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Indulgent Chocolate Sheet Cake: The Ultimate Crowd-Pleasing Dessert

This indulgent chocolate sheet cake is a rich, moist dessert that's incredibly easy to make with a one-bowl mixing method and decadent fudgy icing. Perfect for feeding a crowd, it delivers bakery-quality results with minimal effort and features a signature crackly top that sets up perfectly.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 420
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ingredients
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 6 tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

Method
 

Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 10x15-inch jelly roll pan or similar-sized baking sheet with butter or cooking spray.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt.
  3. In a medium saucepan, combine butter, water, and cocoa powder. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until butter melts and mixture comes to a gentle boil.
  4. Pour the hot chocolate mixture over the dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
  5. Whisk in buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla extract until batter is smooth and well-combined.
  6. Pour batter into prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
  7. While cake bakes, make icing: In saucepan, combine butter, cocoa powder, and milk. Bring to boil, then remove from heat and whisk in vanilla and powdered sugar until smooth. Stir in nuts if using.
  8. As soon as cake comes out of oven, pour warm icing over hot cake and spread evenly with spatula.

Notes

Use room temperature ingredients for best texture. Don't overbake - remove when a few moist crumbs cling to toothpick. Ice cake while both cake and icing are warm for perfect fudgy layer. For neat slices, use plastic knife or dip knife in hot water between cuts.