Low Sugar Texas Sheet Cake

Total time1 hr 15 min

Prep time20 min

Cook time25 min

Rich cocoa and melted butter come together in a glossy, one-pan batter that bakes up thin, moist, and deeply chocolatey in every bite. A quick stovetop frosting gets poured on while the cake is still warm, so it soaks in slightly and sets into that classic fudgy, almost-glaze-like layer Texas sheet cake is known for. Chopped pecans scattered over the top add a toasty crunch against the soft crumb underneath. Sour cream in the batter keeps things tender, while a good dose of vanilla rounds out the chocolate flavor in both the cake and the topping. Sliced into squares straight from the pan, it's an easy, crowd-ready dessert that fits neatly into an added sugar free spread without sacrificing that rich, sheet-cake texture people love.

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Ingredients

24 servings

For the cake

2 cups all-purpose flour
King Arthur Baking Company Unbleached All-Purpose Flour Gold Medal Flour All-Purpose Unbleached - 5 Lb Bob's Red Mill Organic All Purpose Unbleached White Flour - 5 Lb Bob's Red Mill All Purpose Unbleached White Flour - 5 Lb Pillsbury Best Flour All Purpose - 5 Lb
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2 cups granulated sugar
Chef's tip
Use the same volume. Baking behavior varies by blend: some brown faster or stay softer, while others brown less. Follow the package's baking guidance and start checking a few minutes early.
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup water
½ cup sour cream
1 tsp vanilla extract

For the frosting

½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
6 tbsp whole milk
3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
Chef's tip
Follow the package's conversion to powdered sugar. In frosting or glaze, add liquid gradually - replacements can absorb it differently.
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup pecans, roughly chopped (optional)

Instructions

1
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 18×13-inch rimmed sheet pan and line it with parchment paper, leaving a slight overhang on the long sides.
2
Whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl until evenly combined.

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