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Kicking off the first Friday of February with this easy One Bowl Chocolate Sheet Cake with Milk Chocolate Fudge Frosting.

One Bowl Chocolate Sheet Cake with Milk Chocolate Fudge Frosting | halfbakedharvest.com #cake #chocolate #birthday #valentinesday

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Does anyone else feel like this week just flew by? I spent the first half of the week traveling to Austin, Texas for a fun shoot with Camille Styles. From there I flew over to LA for a quick taping of Hallmark Home and Family (which aired yesterday, but you can watch the replay here). I flew home Wednesday night, photographed new recipes for HBH on Thursday, and today will be spent filming new videos. Such a jam pack week, but I loved every minute of it.

While in LA I was lucky enough to get to hang with my brother Red for a bit too. I wasn’t there very long, but it was awesome to get to see him before he flies to South Korea today with the US Team. I almost never see that kid, so even if it’s just a quick, “hey” it’s still always fun. Red always knows how to get a smile glued to my face and made my quick trip just that much better.

The next few days will be spent cramming in all the work I possibly can before heading off to Korea for the Olympics on the seventh. I still can’t believe we are going to Korea, but it’s happening, and I can’t wait!

One Bowl Chocolate Sheet Cake with Milk Chocolate Fudge Frosting | halfbakedharvest.com #cake #chocolate #birthday #valentinesday
One Bowl Chocolate Sheet Cake with Milk Chocolate Fudge Frosting | halfbakedharvest.com #cake #chocolate #birthday #valentinesday
One Bowl Chocolate Sheet Cake with Milk Chocolate Fudge Frosting | halfbakedharvest.com #cake #chocolate #birthday #valentinesday

As you can probably guess, I’m also very excited to be sharing this chocolate cake with you guys today, and for a few reasons.

One, because everyone knows February is the month of all things chocolatey. Two, because it happens to be my brother Brendan’s birthday, and celebrating with chocolate cake is just something we do. And three, because this cake is beyond good and you all need it in your life sometime soon.

I’ve wanted to make a sheet cake for the longest time now but just hadn’t gotten around to it. For whatever reason layer cakes always excite me a bit more than sheet cakes, but after making this sheet cake, I’m becoming sold on the idea. You guys, if you didn’t know, sheet cakes are the absolute best. They’re easy, no fuss, feed a crowd, and are incredibly delicious.

I can already see this cake becoming a regular in my kitchen for birthdays, dinners with friends, and even holidays. It’s so versatile and perfect for so many different occasions.

For me, the biggest bonus this cake offers is just how easy it is. As I was writing up the recipe, I realized that everything was made in entirely one bowl, with ingredients I already had in my pantry. And not only that, there are absolutely zero skills required for frosting this cake. Just spread on a very generous layer of that chocolate buttercream, and done. Not sure about you guys, but that’s a major plus for me when it comes to baking recipes.

One Bowl Chocolate Sheet Cake with Milk Chocolate Fudge Frosting | halfbakedharvest.com #cake #chocolate #birthday #valentinesday
One Bowl Chocolate Sheet Cake with Milk Chocolate Fudge Frosting | halfbakedharvest.com #cake #chocolate #birthday #valentinesday

Unlike most sheet cakes, this one is extra moist, chocolatey, and fudgy. My three secret ingredients are buttermilk, Greek yogurt, and coffee. The buttermilk and yogurt keep the cake incredibly light and moist, while the coffee highlights the chocolate flavors going on in the cake.

Now, before those of you who don’t like coffee click away from this recipe, hear me out. I promise that you do not taste the coffee at all. It’s simply there as an undertone that highlights the flavors of the chocolate. I highly recommend giving it a try before you decide to omit it, if you truly hate the flavor of coffee, simply skip it, no big deal.

So that’s the cake portion, and while it is my favorite go-to chocolate cake recipe, I think the milk chocolate buttercream steals the show a bit. I mean, it’s really the cake and the buttercream paired together that makes this cake so good, but the buttercream is pretty much just incredible. And the key to this buttercream? Whipping in some real milk chocolate. Yes, milk chocolate.

I know everyone is all about the dark chocolate these days, and I love it too, but let’s all be honest, some days just call for milk chocolate, and I’m thinking the first Friday in February is just one of those days.

One Bowl Chocolate Sheet Cake with Milk Chocolate Fudge Frosting | halfbakedharvest.com #cake #chocolate #birthday #valentinesday
One Bowl Chocolate Sheet Cake with Milk Chocolate Fudge Frosting | halfbakedharvest.com #cake #chocolate #birthday #valentinesday

I have to mention that not only is this cake great for birthdays, but it would be perfect to make for Valentine’s Day…which semi explains all the roses in my photos. Just a heads up, the roses will be appearing in all my sweet recipes from now until Valentine’s Day. Sorry, I can’t help it.

Also, if any of you happen to be hosting a Super Bowl party this Sunday, or even an Olympic viewing party in the coming weeks, this cake would be amazing for that too. As mentioned it feeds a crowd and can also be made ahead of time, making the dessert portion of your party a breeze. You can even decorate the cake to support your favorite team. You see, the perfect dessert!

One Bowl Chocolate Sheet Cake with Milk Chocolate Fudge Frosting | halfbakedharvest.com #cake #chocolate #birthday #valentinesday
One Bowl Chocolate Sheet Cake with Milk Chocolate Fudge Frosting | halfbakedharvest.com #cake #chocolate #birthday #valentinesday

One Bowl Chocolate Sheet Cake with Milk Chocolate Fudge Frosting

One Bowl Chocolate Sheet Cake with Milk Chocolate Fudge Frosting | halfbakedharvest.com #cake #chocolate #birthday #valentinesday
4.46 from 237 votes
16 servings
calories 467kcal
Prep15 minutes
Cook25 minutes
Total40 minutes
Made in one bowl, with ingredients found in your pantry, using zero decorating skills, and the best part…it is so delicious!
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Ingredients 

Milk Chocolate Frosting

Instructions 

  • 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9×13 inch baking dish with parchment paper, then butter/spray with cooking spray.
    2. In a large mixing bowl, beat together the eggs, buttermilk, greek yogurt, canola oil, and vanilla until smooth. Add the flour, sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, mix until there are no longer any clumps of flour. Add the hot coffee and mix until combined. Batter should be pourable, but not super thin. Stir in the chocolate chips, if using.
    3. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish, bake 20 to 25 minutes, until the top is just set and no longer wiggly in the center. Remove and let cool completely before frosting.
    4. To make the buttercream, add the butter and powdered sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer (or use a hand-held mixer). Beat the butter and powdered sugar together until the butter is light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add the melted milk chocolate and vanilla and beat (scraping down the sides as needed) another 2 minutes or until there are no streaks of white. Add 2 tablespoons of the heavy cream and whip the frosting for 2-4 minutes more or until light and fluffy. If desired add the remaining heavy cream and whip until combined. 
    5. Frost the cake and decorate as desired. 

Notes

Recipe makes a 9×13 inch cake

Nutrition

Calories: 467kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 55mg | Sodium: 375mg | Potassium: 241mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 40g | Vitamin A: 430IU | Calcium: 56mg | Iron: 2.2mg

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.

One Bowl Chocolate Sheet Cake with Milk Chocolate Fudge Frosting | halfbakedharvest.com #cake #chocolate #birthday #valentinesday

The chocolate cake of your dreams…

PS. see you guys tomorrow for a fun Valentine’s Day gift guide!

Meet Tieghan Gerard

I'm Tieghan, the recipes you'll find here are inspired by the people and places I love most. I try to live simply, eat seasonally, and cook with whole foods. My hope is to inspire a love for amazing food, as well as the courage to try something new!

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4.46 from 237 votes (170 ratings without comment)

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282 Comments

  1. Gina @Running to the Kitchen says:

    WOW! It doesn’t get any better than this! Looks amazing!

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Thank you Gina!

  2. Natasha @ Salt & Lavender says:

    5 stars
    OMG this looks amazing!! Chocolate cake is one of my very favorite things. I don’t have a big sweet tooth, except when it comes to chocolate cake. Have a wonderful weekend!

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      YES me too! Thank you Natasha!

  3. Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says:

    My favorite kind of cake Tieghan! Looks fabulous!

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Thank you Mary Ann!

  4. Leigh Ann says:

    That icing swirl though! So perfect!

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Thank you!!

  5. Cait says:

    Does it matter what fat % of greek yogurt I use? Might be a silly question, but I also know baking can be pretty touchy if you don’t stick to the recipe…

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      I like to use full fat greek yogurt, but any percent will be ok. Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Thanks! ?

  6. Joyce says:

    5 stars
    This cake looks wonderful. I love sheet cakes, and took them to my sons sporting event “after” parties all the time. They’d be gone in like 10 minutes; faster if chocolate. This one looks especially good. I might even mix in some Kalua with that hot coffee.

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Haha that is amazing! I hope you love this one Joyce! Thank you!

  7. Brenda says:

    It looks so yummy and easy. I have printed it out and will be baking this for our Super Bowl treats.

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Thank you! I hope everyone loved this Brenda!

  8. Lynn says:

    The chocolate cake looks so good . I want to go home and make it. Could I substitute sour cream for the Greek yougurt? and would it be the same amount? I have all the ingredients except that. Thanks Lynn

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Sour cream should work great and yes, the same amount. Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Thanks! ?

  9. Debs says:

    5 stars
    Love how moist and sticky this cake looks. Simple elegance is so underrated. Tried to watch the clip, but it doesn’t seem to want to play. Something probably to do with a UK IP address. Hope you have a fab trip to Korea. Good Luck to Red!

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Thank you so much Debs! Ill look into that issue! ?

  10. shawnna Griffin says:

    hey girl- this looks amazing! Right up my alley! Saw you on Home and Family (so cool) and I subscribed to your blog! Y’all have fun in Korea!

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Ah that is awesome! So glad you watched! I hope you love some of the recipes on my blog Shawnna! Thank you!

  11. Charlotte Moore says:

    5 stars
    My husband LOVES chocolate! This looks so moist and delicious.

    I don’t see any roses????

    1. Lita poppenberg says:

      May I substitute butter for the Canola Oil And Not lose the texture Safe travels

      1. halfbakedharvest says:

        I think melted butter should be fine. Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Thanks! ?

    2. halfbakedharvest says:

      This would be perfect for him!! Thank you Charlotte!

  12. Bruce Deniger says:

    5 stars
    Such a yummy cake. I just feel like grabbing it.I loved the frosting idea used in this recipe.

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Thank you Bruce!

  13. Jenny from jennyisbaking.com says:

    Tieghan, what do you do to make such a simple cake look so awesome? I visit your blog regularly to be inspired by your photography and this post in particular fascinates me. I would most certainly love a piece, as a chocoholic I will never say no. Thanks for sharing and inspiring!

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Awh thank you Jenny! This is so sweet! I am really glad you like my recipes and photos!

  14. Ruth Miranda says:

    I want to bake this!!!

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      You totally should!! Thank you Ruth!

  15. Liz S. says:

    5 stars
    The week definitely flew by; and this is definitely a chocoholic delight’s cake – fabulous! Good luck with all the busyness before flying out.

    1. halfbakedharvest says:

      Thank you Liz! I hope you have a great weekend!