We Texans like to claim all things great and that includes recipes rich in tradition. I’m not sure if this recipe originated by a Texan but I’m claiming this sheet cake because it has southern roots stamped all over the flavor and anything from the south is just “alright, alright, alright” with me. Thanks, Matthew McConaughey, my hometown boy for cloning that catch phrase with his no mistaken southern drawl. My aunt AKA; Mama Dootsie, made this sheet cake for us as kids and to this day, there’s no comparison. This moist, sweet, chocolate sensation has all the makings of an heirloom dessert. All you need is a few basic ingredients, a sheet pan and a pot on top of the stove to whip up the hot chocolate icing you slather on top of the warm cake.

Try to let the cake cool a bit before giving in and cutting a square while it’s hot. Serve with a glass of iced cold milk and reminisce about those warm summer days sitting on the porch, licking your fingers after every bite. No plate or fork needed.

Ingredients:
2 cups sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa
1 tsp. baking soda
1 cup water
½ cup butter, cut into pieces
½ cup shortening
½ cup buttermilk
2 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Directions:
Grease and flour a 15×10-inch jelly-roll pan. Set aside.
Whisk together first 4 ingredients in a large bowl; set aside.
Bring 1 cup water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat; add butter and shortening. Let stand 5 minutes or until butter melts, whisking occasionally. Whisk in buttermilk, eggs and vanilla. Whisk egg mixture into flour mixture until blended. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cake in pan 10 minutes. Spread icing over warm cake.
Chocolate Icing
½ cup butter
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa
1/3 cup milk
1 (16-ounce) package powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans (toasted)
Combine butter, cocoa, and milk in a medium saucepan. Cook over low heat 5 minutes or until butter melts. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Remove from heat; stir in sugar and vanilla. Beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until mixture is smooth and sugar dissolves. Stir in pecans.