Dr. Pepper Texas Sheet Cake

Dr. Pepper Texas Sheet Cake is a rich chocolate cake made with Dr. Pepper soda. A moist chocolate cake made with cocoa powder and topped with a fudge frosting with pecans! This is a delicious twist to classic Texas sheet cake. 

Dr. Pepper Texas Sheet Cake Recipe

If you love chocolate + cake + Dr. Pepper then this recipe is a must-make! A rich chocolate cake made with cocoa powder, butter, buttermilk, Dr. Pepper soda, and warm spices like cinnamon and cloves and it bakes up in a 9×13 baking pan so it’s perfect for a family dessert. 

The best part is the fudge chocolate frosting that gets poured over the warm cake! The frosting is loaded with chunks of pecans for a nice sweet & salty crunch. 

Ingredients Needed

Here are the ingredients that you will need to make this Dr. Pepper chocolate cake. I also share some tips so that you can have success recreating this recipe in your own kitchen. The list may look long, but most of the ingredients are pantry staple baking supplies that you probably already have on hand. 

• Chocolate Texas Sheet Cake

  • All-Purpose Flour – I prefer using unbleached flour when I bake. 
  • Granulated Sugar
  • Baking Soda
  • Salt – Kosher salt, sea salt, or regular iodized table salt are all great options.
  • Ground Cinnamon
  • Ground Cloves – A warm spice that adds tons of warm, rich flavor. 
  • Butter – I always use salted butter when baking but unsalted butter can be used just as well. 
  • Cocoa Powder – No melting special, expensive chocolate for this recipe. Cocoa powder makes it so easy to make a rich chocolate cake base. 
  • Dr. Pepper – Make sure that this is room temperature before using. No need to refrigerate it before making the recipe. 
  • Large Eggs
  • Buttermilk – The “secret” baking ingredients for soft and moist cakes is buttermilk. Milk can be used just as well, but the buttermilk really provides tons of moisture and soft texture for the cake. 

• Chocolate Fudge Pecan Glaze

  • Powdered Sugar
  • Cocoa Powder – Unsweetened cocoa powder is what you need here. Same as what you use in the cake recipe. 
  • Butter – I prefer using salted butter but unsalted butter can be used instead.
  • Dr. Pepper
  • Whole Milk – It’s best to use whole milk for the higher fat percentage as it provides a creamy texture. I don’t recommend substituting with a lower-fat milk. But if you must, 2% would be the lowest I would recommend. 
  • Chopped Pecans – Don’t skip this! Unless of course you are allergic, then please do 😉 The pecans add such a great salty crunch, and tons of texture, to the soft cake. 

How To Make a Texas Sheet Cake with Dr. Pepper

Learn how to make this recipe with the steps below. Be sure and read to the bottom of the post where there is a printable recipe card, a pin it button so you can save it to Pinterest, and a detailed recipe card with all the ingredients and instructions to make it. 

• Preparation : Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9×13 baking pan with cooking spray and set aside. 
• Chocolate Texas Sheet Cake : Whisk together the dry ingredients for the cake in a large mixing bowl. In a saucepan, over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Add the cocoa powder and Dr. Pepper and whisk until combined and smooth. Heat until the mixture just starts to boil, remove from heat. Pour it into the dry ingredients, along with the eggs and buttermilk, and whisk until combined well. Use a whisk to mix it or a wooden spoon, or silicone spatula. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes. 
• Chocolate Pecan Fudge Frosting : While the cake is baking make the glaze. In a medium bowl, add the powdered sugar, cocoa powder, melted butter, and Dr. Pepper soda, and milk. Stir everything together with a spatula or wooden spoon until mixed well. Stir in the pecans. 
• Cake : Pour the glaze over the warm cake as soon as it comes out of the oven. Serve warm or at room temperature. I like to let the cake sit and cool down for about 1 hour before serving it. That way it’s still slightly warm but the frosting has had some time to set. 

Tips For Success

Here are a few of my helpful tips so that you can have success making this recipe for your own family. 

• Use Dr. Pepper : I know there are other brands out there, like generic store brands or Mr. Pibb, but I highly recommend using Dr. Pepper in this recipe. I think the flavor is much better! Adding the Dr. Pepper gives the cake and glaze a richer flavor.
• Buttermilk : If you don’t have buttermilk, you can use whole milk instead, but I recommend using buttermilk. If you want to make your own, measure out 1/2 cup of whole milk and add 1.5 teaspoons of white vinegar. Let it sit for a few minutes to sour before using it in the recipe. 
• Cake : I like to make a note that this Texas Sheet Cake is supposed to have a denser texture to it, and the cake won’t rise up tall like a traditional chocolate cake does. This is all normal and part of the classic Texas Sheet Cake. 
• Pour Glaze Over Warm Cake : Prepare the glaze while the cake is baking so that you can immediately pour it over the warm cake when it comes out of the oven. 
• Toothpick Test : Be cause you are pouring a glaze over it, you want to make sure that it is fully cooked before pulling the cake out of the oven. Insert a toothpick into the center of the cake. It should come out dry, or with moist crumbs, and if it comes out with wet batter then you need to leave the cake in there longer. 

Do I Serve Texas Sheet Cake Warm or at Room Temperature?

You can serve this Texas sheet cake warm or at room temperature. Both ways are fabulous. I prefer serving it at almost room temperature, about 1-2 hours after I make it. This allows time for the cake to cool slightly and most importantly, it allows time for the fudge glaze to set. 

But eating this cake warm is so delicious as well. The warm, moist chocolate cake and the fudge glaze just melts in your mouth. If you want to be able to cut the cake into nice slices, then you probably want to let it set for a bit before cutting. 

How To Store Leftovers of a Texas Chocolate Sheet Cake

Store any leftovers, at room temperature, in an air-tight container for up to 4 days. 

You can also store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. 

Can I Freeze Texas Sheet Cake?

Yes you can freeze this cake once it’s already baked. Make it according to the instructions and let it come to room temperature. Double wrap the pan in tin foil and freeze for up to 2 months. Let the cake thaw before serving. 

If I am freezing this recipe, I use a disposable aluminum pan when making it. 

More Chocolate Dessert Recipes You’ll Love

• Chocolate Sheet Cake
• Skinny Chocolate Cake
• Easy Chocolate Cherry Cake
• Chocolate Chip Brownies
• M&M Chocolate Cookies
• No Bake Double Chocolate Cream Pie