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Not only does this white Texas sheet cake feed a crowd, but it’s always a hit with its buttery, almond flavor. Topped off with a smooth layer of buttercream frosting, you’ll be going back for slice after slice!

There’s still time for a few more potlucks this summer, and sheet cakes are the best way to feed a large group of people! Try this classic chocolate Texas sheet cake or Coca-Cola cake next!

Serving a slice of white Texas sheet cake.

Texas White Sheet Cake

Today I’m sharing one of my favorite cakes, white Texas sheet cake! I love it for so many reasons, besides the fact that it tastes incredible. It’s perfect for summer because it only takes 20 minutes to bake, and it feeds a crowd. Perfect for those summer potlucks and barbecues! This cake is also super easy to make. You don’t need any type of electric mixer, you can do it all by hand. Trust me, this Texas sheet cake is always a hit and goes fast!

It’s not hard to see why. It doesn’t get much better than a super moist, vanilla almond cake smothered in homemade buttercream! This cake so soft and tender, you won’t be able to get enough. No more of those dry Texas sheet cakes, thanks to the sour cream added to the batter! If there’s one cake you make this summer, it’s got to be white Texas sheet cake.

White Texas Sheet Cake Ingredients

These ingredients are the heart and soul of your White Texas Sheet Cake and its luscious frosting. The flavor and texture they create is so irresistible! Exact measurements are in the recipe card below.

  • Unsalted Butter: Adds rich, buttery goodness to every bite.
  • Water: Water helps create the right texture and keeps things moist and tender.
  • All-Purpose Flour: Flour gives the cake structure and substance.
  • Granulated Sugar: Sugar adds sweetness to the cake and also helps it get that lovely golden color when baked.
  • Large Eggs: The binding agents. Eggs help hold everything together and contribute to that delightful fluffiness.
  • Sour Cream: The secret to moisture! Sour cream keeps the cake wonderfully moist and adds a subtle tanginess.
  • Almond Extract and Vanilla Extract: The flavor power duo. These extracts give the cake its delightful aroma and taste. Almond is like a sophisticated twist, and vanilla is the timeless classic.
  • Baking Soda: Baking soda helps the cake get nice and fluffy by making it rise during baking.
  • Salt: Salt enhances all the other flavors and keeps the sweetness in check.

For the Buttercream

  • Butter: This is where the creamy dreaminess starts. Butter brings a luxurious, velvety texture to the frosting.
  • Milk: Milk thins out the frosting just right, making it easy to spread.
  • Powdered Sugar: Powdered sugar adds sweetness and that delightful fluffiness to your frosting. It’s like a cloud of sweetness that melts in your mouth.
  • Almond Extract: Almond extract gives your frosting a subtle nutty flavor.
  • Salt: Salt brings out all the wonderful flavors in the frosting.

How to Make White Texas Sheet Cake

Making this Texas sheet cake is so straightforward and extremely easy to make. Mix up your ingredients, add your batter to a baking sheet, and then let it bake for 20 minutes until it’s nice and golden brown!

  1. Preheat Oven, Prepare Pan: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 13×18 inch baking sheet with pan spray and dust generously with flour. Tap out the excess flour.
  2. Melt Butter, Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium saucepan, bring butter and water to a boil. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together the flour and sugar.
  3. Combine With Wet Ingredients: Add the eggs, sour cream, almond extract, vanilla extract, baking soda, and salt to the flour mixture. Slowly pour in the boiling butter/water mixture. Mix with a spatula or whisk until well combined and smooth.
  4. Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared baking sheet and bake for 20-22 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for about 20 minutes.
  5. Prepare Frosting: While the cake is cooling, make the frosting by combining the butter and milk in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Remove from the heat and then stir in powdered sugar, extract, and salt. Mix until smooth and all combined. Spread over warm cake.
  6. Decorate: Decorate your Texas sheet cake with sprinkles, if desired.
4-photo collage of the batter being prepared.

Tips and Tricks

Before you start baking your tasty white Texas sheet cake, here are some super helpful tips to make it turn out even better.

  • Using a Different Pan: This cake can be made in a jelly roll pan (10×15 inches), but it MIGHT spill over the side just a little. I placed a larger baking sheet on the rack below when I tested this recipe in that size pan. This prevented cake batter from spilling onto the bottom of the oven.
  • Frost While Warm: Don’t make the frosting too soon! Both the frosting and the cake should still be pretty warm when you frost the cake. This helps the frosting spread and seep into the sponge.
  • Mix By Hand: No need for a mixer with this recipe! Everything for Texas sheet cakes is easy to do by hand. This will save you a dish or two.
  • Prep Your Baking Sheet: Properly preparing the baking sheet is crucial to this recipe. Give it a good, thorough spray with pan spray before adding a handful of flour. Tilt the pan around so the flour fully coats the pan spray. Tap out the excess flour.
Top-down view of the Texas sheet cake, cut into squares.

Storing Leftovers

If your family is anything like mine, your white Texas sheet cake will be gone in a snap. It’s too good to resist! If by some small chance you have leftovers, here’s how to keep them for later.

  • At Room Temperature: Cover leftover cake tightly with foil or plastic wrap. Leftovers will keep for up to 5 days.
Closeup of a slice of cake, with a bite being taken out of it.

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White Texas Sheet Cake

By: Alyssa Rivers
Not only does this white Texas sheet cake feed a crowd, but it's always a hit with its buttery, almond flavor. Topped off with a smooth layer of buttercream frosting, you'll be going back for slice after slice!
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 24 Servings

Ingredients 

Frosting

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 13×18 inch baking sheet with pan spray and dust generously with flour. Tap out the excess flour.
  • In a medium saucepan, bring butter and water to a boil. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together the flour and sugar.
  • Add the eggs, sour cream, almond extract, vanilla extract, baking soda, and salt to the dry ingredients. Slowly pour in the boiling butter/water mixture. Mix with a spatula or whisk until well combined and smooth.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared baking sheet and bake for 20-22 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for about 20 minutes.
  • While the cake is cooling, make the frosting by combining the butter and milk in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Remove from the heat and then stir in powdered sugar, extract, and salt. Mix until smooth and all combined. Spread over warm cake.
  • Decorate the cake with sprinkles, if desired.

Notes

Originally posted on June 13, 2013
Updated on August 18, 2023

Nutrition

Calories: 308kcalCarbohydrates: 47gProtein: 2gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 47mgSodium: 255mgPotassium: 29mgFiber: 1gSugar: 39gVitamin A: 408IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 15mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

About Alyssa Rivers

Alyssa Rivers is the author of 'The Tried and True Cookbook', a professional food photographer and experienced recipe-developer. Having a passion for cooking, her tried and true recipes have been featured on Good Morning America, Today Food, Buzzfeed and more.

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17 Comments

  1. I love sheet cakes.. white or vanilla ANYTHING is my favorite. As for doubling this recipes, I wouldn’t. I’d make 2 separate sheet cakes. I’d spray the bottom of my pan and then line it with parchment paper, and spray that as well.. this recipe sounds delicious.. I’ve used buttermilk or milk with a tablespoon of vinegar or apple cider vinegar .. and had very tastie results 🙂

  2. HI, this looks perfect! Can I make this as a layer cake for my son’s birthday and double it using two layers? I need a frosting that will compliment the cake but also be able to hold an edible topper that is placed on it. My sol will be 6 and I have a Plants vs Zombies colorful topper, just didn’t want to have a plain white cake but one that tastes great as well as looks fun. Any suggestions if this will work? Thank you,

  3. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe.
    My mother used to make a Texas sheet cake, but all I’ve come across
    is chocolate ones. Can’t wait to make this one.

  4. I love sheet cake, but prefer white cake over chocolate, so this look like perfection!! Thanks for posting!