This buttermilk chocolate cake is a new addition to my collection of cakes to drop off at dinners or leave at school functions. It’s a serve-out-of-the-pan cake that can be baked a day ahead, chilled briefly, then stored at room temperature for a day or two. In fact, the cake is even better the second day.
Icing’s Not Overly Sweet
I found this recipe years ago on Food.com and have made changes over the years. At first glance the recipe seems to be a typical Texas Sheet Cake, but it’s not. It’s baked in a 9×13 inch pan rather than the Texas Sheet Cake’s 10×15 inch, and it has a pour over icing that is rich, but not nearly as sweet.
In my opinion it’s the icing that makes this cake special, but the texture and sweetness level of the cake is a perfect pairing, so I recommend using this icing with this cake before you do any mixing and matching. If you don’t trust the cake recipe or want to try a different base, the old recipe for Sue B.’s Chocolate Cake is similar and might work well, and of course Hershey’s Perfect Chocolate Cake goes with just about anything. But I recommend you give this version a shot! I thought it wouldn’t have enough of a chocolate punch, but as it happened the 1/3 cup of cocoa powder was just right.
Recipe
Potluck Buttermilk Chocolate Sheet Cake
Ingredients
- 2 sticks 230 grams unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup unsweetened natural cocoa powder Scharffen Berger works well
- 1 cup water
- 2 cups sugar 390 grams
- 2 cups flour sift after measuring (250 grams)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 1/2 cup buttermilk room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
Buttermilk Icing
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar sifted
- 1/2 teaspoon salt omit if using salted butter
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter
- 4 1/2 ounces buttermilk
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
- 7 1/2 tablespoons cocoa
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan. If using a disposable pan, you can skip this step.
- In a saucepan, melt the butter. Add the cocoa powder and stir until smooth, then stir in the water. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Mix together flour, sugar, salt and baking soda. Sift if necessary.
- In a mixing bowl or in a 2 cup glass measure, whisk together eggs, buttermilk and vanilla.
- Add cocoa mixture and buttermilk mixture to dry ingredients and stir until everything is well mixed, then beat 30 strokes with a big spoon or a heavy duty scraper.
- Pour into the pan and bake for about 30 minutes or until cake springs back when touched.
- Let the cake cool while you make the icing.
- To make the icing, melt butter in a saucepan set over low heat. Add the cocoa and whisk until smooth, then add the buttermilk and vanilla and whisk until smooth.
- Put the confectioners’ sugar and salt (if using) in a food processor.
- With motor running, pour cocoa mixture through feed tube and process only until smooth.
- Pour this mixture over the cooled cake. Let cool down slightly, then put the whole cake in the refrigerator to help set the icing.
- Once the cake is chilled and set, you can take it out and store it covered at room temperature.
Anna
Hello Debbie,
Thanks for the review! I was really looking forward to hearing a review from another baker.
Debbie
Excellent, rich, chocolate cake. Decided to make this for Christmas dessert and everyone LOVED it. It is convenient that it can be left at room temperature when there is so much holiday food filling the refrigerator, but I do think it tastes better cold.
This recipe makes such a nice size cake that this is what I will be taking to school potlucks from now on!! I can decorate the top with crushed candy canes, or anything seasonal, depending on the time of year. 🙂
Sue
This seems like a great cake to take on my quilting weekends.
Heidi
This kind of simple potluckish serve out of the pan cake is right up my alley! This looks delicious! I’m going to try this for sure . Thanks for sharing. I love the type of icing where you can pour it on while warm and it settles into fudgy goodness!
Sonya
This sounds great!