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Texas Sheet Cake Brownies

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Texas Sheet Cake Brownies are a chocolatey delight and a serious crowd pleaser. This classic recipe comes from Norma Jean’s Kitchen and is one of our special occasion desserts. So moist and delicious every time!

May our Triple Chocolate Brownies (delicious fudgy brownies) or Banana Sheet Cake next!

A full pan of Texas sheet cake brownies.

Best Texas Sheet Cake

There is SO much history in this brownie recipe for me. Norma Jean (my mom!) made this many times over the years for family gatherings, and I can literally remember the partially eaten pan sitting on the stovetop. I would take a small sliver every time I walked by it, because you know, there are less calories in small pieces. Unless you devour an entire row without realizing it.

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After having kids, I started making this for our boys’ birthdays. I made it for school parties, big birthday bashes with lots of kids, and for just our family – which was dangerous. I still know how to cut small slivers that add up to a row.

This recipe has been passed on and on and on. If I know you, you probably have it written down somewhere. But if not, now you have it right here on the blog.

Side view of a plate with a piece of sheet cake.

This recipe has definitely been my go-to over the years, especially pre-blog. They are super easy to decorate in a variety of ways and for a variety of occasions – for birthdays, holidays, engagement parties, anniversaries, and so on.

Before there were strict rules at schools (no homemade treats now – boo), I even brought these to our elementary school for our boys’ classrooms. Those were the days.

Pro-Tip: Using a plastic knife is the easiest way to cut these brownies into squares without making a mess of the frosting. Try it!

Side view of a Texas sheet cake with some slices removed.

Ingredients needed for Texas Sheet Cake Brownies:

You can make the brownie batter in one bowl, with a whisk (shown below)! So easy.

  • Pantry Staples – You’ll need the usuals here: all-purpose flour, sugar, cocoa powder, kosher salt, baking soda, and vanilla extract.
  • Dairy – Just unsalted butter (yes, two sticks of butter!) and sour cream. I use the light version, but it doesn’t matter that much.
  • Eggs
  • Hot Water
The Texas sheet cake ingredients.

Frosting Ingredients:

The following ingredients are needed to make the best warm chocolate frosting.

  • More butter! 😀
  • More sugar
  • Milk
  • Mini Marshmallows
  • Chocolate Chips
The icing ingredients.

Now that we’ve got the super simple list of ingredients, we can talk about how to make this amazing dessert that you will soon fall in love with.

How to make the best Texas Sheet Cake Brownies:

Step 1
Make the batter. In a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients – flour, sugar, cocoa, salt, and baking soda. Add melted butter, hot water, and vanilla. Combine, and then add sour cream light and the eggs. Mix well.

Step 2
Pour batter. Spray a large jelly roll pan with baking spray, and pour the cake batter in the prepared pan, smoothing it out evenly throughout.

Step 3
Bake. Bake the brownies in a preheated oven for approximately 25 minutes, or until a toothpick, when inserted, comes out clean. Baking time may vary.

Step 4
Make frosting. In a medium saucepan, combine the butter, sugar, and milk over medium heat. Bring to a boil, and then reduce heat. Add the marshmallows and chocolate chips, and stir until completely melted.

Step 5
Remove pan from heat and let the frosting set up slightly. This may take 30 minutes or so. You don’t want it too runny, but you also don’t want it too thick.

Step 6
Spread the chocolate icing on the brownies. When brownies are completely cool, spread the warm frosting on top, and smooth over the top with a spoon. This thin layer of chocolate frosting is my favorite party of these Texas brownies!

Step 7
Serve. Serve this sheet cake with a glass of milk or a cup of coffee. You might like my Caramel Latte or the best Cold Brew Coffee!

STORE the best chocolate cake at room temperature. Cover with plastic wrap or some aluminum foil for best results.

Recipe FAQs:

What size pan should I use for these brownies?

This sheet cake recipe is baked in a large jelly roll pan (linked below). It’s 18×13 inch pan and so the “cake” is thin.

What’s the difference between sheet cake and regular cake?

The main difference between sheet cake and regular cake is the size of the pan.  Sheet cake is made in a sheet cake pan which is a shallow, jelly roll pan.  Regular cake is usually made in a 9×13 pan (or layer cakes etc).
Texas chocolate sheet cake is a thinner cake but one of our favorite cakes!

Where does Texas sheet cake get its name?

There are varying opinions on this cake. For me, it’s what my mom called it!
Some say it may have first shown up in a Texas newspaper, which is why it’s called “Texas” sheet cake, while others claim the name comes from the fact that it’s the size of Texas. LOL!

MORE Chocolate Desserts:

More chocolate, anyone? Here are MORE delicious recipes for you.

Overhead shot of four slices of Texas sheet cake brownies.

Kitchen Tools Used: (affiliate links)

xoxo ~Sue

A frosted Texas sheet cake.

Texas Sheet Cake Brownies

Texas Sheet Cake Brownies are a chocolatey delight and a serious crowd pleaser. This classic recipe comes from Norma Jean's Kitchen, and is one of our special occasion desserts. So moist and delicious every time!
4.75 from 27 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 24 brownies
Calories: 280kcal
Author: Sue Ringsdorf

Equipment

  • jelly roll pan

Ingredients

For the brownies:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 cup unsalted butter – melted
  • 1 cup hot water
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup sour cream

For the frosting:

  • 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 6 Tablespoons milk – I use 2%
  • 1/2 cup mini marshmallows
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips – semi-sweet

Instructions

For the brownies:

  • Mix the flour, sugar, cocoa, salt and baking soda together in mixing bowl.
  • Add melted butter, hot water, and vanilla. Mix well.
  • Add the eggs and sour cream, and beat well.
  • Pour the batter into a greased (12×17) jelly roll pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.

For the frosting:

  • In a mediums saucepan, boil the butter, sugar, and milk for two minutes. Add chocolate chips and marshmallows, and stir until melted. 
  • Spread over brownies when cool.

Video

Notes

  • If the frosting is too runny, let it sit for awhile to thicken slightly. If it gets too thick, you can always add a couple drops of milk.
  • These brownies stay fresh on the counter for several days.

Nutrition

Calories: 280kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 46mg | Sodium: 110mg | Potassium: 44mg | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 390IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 0.7mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @Suebeehomemaker or tag #suebeehomemaker!

30 Comments

  1. Mckenzi b says:

    Hello how can I make this for a 18×26 pan?

  2. Going to have to make the Texas sheet cake brownies for my family. Thanks so much for sharing your recipe.

    1. Suebee Homemaker says:

      I hope you love it as we do!

  3. Julie Mitchell says:

    Can I use almond milk fir the frosting recipe?

    1. Suebee Homemaker says:

      I’m guessing you could, but haven’t tested that with these brownies.

  4. Ann Reese says:

    I want to make this! Can I use a 9 x 13 Pan???

    1. Suebee Homemaker says:

      Hi Ann. I would use two pans – one 9×13 and another 8×8 or so.

    1. Suebee Homemaker says:

      Thanks so much, Patty!

  5. Roberta L Wells says:

    Oh my I was so excited I forgot my rating for my comment on these Texas Sheetcake Brownies. Thank you so much for such a great blog with wonderful recipes.

    1. Suebee Homemaker says:

      Hi Roberta! I’m so glad you are going to make these brownies! They are a classic, and so you can never go wrong. Enjoy! 🙂

  6. Roberta L Wells says:

    I had gotten a recipe like this over 25 yrs ago. My friends and family loved those Texas sheetcake brownies. Sadly i lost the recipe in my move I’ve been looking for it for so long and decided to look online where i found your site. Now i can once again make the most devine brownies. Thank you so much for such a great blog with wonderful recipes.

  7. The bomb recipe for brownies….. Pro Tip – Don’t be afraid to add some ice cream !

    1. Suebee Homemaker says:

      It’s definitely ice cream worthy! 🙂

  8. Thanks for the memories, my mama used to make these in the 80’s i had no idea the icing had marshmellows. Ive make them for years trying to duplicate that special chewiness. I like that it is quick and makes a whole bunch. I did get frustrated because the size jelly roll pan wasnt mentioned. The degrees on the oven was hard to find too. But other than that this is a keeper

    1. Suebee Homemaker says:

      Hi Karen! This recipe brings back SO many memories for me, and I’ve made it SO many times. 🙂 The jelly roll pan is 12 x 17, and the brownies are baked at 350 degrees. I’m so glad you enjoyed these!

  9. Made this for the Super Bowl party and was a HUGE hit!! I think I did my mama proud!! Oh, and tell Mike it’s awesome with a scoop or two of ice cream, Vanilla or Cookies & Cream!!

    1. Suebee Homemaker says:

      I’m so glad, Shari! They are addicting, for sure! 🙂

  10. Lisa Langston says:

    This looks so rich and delicious! We love chocolate cake, this is on my to bake list! Thank you! I have been trying to subscribe to your blog and I keep getting this: ” Oops. Something went wrong. Please try again later.” I also want to subscribe to your Moms page but it keeps saying the same thing. I will keep trying, do know what is going on? Oh, also when you get home, don’t forget to say where you got your handy dandy tool!! Thank you!

    1. Suebee Homemaker says:

      Hi Lisa! I’m not sure why it’s not letting you subscribe, but if you private message me, I’ll set you up myself. Just send me an email to sue@suebeehomemaker.com. The Texas Sheet Cake Brownies are a SURE THING! I hope you try them. 🙂

  11. Jackie Thill says:

    Remembering these from our childhood. Such decadent, chocolaty deliciousness, OMG…

    1. Suebee Homemaker says:

      Yup, these are sort of addicting! That frosting is OMG delish too!

  12. This is awesome! Loved by everyone!

    1. Suebee Homemaker says:

      I used to make these for ALL the kids birthday parties! 🙂

  13. This sheet cake brings back memories from college. My aunt made this and I dream about it. Yours is EXACTLY this same. So good!!!

    1. Suebee Homemaker says:

      Thanks for your sweet comments, Michelle. We love them too!

  14. This is the BEST brownie recipe EVER. Make it!

    1. Suebee Homemaker says:

      Awww, thanks! 🙂

  15. I love chocolate sheet cake! Yours looks so delicious and chocolatey! YUM!

    1. Suebee Homemaker says:

      Thank you Natalie! I hope you try it soon! 🙂

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