Serves a Crowd

Texas Chocolate Cake

by:
September 23, 2011
0
0 Ratings
Photo by sdebrango
  • Makes One 9x13 cake
Author Notes

My mother recently sent me an envelope full of her recipes. This chocolate cake as I remember is so wonderful, Very intense chocolate flavor, moist and fudgy. The icing is poured onto the cake while its still hot. It's so good and I remember this being one my favorites when I was a child. My Mother used margerine which I am including in the list of ingredients feel free to use butter instead. I decided to use Hershey's cocoa powder which is what my Mother used but you can use whatever you like, however after baking it I recommend a higher quality cocoa for a stronger chocolate flavor.
I don't know why its called Texas chocolate cake neither does my Mother, I don't even know how old this recipe is or where my Mother got it all I know is that its really good. I think this would be great with Nancy Silvertons genius whipped cream.
NOTE: I just made it with butter and it turned out perfectly. —sdebrango

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Ingredients
  • The cake
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 sticks salted butter or margarine
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/4 cup
    2 tablespoons good quality unsweetened cocoa


  • 2 large eggs lightly beaten
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • pinch of salt
  • Frosting
  • 1 stick butter or margarine
  • 1/4 cup
    2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa


  • 1/4 cup
    2 tablespoons milk or cream


  • 1 box confectioners sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
  1. The cake
  2. In large mixing bowl whisk together the flour and sugar and salt, set aside. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour (to optimize chocolate flavor instead of flour use cocoa powder) a 9x13 baking dish.
  3. In saucepan combine butter, cocoa and water. Bring to a boil stirring frequently. When it comes to a boil and is smooth turn off heat.
  4. Lightly beat your eggs in small mixing bowl, measure your buttermilk and add the baking soda to the buttermilk and stir to combine. Add this to the eggs along with the vanilla. Add the egg buttermilk mixture to the dry ingredients along with the butter and cocoa,water mixture. Mix with hand held mixer until smooth approximately 2 minutes. Pour into prepared cake pan and bake 30-35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean. A few minutes before the cake is done start making the frosting. You pour the frosting on the cake right after it comes out of the oven.
  1. Frosting
  2. In saucepan on med/high heat add the butter, cocoa and milk,whisking to combine let it come to a boil then remove from heat and add confectioners sugar and vanilla mix well. Pour over hot cake. Let cool on rack. The frosting will be soft and gooey. Serve while cake is slightly warm or room temperature with whipped cream or ice cream .
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I have loved to cook for as long as I can remember, am self taught learning as I go. I come from a large Italian family and food was at the center of almost every gathering. My grandfather made his own wine and I remember the barrels of wine in the cellar of my grandfathers home, I watched my mother and aunts making homemade pasta and remember how wonderful it was to sit down to a truly amazing dinner. Cooking for me is a way to express myself its my creative outlet. I enjoy making all types of food but especially enjoy baking, I live in Brooklyn, NY, and I share my home with my two dogs Izzy and Nando. I like to collect cookbooks and scour magazines and newspapers for recipes. I hope one day to organize them.

15 Reviews

Shreya September 27, 2016
Hi there
How much sugar in a box of confectioner's sugar?
Thanks
EmilyC May 13, 2013
Made this today with my son -- it's SO good! I accidentally put 1/2 cup + 2 T cocoa in the cake (oops) -- but it didn't suffer. It's super chocolaty and moist and delicious. Will definitely be making this again and again.
EmilyC April 30, 2013
Yum -- can't wait to try this!
aargersi March 24, 2013
Making this again this morning by special request from my brother in law. It is now an official family favorite!!!
Midge March 7, 2013
Sounds like a winner. My mom made a similar-sounding Texas Cake, which I LOVED. Must've been the buttermilk that gave it a nice tang.
Bethcooks March 6, 2013
I've been making this cake for years,it NEVER gets old! Best part is its made with pantry ingredients!
lapadia March 6, 2013
YUM!
lapadia March 6, 2013
What's a feast w/o a Texas size dessert, and chocolate too!
aargersi October 22, 2012
I made this for my mother-in-law's birthday party yesterday. Everyone LOVED it - especially my brother in law who laid claim to the little leftover bit and made it quite clear that I should make another one, and soon. A big hit!!!!
TheWimpyVegetarian January 6, 2012
Hi sdebrango! This looks like the perfect cake for my grandson's birthday party tomorrow night. Quick question, how big a box of confectioners sugar? I have a bag of it, so not sure how much to use?
inthekitchen September 29, 2011
I got this recipe while living in TEXAS. Only difference (and it makes it even better) is to add 1 tsp. cinnamon.
wssmom September 26, 2011
omg my mother has a very similar recipe; brings me back to the childhood!!!
aargersi September 24, 2011
YUM! Maybe because it's 9x13? Big as Texas? Sounds wonderful.
drbabs September 24, 2011
yum. i love all things chocolate.
inpatskitchen September 24, 2011
Oh wow!! And with whipped cream? I'm ready to try baking again! Thanks for sharing a bit of your mom with us...