The Ultimate White Texas Sheet Cake: A Delightful Southern Twist

Prepare to fall in love with a fresh take on a beloved classic: the White Texas Sheet Cake. While the traditional Texas Sheet Cake is famous for its rich chocolate flavor, this white version offers a wonderfully moist, tender vanilla cake base perfectly complemented by a sweet, decadent white buttercream frosting. It’s an incredibly easy-to-make dessert that consistently wins over crowds, making it a perfect choice for potlucks, family gatherings, or simply a comforting treat at home. If you’re looking for a simple yet impressive dessert that everyone will adore, this recipe is an absolute must-try!

Why This White Texas Sheet Cake Will Become Your New Favorite

You don’t need to be from the South to appreciate the charm and deliciousness of a Texas Sheet Cake. It’s a dessert celebrated for its convenience and crowd-pleasing qualities. Growing up, many of us enjoyed the classic chocolate Texas Sheet Cake. This white rendition captures all the qualities we love—simplicity, a moist crumb, and a generous layer of luscious frosting—but with a bright, vanilla-infused flavor profile. It’s truly one of those easy cake recipes that will have everyone asking for seconds. For more delightful treats, check out our other Texas Desserts or try the bite-sized fun of Texas Sheet Cake Bites.

This white sheet cake is the epitome of comfort dessert. It’s simple to whip up, bakes quickly, and yields enough to feed a large gathering. The texture is incredibly tender and moist, thanks to the addition of sour cream, and the warm, pour-over frosting creates a perfectly sealed, rich top layer that melts in your mouth. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or new to the kitchen, this recipe is designed for success and maximum enjoyment.

What Makes White Texas Sheet Cake Different?

The core concept of a Texas Sheet Cake remains the same: a large, thin cake baked in a sheet pan and topped with a warm, pour-over frosting. However, the “white” distinction transforms the entire experience. Instead of the deep, rich cocoa of the traditional version, this cake uses a classic white cake batter, often vanilla-based, creating a lighter, brighter flavor profile. The frosting, too, is a vibrant white buttercream, offering a creamy, sweet contrast to the delicate cake.

You can think of it as the delightful counterpart to its chocolate sibling, much like a blondie is to a brownie. While chocolate offers intensity and depth, the white version brings a subtle elegance and allows the pure flavors of vanilla and butter to shine. The moistness of the cake is still paramount, and the warm frosting creates that signature crackly top layer that makes Texas Sheet Cake so irresistible. Once you try this variation, we’re confident you’ll be hooked on its fabulous and uniquely delicious taste!

Essential Ingredients for Your White Texas Sheet Cake

Gathering your ingredients is the first step to baking this incredible dessert. Most of these are pantry staples, ensuring this cake is as convenient to make as it is delicious. The combination of simple ingredients yields a cake that’s rich in flavor and wonderfully moist.

For the Cake:

• All-purpose flour: The foundation of our cake, providing structure.
• White sugar: For sweetness and a tender crumb.
• Baking soda: Our leavening agent, helping the cake rise beautifully.
• Salt: A pinch enhances all the other flavors.
• Sour cream: The secret to an incredibly moist and tender cake, adding richness and tang.
• Large eggs: For binding and structure.
• Butter: Adds richness and moisture to the cake batter.
• Water: To create the characteristic thin, pourable batter.

For the Frosting:

• Milk: Forms the base of our creamy frosting.
• Butter: Essential for a rich, flavorful, and smooth buttercream.
• Confectioners’ sugar (powdered sugar): Creates the smooth, sweet texture of the frosting.
• Vanilla extract: Adds a classic, aromatic sweetness.
• Chopped walnuts: Optional, but they add a delightful crunch and nutty flavor that complements the sweet cake perfectly. Feel free to omit if you’re not a fan of nuts.

You can find the complete, detailed ingredient list with exact measurements at the bottom of this page in the recipe card.

How to Make White Texas Sheet Cake: Step-by-Step Guide

This recipe is designed for simplicity, making it perfect even for novice bakers. Follow these clear steps to create a show-stopping White Texas Sheet Cake.

• Step 1: Prepare Your Pan and Oven. First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). While the oven is heating, prepare your baking pan. You will need a 10×15-inch jelly roll pan or rimmed baking sheet. Generously grease and flour the pan, ensuring every corner is coated to prevent sticking. This step is crucial for easy removal and a beautifully presented cake.

Step 2: Mix the Dry and Wet Ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, white sugar, baking soda, and salt. Whisk them together until well combined. In a separate bowl, or directly into the dry ingredients, beat in the sour cream and eggs. Mix until just combined; avoid overmixing. Set this mixture aside for a moment.

Step 3: Combine Butter Mixture with Batter. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Once melted, add the water and bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Allow the butter and water mixture to cool slightly (just a minute or two) before carefully stirring it into the sour cream and egg mixture. Mix everything until it’s just well combined and smooth. Do not overmix.

Step 4: Bake the Cake. Pour the prepared batter evenly into your greased and floured baking pan. Spread it gently to ensure it’s level. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. While the cake bakes, move on to preparing the irresistible frosting!

Step 5: Prepare and Frost the Cake. For the frosting: In a large saucepan, combine the milk and ½ cup butter. Bring this mixture to a boil over medium heat, then immediately remove it from the heat. Stir in the confectioners’ sugar and vanilla extract until smooth. If using, gently fold in the chopped walnuts. As soon as the cake comes out of the oven, while it’s still warm, carefully pour and spread the frosting evenly over the entire surface. The warm cake will absorb some of the frosting, creating a truly rich and moist result. Let it cool slightly before serving. Enjoy!

The beauty of this cake is that it’s baked and frosted in the same pan, minimizing cleanup and making it ideal for sharing. The warm frosting seeps into the still-warm cake, creating an incredibly moist texture and a slightly firm, sweet top layer.

How to Store Your Delicious White Texas Sheet Cake

Proper storage ensures your White Texas Sheet Cake remains fresh and delicious for days. Once the cake has completely cooled and the frosting has set, cover the sheet pan tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. This will protect the cake from drying out and keep it fresh.

The cake should keep well at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you live in a warm climate or want to extend its freshness, you can refrigerate the cake. When refrigerating, ensure it is well-covered. However, for the best flavor and texture, it’s important to let refrigerated cake sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes to an hour before serving. This allows the cake and frosting to soften slightly, bringing out their full flavor and moistness.

You can also freeze individual slices or the entire cake (unfrosted is best, but frosted works too if well-wrapped) for longer storage. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and then foil. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before bringing to room temperature to serve.

Expert Tips and Tricks for the Perfect White Texas Sheet Cake

Achieving the perfect White Texas Sheet Cake is easy with a few simple tips:

• Flavor Variations with Extracts: While vanilla extract provides a classic flavor, you can easily substitute almond extract for the vanilla in both the cake and frosting. The delicate almond flavor pairs beautifully with the white cake, offering a subtle yet distinct twist. You could also try a touch of lemon extract for a brighter profile.
• Choosing the Right Pan: Traditionally, this recipe uses a 10×15-inch jelly roll pan or a rimmed baking sheet. This ensures a thinner cake that bakes quickly and is easy to serve. However, if you prefer a thicker cake, you can use a 9×13-inch pan. If opting for a smaller, deeper pan, remember to adjust the baking time to approximately 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Keep an eye on it to prevent overbaking!
• Nut Preferences: Chopped walnuts are an optional but highly recommended addition to the frosting. They add a fantastic crunch and a hint of nutty flavor that complements the sweet buttercream. If you’re not a fan of nuts, feel free to leave them out entirely. If your family has divided preferences, you can always frost half the cake with nuts and leave the other half plain. Other options include pecans or even a sprinkle of toasted coconut for a different texture.
• Make Ahead for Enhanced Flavor: One of the wonderful things about this cake is that it often tastes even better the longer it sits. The flavors meld, and the cake becomes even moister. Because of this, we highly recommend making it at least a day in advance before you plan to serve it. This makes it a fantastic option for parties and holidays, as it reduces last-minute stress.
• Don’t Overmix: When combining the wet and dry ingredients for the cake, mix until just combined. Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour too much, resulting in a tough, dry cake.
• Warm Frosting is Key: Applying the frosting while both the cake and frosting are warm is crucial. The warmth allows the frosting to melt slightly and seep into the cake, creating that signature moist, delicious texture.
• Garnishing Ideas: Beyond nuts, consider garnishing your White Texas Sheet Cake with sprinkles for a festive look, a dusting of shredded coconut, or even a few fresh berries for a pop of color and freshness.

More Easy and Delicious Cake Recipes to Try

If you loved this White Texas Sheet Cake, you’re in for a treat! We have a fantastic collection of easy and delicious cake recipes that are perfect for any occasion. From classic Southern delights to simple bakes, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Expand your baking repertoire with these crowd-pleasers:

• Classic Texas Sheet Cake Recipe: The original chocolate version that started it all!
• Tornado Cake Recipe: A fun and flavorful cake that’s surprisingly simple to make.
• Easy S’Mores Cake Recipe: Bring the campfire favorite indoors with this delightful cake.
• Easy Strawberry Sheet Cake Recipe: A fruity and refreshing sheet cake, perfect for spring and summer.

We hope you thoroughly enjoy making and sharing this delightful White Texas Sheet Cake recipe. It’s a testament to how simple ingredients and straightforward steps can create truly magical desserts. Once you’ve baked this delicious cake, please come back and leave a comment and a star rating to let us know how much you loved it!