The Best Texas Sheet Cake!

By msippigrl

It really is the best chocolate sheet cake with chocolate pecan icing I've ever tasted! Feeds a crowd too, making it perfect for family gatherings or potlucks.

Ingredients

• CAKE:
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup Crisco vegetable shortening
• 1 cup water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• ICING:
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• Pinch salt
• 6 tablespoons whole milk
• 1 stick unsalted butter
• 1 (1 lb) box confectioners sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup chopped pecans (chop before beginning the cake)

Preparation

Step 1

For the cake:
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the sugar, flour, and salt. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 365 F. Spray a large 12x18" jellyroll pan with cooking spray. Set aside.

In a heavy 1-qt. saucepan, bring the cocoa, shortening, butter, and water to a boil over medium-high heat, whisking constantly. Remove from heat as soon as it starts to bubble and immediately stir it into the flour mixture.

In a measuring cup, whisk together the buttermilk and baking soda then stir it into the chocolate batter until well blended. Stir in the vanilla and beaten eggs.

Pour mixture into the jellyroll pan and bake for 20-21 minutes. About halfway through the baking time, start the icing.

For the icing:
Clean the same small pot you used before then add the the cocoa, salt, milk, and butter and bring to a bubble over medium/medium-high heat, whisking constantly. Remove from heat and transfer to a large mixing bowl. Using a hand mixer, beat in the confectioners sugar, 1 cup at a time, until the entire box has been added. Beat in the vanilla. Stir in the chopped pecans.

When cake comes out of the oven, place on a wire rack then quickly spread the icing over the hot cake, evenly distributing the pecans. Cool completely on wire rack.

Cut into squares to serve. Cover and store leftovers at room temperature.