White Texas Sheet Cake Recipe

This moist, rich white Texas sheet cake has just a hint of coconut flavor. Made from scratch, it’s topped with a candy-like white glaze that’s studded with toasted pecans and it’s even better the second day! This thin, white cake is so easy that it’s the perfect dessert for potlucks, casual get-togethers, and bake sales.

For this recipe you’ll need: butter, sugar, flour, baking soda, salt, vanilla extract, coconut flavoring, buttermilk, eggs, Confectioner’s sugar, pecans

Oh y’all. I don’t know who in the world decided that there was such a thing as a white Texas sheet cake – there sure wasn’t when I was growing up. I really fought against the whole idea of the sacrilege of a white version of my childhood favorite – I did. Texas sheet cakes are supposed to be chocolate and I was determined I wouldn’t be one to change things. We’re pretty conservative down here – and of course – tradition.

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Then I tasted one.

That was all she wrote for me. I was a goner – it was SO rich and SO sweet and had the perfect Texas sheet cake texture. So I caved.

Most of the white Texas sheet cake recipes that I’ve seen call for almond flavoring. I’m sure that’s just delicious but we have ONE nut in Texas (no, it’s not me) and it’s the pecan. Using anything else wouldn’t be right. In fact, it’d be downright disrespectful – so I used coconut flavoring and pecans.

Oh yes. I may like this a smidge better than the chocolate version.

The cake part is moist tender, perfectly delicious with a delicate coconut flavor. The frosting is like biting into vanilla-coconut fudge with pecans. It’s southern sweet – pairs perfectly with black coffee and neighborhood gossip.

Hints for Making Homemade White Texas Sheet Cake

I’m telling y’all this is the best cake. I don’t know that I’d use it for a birthday or a fancy party but for anything casual it’s going to be either this or my original Texas Sheet Cake! Still, there are always a few tricks that people use when making a recipe – and so often we forget to share those tips because they are such a habit for us.

So – here are my personal tips for making this cake.

• Use everything at room temperature. If your eggs are cold put them in hot water for a minute or two – not hot enough to start them cooking just hot like hot dishwater.
• Toast the pecans lightly. I like chop them and then toast them because that way all the sides get toasted. The flavor is out of this world  and every time I make something with pecans people wonder what I’ve done differently than they did. It makes a huge difference.
• Use a heavy cookie sheet with sides. Texas sheet cake should not be much more than an inch thick. If you’ve got a 3 inch thick Texas sheet cake it wasn’t made by a Texan.
• I use salted butter in this – although I use unsalted in almost everything else. I like the flavor it gives.
• If you can stand to do it, cover the finished cake and let it hang out on the counter overnight. The flavors really develop.
• I’ve seen people sprinkle the nuts on top of the Texas sheet cake frosting. Ummm – no. Stir them in so they are part of the frosting not an addition to it.
• Texas sheet cake is never served with buttercream frosting. Just no.
• The frosting should be almost pourable and goes directly on the warm cake. If you have to spread it too much the top of the cake is going to tear. Spoon it on and move it around gently.

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This is a pretty straight forward cake and totally easy to make. Still, a great cookie sheet is essential. This is the one that I use – it’s heavy aluminum, is the perfect size, and has sides.

White Texas Sheet Cake Recipe

I’m absolutely positive that you are going to love this white cake recipe for its flavor as well and how easy it is to make. Use the tips above for white Texas sheet cake perfection. Still not what you’re looking for? How about these white cupcakes with whipped cream cheese frosting?

If you love this cake as much as I do please give it 5 stars!

3.56 from 9 votes

Print

White Texas Sheet Cake

Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

25 mins

Total Time

30 mins

 

Homemade and rich, this white Texas sheet cake has a hint of coconut flavor. Made from scratch, this easy cake is topped with a candy-like white glaze studded with toasted pecans. It's even better the second day! A quick from scratch cake that's the perfect dessert for potlucks, casual get-togethers, and bake sales.

Course: Dessert - Cake

Cuisine: American - Southern

Servings: 36

Calories: 309 kcal

Author: Marye Audet

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup water
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 teaspoon coconut flavoring
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
• ½ cup buttermilk
• 2 eggs

Texas White Sheet Cake Frosting

• 1/3  cup  buttermilk
• 1/2  cup  butter ,browned until golden
• 3 3/4 cups  confectioner's sugar ,sifted
• 1  teaspoon  vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon coconut flavoring
• 1 1/2  cups  pecans ,toasted and chopped

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Cake

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Grease a high sided cookie sheet or jelly roll pan and line with parchment.
3. Grease the parchment.
4. Set aside.
5. Mix the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in the bowl of a mixer.
6. Set aside.
7. In a small bowl whisk the flavorings, eggs, and buttermilk together.
8. Set aside.
9. Melt the butter in a heavy saucepan.
10. Add the water and bring to a boil.
11. Pour hot butter mixture over flour mixture in the bowl beating on low.
12. Switch to medium and beat for 1 minute.
13. Add the buttermilk mixture.
14. Beat for one more minute then pour the batter into prepared pan.
15. Smooth the batter out evenly.
16. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes.

Frosting

1. Melt butter in saucepan.
2. Add the buttermilk.
3. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally.

4. Remove from heat and add the Confectioner’s sugar, pecans, coconut flavoring, and vanilla.

5. Mix quickly and spoon over warm cake.
6. Smooth to cover the whole top.
7. Cut in squares to serve.

Recipe Notes

 

You may use almond extract and almonds in place of the coconut extract and pecans.

Nutrition Facts

White Texas Sheet Cake

Amount Per Serving

Calories 309 Calories from Fat 135

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 15g 23%

Saturated Fat 5g 25%

Cholesterol 30mg 10%

Sodium 169mg 7%

Potassium 60mg 2%

Total Carbohydrates 42g 14%

Dietary Fiber 1g 4%

Sugars 35g

Protein 2g 4%

Vitamin A 5.3%

Vitamin C 0.1%

Calcium 1.8%

Iron 3.5%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

If you like this white Texas sheet cake recipe you may also like…

From left to right: Old Fashioned Chocolate Sheet Cake, Lemon Cream Cake, Original Texas Sheet Cake

Still looking? Here are some recipes from a couple of my favorite blogs:

Strawberry Sheet Cake

Caramel Pecan Sheet Cake

This recipe is part of Meal Plan Monday – Check it out!