Today would be the perfect day to make this 29 Minute Decadent Chocolate Sheet Cake. I thought about naming it the Speedy Gonzales Chocolate Sheetcake. It’s hard to believe you can make, bake and frost a moist Decadent Chocolate Sheet Cake in just twenty-nine minutes. But this speedy recipe takes the cake, having you do just that in no time flat. (OK, twenty-nine minutes.) But you musn’t dilly dally.
My girlfriend regularly brings this fudgy cake to picnics and potlucks. I’ve learned from experience that you must move subtly and quickly towards the dessert table, or you’re out of luck. When she told me she baked and frosted the cake in under thirty minutes, my first thought? “Someone’s nose is growing longer.” (True confession.) Then I finally baked the cake myself, and no Pinocchio. Now I’m a believer too.
There are so many reasons that make this chocolate cake such a winner. Let’s start with the chocolate. You just can’t go wrong with chocolate, any way you slice it. The cake travels like a champ in its jelly roll pan, making it perfect for tailgating, picnics and potlucks. It’s rich, delicious and bakes in the oven for just twelve minutes.
When the cake comes out of the oven, mix the fudgy icing, then spread it on the warm cake. It oozes into every nook and cranny with absolutely irresistible crowd pleasing results. Oooo la la! It couldn’t be faster and easier. Or yummier! It’s a blue ribbon winner every time, best enjoyed with a tall glass of icy cold milk, perfect for last minute company. Trust me, you’ll spend more time sharing this recipe than actually baking the cake. Just remember: no dilly dallying!
29 Minute Decadent Chocolate Sheet Cake
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup oil
- 1 cup water
- 4 tablespoons cocoa
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 cup butter
- 7 tablespoons milk
- 4 tablespoons cocoa
- 4 cups 1 pound Domino confectioners (powdered) sugar
Instructions
- Cake: Mix together flour, sugar and salt in mixing bowl.
- Separately, boil 1/2 cup butter with oil, water and 4 tablespoons cocoa.
- Mix together flour mixture and boiled ingredients with mixer.
- Add buttermilk, baking soda, eggs, cinnamon and vanilla.
- Pour batter into greased and floured 10 X 15" jelly roll pan.
- Bake at 400 degrees for 12 minutes or 'til toothpick comes out clean.
- Fudgy Chocolate Icing: Melt on low heat, 1/4 cup butter, milk and 4 tablespoons cocoa.
- Add in powdered sugar.
- Mix 'til smooth.
- Pour and spread onto warm cake.
- Cool.
Notes
If you don't have buttermilk on hand, mix 1 1/2 teaspoons vinegar with 1/2 cup milk. Let sit a few minutes. Voila, buttermilk!
Preheat oven before mixing cake batter.
Use a greased and floured 10 X 15" jelly roll pan or line with parchment paper.
Make frosting immediately after cake is out of the oven, then frost.
I said this was a quick cake. Not that it wasn’t messy. (Hope the baker isn’t also the dishwasher. And good luck on that!)
You may also like: Brick Street Chocolate Cake
Amy says
Oh, Allie! This looks fabulous. I need to find an extra 29 minutes—stat!
nancy mcmahan says
I know some grandkids that would love this. And of course I should try it out first to be sure. Thanks for the recipe.
Linda Jenkins says
I myself am not chocolate lover. I know, can you believe there is anyone out there that doesn’t love chocolate? However, I will certainly pass the on to my chocolate lover friends.
Christy says
Glad I dilly dallied here a minute. Speedy and tasty are a dynamic duo!
Allie Taylor says
You dilly dallier you! 🙂
Lisa says
Three times this week I have looked longingly at my Trader Joes coco powder thinking, “I love you and I need you, but you are high maintenance and sadly, I have no time this relationship!” You have solved my problem. I’m giddy with excitement, and I’m going to try this now!
Lisa says
Thanks, this turned out GREAT! 5 stars! I threw sprinkles (jimmy’s) on it and the kids went nuts. I’ve never made frosting from coco powder. I no longer suffer from frosting intimidation. That was SO easy! I wonder how that yummy glaze would taste if I threw in a brick of cream cheese? I’ll have to try it again and see! 🙂
Allie Taylor says
Oh YAY!!! (P.S. All Charlie wants to do is eat with chopsticks!)
sÜe says
I did it! I had to run out and buy the right pan because I didn’t have the right size. So glad I did! Delicious! Thanks for sharing! Hugs,
sÜe
Allie Taylor says
YAY!!! XO
Jen says
Oh, MY! Another of my favorite recipes from Allie! Sounds AMAZING! You WILL make a believer out of me, especially in 29 minutes! I love you!
Julie says
Yum…bring on the next hormonal chocolate binge…I’m ready 🙂 xo
Maureen De Cloux says
Great website. It’s fun to read , I look forward to next month’s . Hope it’s as much fun to do, Maureen
Allie Taylor says
Glad you are enjoying it Maureen, I am too….a new adventure. But don’t wait to come back ’til next month as there will be multiple weekly posts. You can subscribe on the sidebar so you won’t miss a thing. 🙂
Paula says
Hi Allie, This has been one of my favorite recipes passed down from my mother. My mother uses the traditional 9×13 pan, and adds Black Walnuts to the icing. In my family, this was called the Black Walnut Cake. My mother was very insistent that regular walnuts would not taste the same, and I agree. — I’m making this tonight in my kitchen!
P.S. Love the look of your website.
Allie Taylor says
Thank you so much Paula! Fun to think of you baking chocolate cake in Brussels. Black walnuts sound yummy! Love to all.
Bresca says
Wow…Yesterday my father-in-law borrowed powdered sugar so that he could make this cake — he said he had been in the mood for cake and saw the blog entry, telling him, “Today would be the perfect day to make this chocolate cake!” (: He shared huge pieces with the whole family yesterday, and we’ve just had seconds again today. I’ve never thought chocolate cake was amazing, but this one is so rich and moist that I am definitely changing my mind. I have decided that whenever I make chocolate cake, it will HAVE to be this one! Thanks so much for sharing!
Allie Taylor says
How fun Bresca! Would love to see a picture of him in his chef hat. So glad the chocolate cake was a hit. You shared the powdered sugar. And he shared the cake. That worked out nicely! 🙂
Daniella says
I will try this one for sure….just need to find the 29 minutes to do it. Keep sending amazing recipes my friend!
Allie Taylor says
So fun to have you here Daniella!!! Thank you. XO
Susie says
Being the chocoholic that I am, I MUST give this a try…yummm!
Sarah Mitchell says
I made this for lunch at DCA. I quadrupled the recipe. It was a huge hit with kids and teachers alike!
Allie Taylor says
Sarah — That makes me “wicked” happy. Seriously, gives me great joy to think of this cake served in the dining room at DCA. Guessing it didn’t take 29 minutes to make 4. XO
sÜe says
Can you believe I’ve already baked this three times since you shared it?!?!?! I’m sure to be whipping up another one this weekend. Absolutely FANTASTIC!!! ッ
sÜe
Allie Taylor says
Woo hoo!!!
Ellen says
cant wait to try this!
Jen says
Absolutely delicious! My family did not believe I made it and it was not from a box!
Allie Taylor says
Jen, YOU ROCK!
Denise says
I made this for Christmas and it was a big hit! It did take 29 minutes as long as everyone stayed out of my way, lol. I’ll be making this again and again!
Cynthia/What A Girl Eats says
Hello! you had me at 29 minutes…and decadent…well, I guess chocolate too!
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes says
I”m not even a huge fan of chocolate and you made me want this cake so bad!
Lisa says
I keep coming back here because I’m always in too big of a hurry to print this. I’m here for the 2nd time this week because this cake has become our families standard birthday cake recipe. I swap the cinnamon out for a scoop of instant coffee, and toss a brick of cream cheese into the frosting, and it is SUPER yummy! It even tastes great when I use apple sauce in place of the oil. I’ve never EVER made a homemade cake and liked it. Ever. Thank you again Allie! 🙂
Allie says
So glad you like this recipe Lisa, and I’ll have to try some of your variations…coffee! Yum. Cream cheese??? Yes please. Will definitely try. Thanks for the great ideas!
Ally's Sweet & Savory Eats says
I’m bookmarking this one for sure!
Beth says
12 minute baking time for a cake?! I gotta try this cake!
Sheryl @Lady Behind The Curtain says
Ooooh! Looks delicious!
Aida @ TheCraftingFoodie says
I love sheet cakes – the best way to serve a crowd (especially kids)! This looks so good!
Maggie says
This looks outstanding and so yummy. I have a ? for you. Have you ever used non dairy milk? I cannot drink milk. I am able to handle the cocoa and butter but milk is so very hard on me… I so want to try this 🙂
Thank you
Allie says
Hi Maggie, I hope you can try this recipe. I’ve substituted non-dairy milk in many other recipes because several of my kids were allergic to milk when they were small. I’ve often used almond milk as the substitute. I’ve never had a flop because of the switch. I can’t guarantee it’ll work, but I’d be very surprised if it doesn’t. If you decide to go ahead and try a substitution, would you please comment back here and let us know how it went? I’m sure there are others with dairy allergies who would be very interested to know. Thanks for dropping by the blog! 🙂