This old fashioned chocolate sheet cake recipe is moist and full of that classic chocolate flavor. It’s an easy birthday cake and perfect for a church potluck dinner. This is one of my go to recipes that I think you’re going to love.
For this recipe you’ll need: unsweetened cocoa powder – extra dark, flour, baking powder, salt, butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, sour cream, heavy whipping cream, chocolate pudding mix, Confectioner’s sugar
If you are in a hurry click here to go straight to the recipe.
There isn’t anything that says you’re home or welcome more than a chocolate sheet cake — at least that’s how I see it. Layer cakes are fancy and they show you’ve gone to some trouble but a sheet cake?
Well now, that’s just an every day kind of dessert that you feed family. So, servings a big ole honkin’ slice of one of these old fashioned cakes just lets everyone know that they’re family. Kinda like telling them to use the kitchen door. And that’s a real good feeling.
So I grew up in a family that never, ever, ever locked doors except at night. You know, people only commit crimes after dark… anyway, it was also a family that never, ever, ever used the front door unless it was a delivery or a stranger. If you were family or friend you used the kitchen door or garage door — never the front door. And… while I do lock doors as needed, rarely do people come to the front door. Oh, we might go through the front door to sit out on the porch and drink some wine or tea but thats it.
Kitchen door it is.
I know that it’s just a mental think but I do think that there is something about welcoming someone into your kitchen that creates an instant bond and a special kind of intimacy. It just says, welcome home.
This deep chocolate sheet cake does the same thing. I don’t know that I would make it for a fancy occasion, although you could, but it’s real comfort food. I like to make it when I’m taking a meal to someone who’s just had a baby or has a family emergency, when the kids come home for a visit, and for low key birthday parties. The cake is tender and springy with deep chocolate flavor in every bite. The frosting is light, creamy, and literally melts away on your tongue – almost like French Silk.
Make it when someone has had a bad day or someone has gotten an A in a hard class, or a promotion, or anytime a family celebration or cheering up session is needed. This is one of my favorites and I hope it will be one of yours, too.
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Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa is one reason this cake is so full of flavor. You can use any cocoa you wish but try it just once with the dark and see what happens. I swear, you’ll love it. I am totally smitten with this 1960s-looking turquoise oblong cake pan. ANY cake would be beautiful in it and it’s nonstick, too!
Here’s that old fashioned chocolate sheet cake recipe!
Old Fashioned Chocolate Sheet Cake
This moist, chocolate sheet cake is easy to make for birthdays, potlucks, and any time you want a quick dessert.
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time30 mins
Total Time40 mins
Servings: 12
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
- 2 cups sugar
- 6 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup sour cream
Frosting
- 1 quart heavy cream
- 1 4- serving packages chocolate fudge instant pudding mix
- 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
Instructions
Cake
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
- Grease a 13x9-inch pan and set aside.
- Combine the cocoa, flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl and set aside.
- Beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add egg, one at a time, and beat well after each.
- Stir in the vanilla.
- With mixer on low blend in 1/3 of the flour mixture.
- Add 1/2 the sour cream.
- Blend in 1/3 of the flour mixture.
- Add the rest of the sour cream.
- Stir in the remaining flour mixture.
- Spoon into the prepared pan.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until done.
- Cool.
Frosting
- Add the cream, pudding mix, and powdered sugar to the bowl of a mixer.
- Whip until light and fluffy.
- Spread thickly on cooled cake.
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Part of Meal Plan Monday Roundup
Valerie L. says
Hi Marye, This cake both looks and sounds delicious. However, I don’t think that I have ever seen a recipe that called for a 1 1/2 cup of cocoa. Is that correct? If so, it must really taste chocolaty — YUM!!!
Marye Audet says
I am sure it’s right but I am going to try to make it again this weekend to double check..
Julie @ Back To My Southern Roots says
I don’t think I’d want to share this cake if I had some! It looks sooooo good!
Janet says
Am I reading it right…6 eggs?
Marye Audet says
yes. 🙂 6 eggs – super moist and yummy!
Cynthia/What A Girl Eats says
That frosting looks completely decadent! So light and fluffy, the perfect accompaniment for that gorgeous cake!
Marye Audet says
It is super light and fluffy!
Alisa Fleming says
You seriously won me over with that thick layer of frosting. To me, cake is just a vessel for the sweet topping.
Marye Audet says
I have to agree, the frosting is my favorite part!
Maria says
This is awesome! I love the generous amount of frosting on top:)
Marye Audet says
You can never have too much frosting!
Jennifer Stewart says
That’s so funny because I don’t lock my doors now, except when I am home. Weird huh?!? This chocolate cake looks like pure comfort food to me!! I could eat the whole thing!
Kristy @ Southern In Law says
You can never ever go wrong with chocolate cake, in my opinion! This looks peeeeerfect! xo
laura@motherwouldknow says
I need this cake. Enough said.
Heather Kinnaird says
LOVE your kitchen door analogy 🙂 growing up we didn’t have a kitchen door, but my grandparents did, and NO one ever used the front door unless you were going to sit on the porch swing. and my grandmother always had a sheet cake on the counter. my kids would LOVE to come home to this every day
Citra Kale @Citra's Home Diary says
it looks great cake recipe to try..
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says
That is old-fashioned goodness on a plate. I so agree with you that a sheet cake spells home. And I wish I lived next door to you, because I could do some serious damage to that cake. 🙂
Kristen says
This is pure comfort–the perfect recipe for any occassion!
Marye Audet says
Thanks Kristen! It really is!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
We all need a good classic CHOCOLATE cake recipe!
Marye Audet says
I totally agree!