Buttermilk Sheet Cake recipe {Uber moist, delicious Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting!} (2024)

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The BEST Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting in a 9×13″ Pan

Is Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting your all-time favorite? Then this fluffy, delicious Buttermilk Cake recipe is right up your alley. This homemade buttermilk sheet cake is made in a 9×13 inch pan making is really simple to make, frost and enjoy.

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This buttermilk cake recipe is a go-to dessert for birthday’s, pot-lucks and parties. Where I grew up, pot luck dinners were a mainstay of our small rural community. It was a chance for the people of your community come together and enjoy a really fantastic meal made by everyone.

A stellar dessert like this yellow cake with chocolate frosting is guaranteed to be a hit at just about any church or community pot luck!

Here’s how this delicious Buttermilk Cake recipe comes together

Four easy steps to making this buttermilk cake recipe

Step 1: Start by creaming together the butter, sugar and eggs. You can use a hand or stand mixer.

Step 2: Combine the dry ingredients in a separate bowl.

Step 3: To the butter mixture, gradually add the dry ingredients, alternating with the buttermilk. The result will be a wonderfully smooth batter.

Step 4: Pour into a prepared 9×13″ pan that has been sprayed with non-stick baking spray. Bake at 350 for 28-33 minutes. Test the cake by inserting a toothpick into the center of the cake. When the toothpick comes out clean and crumb-free, you will know the cake is done.

The cake will be a beautiful, golden brown when baked. Once the cake comes out of the oven let it cool completely to room temperature.

Steps for making the Chocolate Fudge Frosting

Step 1: Start with room temperature butter in the bowl of a hand or stand mixer. Cream the butter with the vanilla and almond extract.

Step 2: In a separate bowl, sift together the powdered sugar and cocoa powder. This will help eliminate any lumps, which you do NOT want in your frosting.

Step 3: Alternate the sugar mixture and a tablespoon of buttermilk until the frosting is smooth and well incorporated.

Step 4: Spread evenly over the cooled buttermilk sheet cake.

This chocolate frosting absolutely takes the cake! It is the ultimate topping for this yellow cake with chocolate frosting.

Buttermilk Sheet Cake FAQ’s:

What does buttermilk do to cake?

Buttermilk is slightly acidic, which helps tenderize the gluten in the cake. The buttermilk will give it a tender, fluffy texture and keep the cake extra moist.

Does buttermilk make cake more moist?

Yes. Adding buttermilk to your cake batter will help it maintain moisture and add a slightly tangy flavor to your cake.

Is buttermilk better than milk for baking?

Buttermilk is more acidic than regular milk. It will help tenderize the gluten, creating a more fluffy cake. It will also add a pleasant, tang to the flavor of your cake recipe.

My buttermilk cake is dry. What did I do wrong?

It could be a couple things. First, don’t overbake. Baking a cake for too long will remove moisture in the cake, making it rather dry. Second, don’t over-beat the batter. This will create air bubbles and displace the moisture in the cake crumb.

This buttermilk cake recipe will appeal to anyone that loves cake, and especially those that love yellow cake with chocolate frosting! Perfect with a glass of milk or a fresh cup of coffee or tea, it is one of those desserts that tops off any great meal.

If you loved this Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting, then check out some of my other cake recipes:

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake
Carrot Bundt Cake
Buttermilk Chocolate Cake
Red Velvet Sheet Cake
Very Cherry Cupcakes
Red Velvet Cake Parfaits
Carrot Cake Sheet Cake
Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Pumpkin Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

These Poke Cake Recipes are also really popular:

Pumpkin Caramel Cream Cheese Poke Cake
Strawberries and Cream Poke Cake at Real Housemoms
Coconut Cream Poke Cake
Chocolate Poke Cake
Red Velvet OREO Poke Cake

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Buttermilk Sheet Cake with Chocolate Fudge Frosting

Erin Indahl-Fink

The perfect dessert for anyone that loves a great yellow cake! This delightfully moist cake is topped with a delicious chocolate fudge frosting for a classic dessert!

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 28 minutes mins

Total Time 48 minutes mins

Course Desserts

Cuisine American

Servings 20 slices

Calories 346 kcal

Equipment

Icing Spatula This 3-piece icing spatula set makes frosting cakes a breeze!
Stand Mixer This KitchenAid Stand Mixer is a must for any cake baker!
9 x 13" Pan This 9 x 13" non stick cake pan comes with a lid for easy cake storage!

Ingredients

3/4 cup butter room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
3 cups cake flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Chocolate Fudge Frosting:

3/4 cup butter room temperature
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
5 Tablespoons buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13" baking pan with non-stick baking spray. Set prepared pan aside.
In a mixing bowl and a stand or hand mixer, beat butter and sugar on low until creamy. Stopping to scrape down the sides, add eggs one at a time. Continue to beat on low until all eggs are incorporated and batter is creamy.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. In a liquid measuring cup, measure out buttermilk. With the mixer on low, begin adding the dry ingredients to the batter, and alternate pouring in the buttermilk in gradual increments. When all ingredients have been mixed, add the vanilla and mix until completely incorporated. Pour batter into the prepared pan and evenly smooth with a spatula. Bake at 350 for 26-28 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean with no crumbs. Let cake cool after baking.

Chocolate Frosting:

In a clean mixing bowl and stand or hand mixer, beat the butter on low. Add in the vanilla and almond extract while creaming the butter. In a small bowl sift together the powdered sugar and cocoa. Gradually add to the butter while beating on low until all is combined, stopping to scrape down sides of the bowl. Add in the buttermilk gradually to the frosting to help create a creamy texture.
Spread frosting over cooled cake. Serve right away or set aside for later. Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Notes

Refrigerate any leftover cake covered in an airtight container. Will keep for up to 5 days.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 346kcalCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 4gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 76mgSodium: 282mgFiber: 1gSugar: 30g

Keyword buttermilk cake 9×13, buttermilk sheet cake, buttermilk cake recipe, yellow cake with chocolate frosting, buttermilk sheet cake recipe

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

This cake really does take me back to the days of potlucks. There was always a fantastic yellow cake, and it was usually gone by the time anyone wanted seconds. I hope you and your family get to enjoy this cake – its a classic that everyone will love!!