Dark Chocolate Sheet Cake with Dark Chocolate Frosting

4.8
(21)

A super rich, not-too-sweet, dark chocolaty sheet cake that's perfect for any party!

close up on a serving of dark chocolate sheet cake, topped with dark chocolate frosting, with remaining behind.
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Prep Time:
30 mins
Cook Time:
25 mins
Additional Time:
1 hr
Total Time:
1 hr 55 mins
Servings:
24
Yield:
1 sheet cake
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 24 servings

Cake:

  • 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 cup dark cocoa powder (such as Hershey's® Special Dark)

  • 2 teaspoons baking soda

  • ½ teaspoon salt

  • 1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar

  • ½ cup white sugar

  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened

  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature

  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

  • 1 cup strong brewed coffee, at room temperature

  • 1 cup buttermilk, at room temperature

Frosting:

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened

  • ¾ cup dark cocoa powder (such as Hershey's® Special Dark), sifted

  • 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder

  • teaspoon salt

  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

  • 3 cups powdered sugar, or to taste

  • 7 tablespoons heavy whipping cream, or as needed

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients.

    all ingredients gathered to make dark chocolate sheet cake with dark chocolate frosting.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 10x15-inch rimmed baking sheet and line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper.

  3. Whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl until thoroughly combined. Set aside.

    Flour, cocoa powder and baking soda whisked together.

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  4. Beat brown sugar, white sugar, and butter together in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.

    brown and white sugar, and butter beaten together, with eggs added one at a time.

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  5. Mix in vanilla extract.

    ingredients mixed until well combined and vanilla added.

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  6. Add in 1/3 of the flour mixture, and mix until just combined.

    1/3 of the flour mixture added and whisked together until combined.

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  7. Add in 1/2 of the coffee and buttermilk, and mix until just combined.

    1/2 of buttermilk and coffee added, mixing until just combined.

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  8. Continue alternating additions of the flour mixture with coffee and buttermilk, mixing just until combined.

    additions of flour, buttermilk and coffee added, mixing until just combined.

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  9. Pour batter into the prepared pan; smooth into an even layer. Tap pan firmly on the counter several times to remove air bubbles.

    batter poured into prepared pan and spread evenly.

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  10. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out with a few moist crumbs, about 25 minutes. Do not overbake. Place cake on a wire rack and allow to cool completely.

    bake until a toothpick comes out clean.

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  11. Meanwhile, make the frosting. Beat butter in a large bowl until completely smooth.

    butter beaten until completely smooth.

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  12. Mix in cocoa powder, espresso powder, and salt until throughly combined. Mix in vanilla.

    cocoa powder, espresso powder, salt and vanilla mixed until combined.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  13. Add in powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition.

    powdered sugar added to mixture one cup at a time, mixing well.

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  14. Pour in heavy cream and beat until frosting is light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. If frosting is too thick, add more heavy cream.

    heavy cream added until frosting is light and fluffy.

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  15. Spread frosting over the cooled cake.

    frosting spread over cooled cake.

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)

286 Calories
15g Fat
39g Carbs
3g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 24
Calories 286
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 15g 19%
Saturated Fat 9g 45%
Cholesterol 52mg 17%
Sodium 190mg 8%
Total Carbohydrate 39g 14%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Total Sugars 29g
Protein 3g 7%
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 38mg 3%
Iron 1mg 8%
Potassium 153mg 3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.