The Truth About Texas Sheet Cake: It’s Not from Texas!
Texas Sheet Cake is a Southern favorite, known for its ultra-moist chocolate base and rich, fudgy icing. It’s a staple at potlucks and family gatherings across Texas—but here’s the surprise: it didn’t actually originate in Texas!
A Cake with Many Names – Before it became “Texas Sheet Cake,” similar recipes appeared in community cookbooks across the U.S. under names like "German Chocolate Sheet Cake" and "Lazy Cake" as early as the 1930s.
A Recipe with German Roots? – Some believe the cake was inspired by German Chocolate Cake, which itself isn’t German—it was named after an American baker, Samuel German, who developed a type of sweet baking chocolate in the 1850s.
Why Texas? – The cake earned its “Texas” title likely because:
1️⃣ It’s big, just like everything in Texas.
2️⃣ It’s baked in a sheet pan, making it perfect for feeding a crowd.
Texas cookbooks and newspapers popularized it in the 1950s, helping cement its name.
Super Moist Chocolate Cake – Made with buttermilk and cocoa for a soft, rich texture.
🍯 Pour-Over Chocolate Frosting – A warm, glossy icing (sometimes with pecans) that soaks into the cake.
Quick & Easy to Make – No layering, no fuss—just pure chocolate goodness.
Texas Sheet Cake may not have started in Texas, but it’s become a beloved part of Southern baking culture. Whether or not it’s truly Texan, one thing is certain—it’s delicious!