Vanilla Texas Sheet Cake is a twist on a classic church potluck recipe, topped with a creamy vanilla frosting and chopped Diamond walnuts.
I don’t want to be disrespectful, but the desserts that the church ladies provide for funerals are the best! There is nothing like a table full of a variety of desserts, all so varying and tempting in their own way. When I am in front of that dessert table, I remember exactly what it felt like to be a kid in a candy shop. So many choices…I want them all!
We were invited to an Easter potluck this year and I quickly remembered the dessert I chose at the most recent funeral I attended. It was a Texas Sheet Cake, but unlike the traditional chocolate Texas Sheet Cake, it was vanilla! It was perfectly sweet and so good, I knew I needed to make it for the potluck we were attending.
I found a recipe that seemed similar to what I had at the funeral on Food.com. I made some simple changes (added vanilla instead of almond extract, slightly reduced the sugar in the frosting and added chopped Diamond Walnuts to half the cake and left the other half plain, so people could make their own choice as to if they wanted nuts on their slice or not). See below for my slightly adapted recipe, but go here to see how the recipe was originally posted.
This is such a great recipe for a crowd because it makes quite a bit…serving up to 20 people. If you have an Easter event coming up and are looking for something simple and delicious to make, I highly recommend giving this Vanilla Texas Sheet Cake recipe a try! Enjoy!
Vanilla Texas Sheet Cake
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter cut into cubes
- 1 cup water
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 eggs beaten
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Bean Paste or vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
For the frosting:
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/4 cup milk
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
- 1 cup chopped Diamond Walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Spray a 15x10 inch baking pan with cooking spray. (I bought this new pan for this cake... so worth it)
- In a large saucepan, bring butter and water to a boil.
- Remove from heat; stir in flour, sugar, eggs, sour cream, vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract, salt and baking soda until smooth. (Batter will be thick)
- Pour into the prepared 15x10 inch baking pan.
- Bake at 375°F for 20-22 minutes, or until cake is golden brown.
- Cool for 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, for the frosting, combine butter and milk in a saucepan; bring to a boil, stirring as to not scorch the milk. Remove from heat. Add sugar and vanilla bean paste or extract and mix well.
- Spread over warm cake, top with chopped walnuts.
Notes
Disclosure: I am honored to be a compensated part of the Diamond Nuts blogger ambassador team. All opinions expressed are my own.
Church potluck food — now you’re speaking my love language!! I need this cake in my life!
I totally agree… now I see why people crash funerals 😉
Looks simply delicious. I can’t wait to try for my next potluck.
Thanks Hillary! Potlucks are the tastiest!
I like the twist on the classic church potluck recipe. The added chopped Diamond Walnuts on top is an excellent touch.
Thanks so much, Jeff 🙂
I love texas sheet cake! They always sold them by the slice at the church fair, and for the spring mass/potluck, it was always one of the first desserts to go!
Ohhhhhh – yum! That’d be one bake sale I’d be buying out, for sure 🙂
What a beautiful looking cake, love potlucks as different dishes from the heart are always the best.
You said it best, Cheri. Everyone always brings their best dishes from the heart to those kind of events. Maybe that’s also why church cookbooks are some of the best… they have all the dishes from the heart in there!
This cake looks so good!
Thank you. Chloe! It was really good!
Church potluck food is the best. Texas Sheet Cake is one of my most favorite desserts ever. I make a vanilla one that I’ve never been completely happy with. I love that you put vanilla bean paste in here!
You should really try this recipe, Katrina. The batter was different, since it was kind of cooked batter. It made for such a moist and delicious cake!
Oh, yeah. This is going in my “must make” file, Kristen! Guess what? I’m ON the funeral food committee at our church. Those ladies KNOW how to cook! It’s a nice way to give a little comfort…even to a family you don’t know. Making this next time.
I do food for new mamas… which in the catholic church seems to be all the time 🙂
You are such a good person!
Yum! I adore cakes like this. I will be taking this to our next potluck!
Thanks, Jenna! I do hope you will give it a try!
I love a good sheet cake! Looks fabulous!
Me too – sheet cake is the best! Hope you are feeling well! It was fun seeing your sweet family in Cooking Light this month, by the way 🙂
The perfect classic cake! Great recipe!
Thanks, Jenny! Classic is always such comfort! Have a great Monday!
For a true Texas cake, shouldn’t it be toppedwith Texas pecans?
You are the Texan, not me 🙂 I have no idea!
Church lady desserts are definitely the best! This cake sounds wonderful!
Thanks Ali – I agree! Love those church ladies!
Thank you for the nice recipe.
Certainly – thanks for reading!
Beautiful cake and I think the vanilla bean paste would make it delish! Recipes from Church cookbooks are usually the best ever ~
Thanks for sharing!
xo
Pat
Vanilla bean paste is one of my favorite things, ever! It really made the vanilla flavor stand out in this!
This is a great recipe. I have made this cake for years, but I used almond extract instead of the vanilla in the cake and icing, too–sliced almonds on top instead of walnuts. Otherwise, the same….one of my most requested cakes at family get togethers. Now, I’ll have to try it with the vanilla and pecans (I’m a Texan!).
The recipe I adapted used almond extract (but I was out!). I love the thought of topping it with sliced almonds though… yum!
This looks sooo yummy, and how perfect for a big gathering! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you!! I love how much it makes and how tasty it is too! I appreciate the comment!
Oh hecks yeah! I’m all about a good ol’ fashioned piece o’ sheet cake. Love it! Pinned.
You are absolutely right about some of the dishes that end up in Church potlucks. This recipe for a white cake is so rich with great ingredients.
There is nothing like a time tested recipe. Thank you for sharing.
I second that – and if ever there was something to pick up people’s spirits at a funeral a good sheet cake is the way to do it! I mean, when I kick it, there better be good food for my friends to share!! And a big ol’ cake like this would be just FINE!!
It contains true and fair information. Your website is very useful.
Love this recipe, Kristen. Great for a large gathering, perfect for Easter! 🙂
I love sheet cakes! Vanilla was always my favorite so I’m excited to try this version!
My mom was requesting a cake similar to this one – I can’t wait to show her this recipe!
c’est super tout ca j’aimerais bien faire des recettes de” pinterest “mais je ne sais pas comment faire la conversion des mesures d’anglais en français quelqu’un peut il m’aider ???? j’ai déjà regarder sur internet mais apparemment ca donne rien quand je convertis, le gâteau est vraiment dégueulasse donc ca doit pas être ça …..
merci
I love sheet cakes!
love this!!!Awesome site!
My Texas sheet cake recipe calls for buttermilk in the cake and frosting. I have a White Texas sheet cake recipe that also calls for buttermilk (instead of your sour cream I guess). This works out great because I now make both and my buttermilk doesn’t go to waste. Family LOVED!! the chocolate but since making white…..it is taking over *~*
Can you use buttermilk instead of sour cream in the batter?