Lunch Lady Chocolate Sheet Cake with Fudge Icing
Also known as the Texas Chocolate Sheet Cake this Moist Lunch Lady Chocolate Sheet Cake with Fudge Icing will knock your socks straight off! Delicious! Grab your aprons! I am sharing How To Make this 1970’s Classic Chocolate Sheet Cake Recipe.
Lunch Lady Chocolate Sheet Cake with Fudge Icing
What You Will Love About This Lunch Lady Chocolate Sheet Cake – AKA Texas Chocolate Sheet Cake Recipe
Where did the Lunch Lady Cake aKA Texas Sheet Cake Recipe Originate?
This nostalgic cake found often at southern gatherings is debated when it comes to the origin. I found this fun article about the cake here. Be sure to take a peek. It has fun facts.
Occasions To Serve Lunch Lady Chocolate Sheet Cake with Fudge Icing
- Birthdays
- 4th of July
- Memorial Day
- Potlucks
Lunch Lady Chocolate Sheet Cake with Fudge Icing
Ingredients
Chocolate Sheet Cake
- 2 cups swans down cake flour (substitute with all-purpose flour)
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 sticks butter
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1 heaping tablespoon expresso powder (optional for a rich deep flavor)
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup butter milk
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract or 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
Fudge Icing
- 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, cubed
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1 dash salt
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
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Instructions
Note: The fudge icing must be poured on a warm cake. Read the instructions through for timing.
Best Chocolate Sheet Cake
Grease a 10 X 15 baking pan.
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Add the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, expresso powder, and salt into a bowl and whisk to combine.
Next, add the butter, water, and cocoa powder into a saucepan and bring to a boil whisking constantly until smooth. Immediately remove from the heat and let cool.
Whisk together the buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla extract in a small bowl and set aside.
Pour the cooled cocoa powder mixture into dry ingredient mixture and stir to combine. Pour in the buttermilk mixture and stir for one minute.
Carefully pour the Lunch Lady Chocolate Sheet Cake batter into the prepared pan. Spread evenly and gently.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Place on a rack.
Chocolate Fudge Icing
While the cake is baking sift the cocoa powder, powdered sugar, and salt together in a large mixing bowl to remove lumps. Set aside. (See notes.)
Add the butter and milk into a saucepan.
When the chocolate sheet cakes comes out of the oven, bring the butter and milk to simmering stirring often. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
Pour the hot mixture into over the cocoa powder mixture and stir with a wooden spoon or rubber a spatula until smooth. (See notes.) Immediately pour the icing over the warm Best Lunch Lady Chocolate Cake.
Let the cake cool completely through.
Serve in square slices from the pan for charming nostalgia.
Lunch Lady Chocolate Sheet Cake with Fudge Icing Recipe Notes
- The espresso powder is optional and not a part of the Classic Chocolate Sheet Cake Recipe. However, it adds a deep rick chocolate wow factor. I highly recommend adding this sparkle spin.
- Be sure to pour the warm fudge icing on the chocolate cheese cake while warm.
- Be sure to sift the powdered sugar and the cocoa powder together to avoid lumps. Skipping this step will make a lumpy fudge icing.
- Do not whisk the chocolate icing. It will cause air bubbles. Use a wooden spoon or a spatula.
- Let this Chocolate Sheet Cake Recipe set until completely cool.
How To Store Lunch lady Chocolate Sheet Cake with Fudge Frosting AKA Texas Sheet Cake
Cover with foil and store in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. It is delicious cold with a glass of cold milk.
Best Lunch Lady Chocolate Sheet Cake with Fudge Icing
Ingredients
Best Chocolate Sheet Cake
- 2 cups swans down cake flour substitute with all-purpose flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 sticks butter
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1 heaping tablespoon expresso powder optional for a rich deep flavor
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup butter milk
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract or 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
Fudge Icing
- 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter cubed
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1 dash salt
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
Instructions
Best Chocolate Sheet Cake
- Note: The fudge icing must be poured on a warm cake. Read the instructions through for timing.
- Grease a 10 X 15 baking pan.
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Add the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, expresso powder, and salt into a bowl and whisk to combine.
- Next, add the butter, water, and cocoa powder into a saucepan and bring to a boil whisking constantly until smooth. Immediately remove from the heat and let cool.
- Whisk together the buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla extract in a small bowl and set aside.
- Pour the cooled cocoa powder mixture into dry ingredient mixture and stir to combine. Pour in the buttermilk mixture and stir for one minute.
- Carefully pour the Lunch Lady Chocolate Sheet Cake batter into the prepared pan. Spread evenly and gently.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Place on a rack.
Chocolate Fudge Icing
- While the cake is baking sift the cocoa powder, powdered sugar, and salt together in a large mixing bowl to remove lumps. Set aside. (See notes.)
- Add the butter and milk into a saucepan.
- When the chocolate sheet cakes comes out of the oven, bring the butter and milk to simmering stirring often. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
- Pour the hot mixture into over the cocoa powder mixture and stir with a wooden spoon or rubber a spatula until smooth. (See notes.) Immediately pour the icing over the warm Best Lunch Lady Chocolate Cake.
- Let the cake cool completely through.
- Serve in square slices from the pan for charming nostalgia.
- Cover with foil and store in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. It is delicious cold with a glass of cold milk.
Notes
- The espresso powder is optional and not a part of the Classic Chocolate Sheet Cake Recipe. However, it adds a deep rick chocolate wow factor. I highly recommend adding this sparkle spin.
- Be sure to pour the warm fudge icing on the chocolate cheese cake while warm.
- Be sure to sift the powdered sugar and the cocoa powder together to avoid lumps. Skipping this step will make a lumpy fudge icing.
- Do not whisk the chocolate icing. It will cause air bubbles. Use a wooden spoon or a spatula. Let this Chocolate Sheet Cake Recipe set until completely cool.
Nutrition
More Chocolate Recipes
- CHOCOLATE CHIP DERBY PIE
- SPICY CHEWY CHOCOLATE COOKIES
- BEST EVER CHOCOLATE FROSTING
- CHOCOLATE PUDDING DIRT CUPS
- RICH AND MOIST CHOCOLATE CAKE
- CHOCOLATE LUNCH LADY CAKE AKA TEXAS SHEET CAKE
- BEST CHOCOLATE FUDGE BROWNIES
11/12/2025 Hi Gwyn I came across your recipe and want to make it in the ingredients it says 1 teaspoon of baking wrote twice I think this is a typing error as in the instructions it says 1 teaspoon of baking powder and 1 teaspoon of baking soda is this correct thanks Bev
HI~! Thanks a bunch! BLESSINGS IN 2026!
Delicious!