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Kicking off the first Friday of February with this easy One Bowl Chocolate Sheet Cake with Milk Chocolate Fudge Frosting.
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!
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.
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.
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
Servings: 16 servings
Calories Per Serving: 467 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 3/4 cup buttermilk
- 1/4 cup plain greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup hot black coffee
- 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional)
Milk Chocolate Frosting
- 2 sticks (1 cup) salted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 8 ounces milk chocolate, melted and cool to touch
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2-3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream (optional)
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
The chocolate cake of your dreams…
PS. see you guys tomorrow for a fun Valentine’s Day gift guide!
I have made this over and over again- my family loves it. It’s soooo chocolatey. I tried it without buttermilk (when I didn’t have any), and added more yogurt, but it wasn’t nearly as good- the buttermilk really makes a difference. My husband loves dark chocolate, so I swap out the milk chocolate with dark in the icing, and it works great. And it’s so simple that I can bake it while my toddler “helps” and my baby plays with the pots and pans on the kitchen floor.
Hey there,
Ohh this is so awesome!! I am so glad your family has been enjoying this recipe and truly appreciate you making it so often!! xTieghan
Are you able to substitute the coconut oil for butter? If so how much butter would you use?
So sorry I commented on the wrong recipe
No worries, let me know how I can help!
Hey Tracey,
This cake uses canola oil, not coconut oil:) I hope this recipe turns out amazing for you, let me know if you give it a try! xx
Hi Tieghan, this looks great and I want to try this recipe for my friend’s birthday! Does it also have the metric units for the ingredients? Thanks.
Hey!!
I will add the metric measurements for you! I hope you love the recipe:) xx
Hi there! Is there something you can use in place of the coffee? I just don’t prefer the coffee taste. Thank you!
Hi Candice,
You really don’t get a coffee flavor, it just enhances the chocolate, but if you don’t want to use it then just use water in place of the coffee. I hope this recipe turns out amazing for you, let me know if you give it a try! xx
This recipe is just fabulous. I’ve made it twice now, keeping half for my family and taking the other half into work. My colleagues (teachers!) raved so much last time that I’ve made it again today ready to leave in the staff room tomorrow.
Thank you from the UK ??
Hey Emily,
Fantastic!! I am so glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! xTieghan
100% the best!!
Hi Courtney,
Awesome!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks a bunch for making it! xTieghan
Any tips for getting the cake out of the pan before frosting?
Hey Emily,
If you line your baking sheet with parchment paper, you should be able to easily lift the cake from the pan. Let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
Followed the recipe to the letter but the middle fell shortly after I took it out to cool. It looks delicious. Not sure where I went wrong.
Hi Christy,
Thanks for giving the recipe a try, that is really just the nature of the cake, it happens. Let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Hi! I’m so excited to make this recipe for my boyfriend’s birthday. How long do you think the baking time would be for an 8” round pan?
Hi Liz, I am not too sure as I have not tried this recipe in that form. I would start with 15-20 mins and keep and eye on it! xTieghan
catenews
politicsay
Love this cake, very simple. I’ll be making it for every birthday from now on (and also just when I crave it)!
Hey Emma,
Awesome! Thanks a lot for making this recipe and sharing your feedback. I’m glad it was enjoyed! xTieghan
The best chocolate cake recipe EVER! So moist and delicious. Shared the cake with my extended family and they all raved about it. A+++
Hey Carolyn,
Thanks so much for making the recipe, I am so glad it was enjoyed! Thanks! xTieghan
Would this cake work in a springform pan? I really want a round, single-layer fabulous chocolate cake for Valentines – this would be perfect except for the sheet pan. Thank you!
Hey there,
Yes, that would work, I would just adjust your baking times accordingly. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
This is such a delicious recipe! I made this for my husband’s birthday, and it was a huge hit. So easy too! Next time, I’ll leave out the chocolate chips in the cake batter simply because they’re not needed.
Hey Lisa,
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for making it! xTieghan
My birthday is coming soon. But, during this Covid-19 situation, I don’t want to cut the cake. But, after watching this recipe video of cake. Now i want to try it. The recipe is not so much complicated and cake is looking very tasty. Kaspersky Promo Code
Hi! I hope this cake turns out amazing for your birthday! Please let me know if there is anything I can help with! Happy Birthday to you! xTieghan