. Thank you for your blog as well. It is such a refreshing ray of sunshine and I look forward to your posts every time you add a new one!!

  • Jennifer
    May 14, 2009 at 6:42 pm

    This looks a lot like the chocolate cake my mom and grandmother make. We call it 30-minute chocolate cake, and it has that same fudgy middle where the icing and cake meet … mmmmmmmm!

  • Gray Matters
    May 14, 2009 at 6:56 pm

    That looks absolutely delicious – I’ll be coming to the circle city in a few weeks . . . . I’d be happy to do a taste test for you!

  • Kendall Boggs
    May 14, 2009 at 7:44 pm

    I’m impressed that you can take the pictures and cook at the same time!!!

  • karlene
    May 14, 2009 at 8:18 pm

    That just looks, tooooooo delicious!!! I would be interested in where you get the funky vanilla.

    LOVE your blog, LOVE your sister’s blog, just think you guys are inspiring. the bible says we will know them by their fruits……. you two are super fruity. πŸ™‚

    be blessed.

  • Erica
    May 14, 2009 at 8:37 pm

    The plain side looks just like Zoe’s chocolate cake!

  • Caroline
    May 14, 2009 at 8:52 pm

    Would it be an unreasonable pregnancy request to send my husband to the store for these ingredients right now? It’s not quite 11pm yet. Surely i need this as a midnight snack, or at the very least… breakfast!
    CAN’T WAIT TO TRY IT!! πŸ™‚
    I haven’t attempted any of your sewing projects yet but I have made a few of your recipes. YUM!

  • CC
    May 15, 2009 at 3:31 am

    I know this cake πŸ™‚ It is wonderful…..and feeds a crowd…..gotta love that! πŸ™‚

  • Debra
    May 15, 2009 at 5:50 am

    Nuts or no nuts-I adore chocolate!
    Very cute little assistant you have there.

  • Becky
    May 15, 2009 at 6:03 am

    darby darby…what will i do with you?? i’m thinking you and i need to go on a break. i mean, don’t prefer chocolate? *sigh* at least you won me back when you said the other magic word…cheesecake. that was close, friend. a little too close πŸ˜‰ love ya! thanks for another awesome recipe. my step-mom makes one and it is sooooo good!!

  • Erin
    May 15, 2009 at 6:15 am

    Darby, it was WAY good!! Especially with a scoop of vanilla ice cream:) You were such a wonderful hostess last week! Miss you!
    XO Cousin

  • Mike and McGee
    May 15, 2009 at 6:21 am

    We LOVE Texas sheet cakes at Casa de Mike and McGee! Meredith tries to call it a chocolate fudge cake, but for whatever reason, it comes out “chocolate bunch cake.” She wants one for her upcoming birthday party. πŸ™‚

  • Candice
    May 15, 2009 at 9:00 am

    Oh man that looks good, can I have it for breakfast? MMMMMM I love this one!

  • paperjunk-lc
    May 15, 2009 at 12:10 pm

    Pioneer woman has a great Texas Sheet cake recipe. I go into a choc. over load when I make it and then I have choc hang over afterwards but totally worth it!

  • Sarah
    May 15, 2009 at 12:38 pm

    my friend used to say he likes “male brownies. You know, with nuts.” πŸ™‚

  • Anonymous
    May 15, 2009 at 3:18 pm

    I have that same cookbook, and I can vouch for the Cincinnati Chili if you haven’t tried it. Don’t change a thing from the ingredients, even though you’ll want to omit some of the spices. It is to DIE FOR good, especially over spaghetti as 3-way chili! I love Cook Country!

  • The 5 Bickies
    May 16, 2009 at 10:18 am

    My mother gave me a texas sheet cake recipe and it is amazing! We now use the icing recipe on top of our brownie recipe for super fudgy and delicious brownies!

    Let me know if you want me to email you my texas sheet cake recipe for comparison. My Mom is a great baker and has been making it for years!