Quarter sheet cake, Texas style! A small Texas chocolate sheet cake made in a quarter sheet pan!
In the past 3 years, we’ve moved 3 times. I met and fell in love with my husband in California. We talked about moving closer to family on our first date. A little over a year later, we did.
We moved outside Kansas City. We were an 8-hour drive from both sides of the family, save for some precious folks still back on the West coast. Since we left our hearts behind in California, we thought it would be okay because we jump at any chance to hop on a plane and head back there.
It’s hard to move lots, friends.
Our stint in Kansas City didn’t last long (but was full of so much good barbecue). Just as we were getting settled in, we moved to St Louis.
My husband is one of those people that is so warm, genuine and kind; he makes friends so easily. People sidle up to him quick and share their hearts. He’s just so open and trust-worthy. And you get a sense of it in the first few seconds of talking to him.
I, on the other hand, can take a bit of warming up to (read: wine). Luckily, everywhere we’ve lived, we’ve become quick friends with our neighbors. Not only is being neighborly a good tradition to have, but I can’t tell you how nice it is to have best friends next door. I don’t have to schedule a lunch date, I just go over. I don’t have to call first to ask if anyone wants to open a bottle of wine on the porch, people just show up. It’s such a warm feeling. We all need more drop-by friends. Friends that you don’t have to clean the house for. Those are neighbor friends. The best kind of friends.
We start out getting to know our neighbors by inviting them over for drinks and dessert (like this quarter sheet cake) on Friday nights. After a long work week, everyone looks forward to a cocktail and a little sugar. My husband handles the drinks, and I, of course, make the dessert.
However, I need a little more than dessert for two, don’t I? I mean, sometimes a small batch of cupcakes that makes 4 is perfect, but I always like to send people home with extra for the kiddos. This tradition has served us well everywhere we’ve lived. We’ve made life-long friends with our neighbors in every state we’ve lived in.
That is how I started scaling down the Pioneer Woman’s chocolate sheet cake. I certainly didn’t need a giant chocolate cake, but I needed one that served more than two. I halved her recipe and baked it on a quarter-sheet pan, made a few alterations, and it’s perfect! Everyone loves chocolate, and I get about 6 generous servings out of the pan. That’s enough for the 4 of us, plus if anyone wants seconds or an extra slice to take home for kids.
Quarter Sheet Cake Size
This quarter sheet cake is the perfect size for celebrating small things, or having a few friends over. Everyone still gets chocolate cake, but you don't have to make a giant 3-layer one. Plus, the cake to frosting ratio on Texas Chocolate Sheet Cake is ideal. My quarter sheet cake pan measures 9x13" with a heavy 1" lip on the sides.
How many people does a quarter sheet cake feed?
You can see in the photo that I got 12 small squares of cake, but I would say this quarter sheet cake generously serves 6 people.
Our neighborly visits often go late, and I’m too tired to do dishes when everyone leaves, so I use paper plates. I think it provides a more casual feeling anyway. Last Friday, I used these pretty floral Dixie paper plates. Clean-up was a breeze, and they’re perfect for sending home leftovers, too.
So, make it easy on yourself, grab the paper plates and invite your neighbors over! Make moments that matter together!
I hope you love this Texas Chocolate Quarter Sheet Cake! This is the exact quarter sheet pan I use and love.
Other small sheet cake recipes:
Texas Chocolate Quarter Sheet Cake
A small Texas chocolate sheet cake, made in a quarter sheet baking pan.
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter
- 2 heaping tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ cup boiling water
- ¼ cup buttermilk
- 1 large egg, beaten
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
For the frosting:
- 7 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 heaping tablespoons cocoa powder
- 3 tablespoons buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 heaping cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350.
- Lightly spray a quarter-sheet pan with cooking spray. A quarter-sheet pan measures 12x10-inches.
- First, make the cake. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt.
- In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the butter.
- Once melted, stir in the cocoa powder and boiling water.
- In a measuring cup, stir together the buttermilk, egg, baking soda and vanilla.
- Add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture, following by the boiling water mixture.
- Stir together all cake ingredients very ell, and then pour into the prepared pan.
- Bake cake for 15-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- While the cake bakes, make the frosting. In the same saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat.
- Stir in the cocoa powder, buttermilk and vanilla until well-combined.
- Remove the pan from heat and whisk in the powdered sugar.
- Immediately when the cake comes out of the oven, pour the frosting over. Use an off-set spatula to spread the frosting to the edges of the pan.
- Let the cake cool for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 319Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 54mgSodium: 100mgCarbohydrates: 44gFiber: 1gSugar: 35gProtein: 2g
Vanessa says
I’ve never tasted a Texas sheet cake and I’ve been curious for a long time. I have finally made this today and wow(!!!!!), I absolutely love it. I made it on a 9x13 that I bought specifically for this(I needed one anyway for brownies and such) and it worked great even though your recipe requests a different pan.
Christina Lane says
I'm so glad! So a quarter sheet pan measures 9 x 13 x 1" so that's why your regular 9x13 pan worked. Hooray!
Bridgmary says
How much butter for the frosting? It seems to be written over in my Pinterest
Christina Lane says
Scroll until you see the recipe. You can also hit the 'jump to recipe' button.
Barbara Ann Tarleton says
After trying other 'best chocolate cake' recipes. I am back to Texas sheet cake. There is nothing better for flavor and texture. I add espresso powder to the boiling water for a little added depth. I've made it with either sour cream or buttermilk and both are great. I lean toward the buttermilk these days just for the calorie count. Thanks for leaving this on your site for whenever I want it.
Haleigh says
This is the perfect chocolate cake. Perfect cake, perfect frosting, perfect size. Delicious!
Gladys says
Was unable to read your recipe because of all toe pop up ads covering the entire page. Tried to print it but ads just piled up. I am sure its good but who knows?
MC says
Gladys,
Sounds like an issue with your computer. No ads here for me! Perhaps you've got a virus.
Rhonda says
I use a whole stick of butter for my large choc sheet cake, shouldn't you just use a 1/2 stick for the half cake recipe?
Christina Lane says
I don't know what recipe you're using for your full batch, but the written here works for a quarter sheet cake. It's very well-tested, and many have made it and loved it.
Sandra D says
Love this recipe! To be able to make and have a cake ready in under an hour is simply amazing. This was so simple to make and is one of the most chocolatey and moist cake I have ever had. It definitely fixed by craving for chocolate. It also goes great with a large glass of ice cold milk. This is a winning recipe for sure.
wendy w says
I made the recipe exactly as instructed and it turned out excellent!!!!! My husband and I absolutely love it! It is rich, so I am glad the cake is thin - and yes, a nice little scoop of ice cream would be over the top! Definitely a keep recipe for me.
Holly says
Hi Christina,
Well, I've made plenty of your recipes over this past year of the pandemic, but this is the first time that I've made your Texas sheet cake-it's SO GOOD! And that icing! My entire family loved the sheet cake and I'll definitely be baking that over and over again!
Thanks so much for all of your great recipes!
Nancy J says
I made this cake and the banana quarter sheet cake. Both cakes were only 1/2 inch thick when done, without frosting. I thought they they would be closer to one inch. I followed the recipes exactly. How can I make them rise more?
Christina Lane says
That is how sheet cakes are supposed to be. It's not a layer cake or a tray bake.