Indulge in a delightful twist on a classic dessert with our incredibly simple and utterly delicious Texas Sheet Cake Cookies. Made effortlessly with a chocolate cake mix and crowned with a luscious, rich chocolate icing, these cookies capture all the beloved flavors of the iconic Texas Sheet Cake in a convenient, bite-sized form. Perfect for any occasion, from casual family gatherings to elegant potlucks, these cookies are guaranteed to become a new favorite among chocolate lovers seeking a quick yet impressive treat.
Discover the Magic of Texas Sheet Cake Cookies
Are you ready to dive into the wonderful world of cake mix cookies? We certainly are! There’s an undeniable joy in transforming a simple boxed cake mix into an array of creative and delicious desserts that extend far beyond just cakes. This recipe for Texas Sheet Cake Cookies is a prime example of how versatile and convenient a cake mix can be, offering a shortcut to gourmet-tasting treats without the extensive prep time.
Our inspiration for these cookies stemmed from a delightful pantry clean-out (a task many of us know all too well!). Discovering several chocolate cake mixes that needed to be used, we embarked on a baking adventure. After creating a batch of devil’s food cake mix cookies, the idea sparked: why not channel the iconic flavors of a Texas Sheet Cake into a cookie? The result? These incredibly soft, moist, and intensely chocolatey cookies that perfectly encapsulate the essence of their cake namesake. It’s clear to see why we’re on a roll with cake mix cookies; they consistently deliver a soft, chewy texture and an unbeatable flavor profile that makes baking a breeze.
Texas Sheet Cake Cookies offer a unique experience. Unlike traditional cookies, they boast a fudgy, cake-like consistency that melts in your mouth, perfectly complemented by a pourable, glossy chocolate icing. This combination creates a harmonious blend of textures and an explosion of rich chocolate flavor that will satisfy even the most discerning sweet tooth. Their ease of preparation makes them an ideal choice for busy bakers or anyone looking for a comforting dessert without the fuss.
Essential Ingredients for Your Texas Sheet Cake Cookies
Crafting these extraordinary cookies requires only a handful of readily available ingredients, making them a fantastic last-minute dessert option. We’ll break down both the cookie dough and the decadent chocolate frosting components. The precise measurements and step-by-step instructions can be found in the comprehensive recipe section below, but here’s an overview of what you’ll need to gather:
Cookie Ingredients
- Chocolate Cake Mix: The star of our show! Any standard 15.25 oz box of chocolate-flavored cake mix will work beautifully. Whether it’s a devil’s food, milk chocolate, or dark chocolate variety, each will lend its own unique depth of flavor to the cookies.
- Vegetable Oil: This crucial ingredient contributes to the cookies’ incredibly moist and tender texture, ensuring they stay soft long after baking.
- Eggs: Acting as a binding agent, eggs help create the perfect structure and richness, giving the cookies their characteristic fudgy consistency.
Chocolate Frosting Ingredients
- Unsalted Butter: The foundation of our silky smooth frosting. Using unsalted butter allows you to control the salt content in the recipe. Ensure it’s at room temperature for optimal mixing.
- Cocoa Powder: Provides the deep, rich chocolate flavor that defines Texas Sheet Cake icing. High-quality cocoa powder will make a noticeable difference in the final taste.
- Milk: Helps achieve the perfect pourable consistency for the frosting, allowing it to coat each cookie beautifully. Any type of milk (dairy or non-dairy) can be used.
- Powdered Sugar (Confectioners’ Sugar): Essential for the smooth, melt-in-your-mouth texture of the icing. It dissolves easily, preventing any grainy consistency.
Optional Add-Ins to Elevate Your Cookies: Feel free to customize your Texas Sheet Cake Cookies! Consider folding in chopped pecans or walnuts for a delightful crunch, adding a handful of mini chocolate chips for an extra chocolate boost, or sprinkling with festive sprinkles for a pop of color, especially for special occasions.
Essential Equipment for Baking Success
Having the right tools can make your baking experience even smoother and more enjoyable. While many of these items are kitchen staples, a quick check ensures you’re fully prepared to whip up these delicious cookies:
- Large Mixing Bowl: Crucial for easily combining the cookie dough ingredients without spills or mess. A spacious bowl allows for thorough mixing.
- Small Saucepan: You’ll need this for preparing the rich chocolate icing. Its size is perfect for melting butter and whisking in other ingredients.
- Cookie Scoop: This is highly recommended! Since the cookie dough will be quite thick, a cookie scoop ensures uniform cookies in size and shape, leading to even baking. A medium-sized scoop works best.
- Baking Sheets with Sides: Essential for baking your cookies. Baking sheets with raised edges are particularly helpful, preventing cookies from sliding off and containing any potential drips.
- Parchment Paper or Silicone Baking Mats: Line your baking sheets with either parchment paper or reusable silicone mats to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
- Whisk: An indispensable tool for achieving a smooth, lump-free chocolate icing.
- Cooling Rack: Allows air to circulate around the cookies, cooling them evenly and preventing them from becoming soggy on the bottom, especially after icing.
How to Make Irresistible Texas Sheet Cake Cookies
Creating these delightful cookies is a straightforward process, broken down into two main parts: preparing the cookie dough and making the signature chocolate icing. With a total preparation and cook time of approximately 28 minutes, yielding about 21 cookies, you’ll be enjoying these treats in no time!
Preparing the Cookies
- Preheat Your Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures your oven is at the correct temperature for even baking. Line your baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- Combine Cookie Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the entire box of chocolate cake mix, vegetable oil, and eggs. You can whisk the eggs separately first to ensure they are well incorporated. Mix these ingredients thoroughly until a thick, cohesive dough forms. The dough will be dense and sticky – this is exactly what you want for a cake-like cookie!
- Scoop and Bake: Using a medium-sized cookie scoop, drop even balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches of space between each cookie to allow for spreading.
- Bake to Perfection: Bake for approximately 7-8 minutes. Keep a close eye on them; it’s crucial not to overbake! The cookies should look set but still appear soft in the center. They will firm up slightly as they cool.
- Cool on a Wire Rack: Once baked, remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. This step is important before icing.
Crafting the Signature Chocolate Icing
The pourable chocolate icing is what truly transforms these cookies into Texas Sheet Cake marvels. Its rich flavor and glossy finish are simply irresistible.
- Melt and Whisk: In a small saucepan, combine the room temperature butter, cocoa powder, and milk. Place the saucepan over medium heat and whisk continuously until all the ingredients have melted together into a smooth, liquid mixture. Ensure there are no lumps of cocoa powder.
- Achieve Smoothness: Remove the saucepan from the heat. Gradually add the powdered sugar, whisking vigorously until the icing is completely smooth and free of any lumps. The consistency should be pourable, similar to a glaze.
- Pour and Spread: While the cookies are cooling on the wire rack (preferably placed over a parchment-lined pan to catch drips), carefully pour the warm chocolate icing over each cookie. Use the back of a spoon to gently spread the icing to the edges, ensuring each cookie is generously coated.
- Allow to Set: Let the frosted cookies sit undisturbed on the cooling rack until the icing has cooled and set, which usually takes about 15-30 minutes. This creates that characteristic thin, crackly crust on top.
Preparation and Storage Tips
These Texas Sheet Cake Cookies are not only delicious but also incredibly convenient when it comes to preparation and storage. Here’s how to manage them efficiently:
Make Ahead: Planning to bake later? No problem! The cookie dough can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance. Simply cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or transfer the dough to an airtight container and refrigerate until you’re ready to bake. This allows you to streamline your baking process, especially when entertaining.
Storage: Once baked and frosted, your leftover Texas Sheet Cake Cookies can be stored at room temperature. Place them in an airtight container to maintain their freshness and soft texture. They are best enjoyed within three days. For longer enjoyment, consider refrigerating them, which can extend their freshness for up to a week.
Freezing (Baked or Unbaked): These cookies are excellent candidates for freezing, whether in dough form or after baking. Unbaked cookie dough can be scooped into balls, placed on a parchment-lined tray, flash-frozen until solid, then transferred to a freezer-safe bag or container. This way, you can bake fresh cookies whenever a craving strikes. The dough will remain good for about three months. For baked leftovers, ensure they are completely cooled before freezing in an airtight, freezer-safe container, such as a Ziploc bag. They will maintain their quality for about three months.
How to Reheat/Thaw: When you’re ready to enjoy frozen cookie dough or baked cookies, simply thaw them overnight in your refrigerator or for a few hours on your kitchen countertop until they reach room temperature. Baked cookies can also be gently warmed in a microwave for a few seconds to restore a just-baked warmth and softness.
Creative Recipe Variations to Explore
One of the best aspects of this Texas Sheet Cake Cookie recipe is its adaptability. You can easily tweak it to suit various dietary preferences or to simply add your own unique spin:
Substitutions: While we’ve used standard chocolate cake mix, we’ve found that devil’s food cake mix works equally well, offering an even deeper, richer chocolate flavor. Experiment with different chocolate cake mix varieties to find your favorite!
Vegetarian Option: Good news for vegetarians – this Texas Sheet Cake Cookie recipe is inherently vegetarian-friendly, requiring no modifications.
Vegan Option: To make these cookies vegan, you’ll need to make a few simple swaps. Most boxed cake mixes are surprisingly vegan-friendly, but always double-check the ingredient list to ensure there’s no hidden dairy. Replace the eggs with your preferred plant-based egg substitute (such as flax eggs or commercial egg replacers) and use a plant-based milk alternative (like almond or oat milk) for both the cookies and the frosting. For the frosting, substitute the butter with a high-quality plant-based butter alternative.
Gluten-Free: Easily adapt this recipe for those with gluten sensitivities by opting for a gluten-free chocolate cake mix. Ensure all other ingredients are also certified gluten-free.
Smaller or Larger Serving Size: Our recipe, using a standard 15.25 oz box of chocolate cake mix, yields approximately 21 delicious cookies. If you need fewer for a small treat or more for a crowd, simply scale the recipe up or down accordingly. For a larger batch, consider using two boxes of cake mix and doubling all other ingredients.
Make it Spicy: For an adventurous flavor twist, add a pinch of chili powder or a tiny dash of cayenne powder to the chocolate cookie dough or even the frosting. Chocolate and a hint of spice are a classic pairing that creates a sophisticated and exciting flavor profile.
Sugar-Free: While the original recipe contains about 22 grams of sugar per serving (this can vary based on your specific ingredients), you can make these cookies sugar-free. Opt for a sugar-free chocolate cake mix and replace the confectioners’ powdered sugar in the icing with a sugar-free powdered sugar substitute. Always check product labels for specific dietary information.
Expert Tips for the Best Texas Sheet Cake Cookies
Achieving bakery-quality Texas Sheet Cake Cookies at home is easier than you think with these helpful tips:
- Room Temperature Butter for Frosting: Ensure your butter for the chocolate frosting is at room temperature. This allows it to melt smoothly and integrate seamlessly with the other ingredients, creating a velvety, lump-free icing.
- Precision in Preheat: Always remember to preheat your oven to the specified 350°F (175°C). A properly preheated oven is key to consistent and even baking, preventing cookies from spreading too much or baking unevenly.
- Whisk Eggs Separately: For easier mixing and a more uniform dough, lightly whisk your eggs in a small bowl before adding them to the cake mix and oil. This helps them incorporate more efficiently into the thick dough.
- Handle Thick Dough Wisely: Don’t be alarmed by the dough’s thick consistency! It’s meant to be that way. Using a sturdy cookie scoop is highly recommended to manage the dense dough and create perfectly portioned, uniform cookie balls.
- Parchment Paper is Your Friend: Always prep your baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats. This prevents the cookies from sticking, promotes even baking, and makes cleanup a breeze. Ensure dough balls are spaced evenly to allow for natural spreading.
- The Golden Rule: Do NOT Overbake! This is perhaps the most crucial tip. These cookies bake quickly, usually in just 7-8 minutes. They should still look soft in the center when removed from the oven. Overbaking will result in dry, hard cookies – more like “iced hockey pucks” than delightful Texas Sheet Cake Cookies. Err on the side of underbaking for a chewier, softer result.
- Icing on a Wire Rack (with Cleanup Plan!): For the cleanest and most efficient icing process, place your cooled cookies on a wire rack that sits over a parchment-lined baking pan. This setup catches any excess melted chocolate icing that drips off the cookies, making cleanup incredibly easy.
- No Judgment for Licking the Spoon (or Parchment!): That delicious excess icing on the parchment paper? It’s too good to waste! Feel free to scoop it up and enjoy a little extra chocolatey goodness – we won’t tell!
What to Serve with Texas Sheet Cake Cookies
Whether it’s a mid-afternoon snack, a post-lunch treat, or the grand finale to a dinner, these rich, indulgent chocolate cookies are always a welcome addition. Here are some pairing suggestions to complement your Texas Sheet Cake Cookies:
Delicious Sides
These savory and delightful sides can precede your sweet cookie treat: Cheddar Bay Sausage Balls, Bacon Candy, Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower, Pizza Monkey Bread, CrockPot Reuben Dip, CrockPot Bourbon Little Smokies, Crockpot Bacon Cheeseburger Dip, CrockPot Cranberry Barbecue Meatballs, Philly Cheesesteak Crescent Braid.
Hearty Main Dishes
Enjoy these satisfying main courses before indulging in your chocolate cookies: KFC Famous Bowl, Corned Beef Shepherd’s Pie, CrockPot Baked Ziti, Funeral Sandwiches, CrockPot Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole, Crockpot Chili Mac & Cheese, Cranberry Turkey Sliders, Wilted Spinach Bacon Pasta, Loaded CrockPot Mashed Potatoes.
More Delectable Desserts
If you’re hosting a dessert spread, these cookies pair beautifully with other sweet treats: 3 Ingredient Marshmallow Fluff Fruit Dip, Starbucks Coffee Meringue Cookies, Potato Chip Cookies, Edible Brownie Batter, Apple Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, Crockpot Peanut Clusters, S’mores Brownies, Fruity Pebbles Treats, 3 Ingredient Oreo Fudge.
Refreshing Drinks
Wash down your cookies with a variety of refreshing beverages: CopyCat Starbucks Frappuccino, Crockpot Hot Chocolate, Coke Slushie, Strawberry Milkshake, Banana Milkshake, Easy Iced Chai Tea Latte, Brazilian Lemonade, Copycat McDonald’s Sweet Tea, Copycat Orange Julius, Copycat Sonic Cherry Limeade.
When to Serve Texas Sheet Cake Cookies
The versatility of Texas Sheet Cake Cookies means there’s almost always a perfect moment to enjoy them. Their crowd-pleasing flavor and easy preparation make them suitable for a wide range of occasions:
- Snack Time: A perfect pick-me-up during the day.
- Lunch & Dinner: An ideal sweet ending to any meal.
- Family Gatherings: Always a hit with both kids and adults.
- Potlucks & Picnics: Easy to transport and universally loved.
- Tailgating Parties: A delightful sweet treat to share with fellow fans.
- Anytime You Need an Easy Cookie Recipe: When you want something homemade and delicious without a lot of effort.
More Irresistible Cookie Recipes to Try
If you enjoyed the simplicity and flavor of these Texas Sheet Cake Cookies, you’ll love exploring other cookie creations. Here are a few more easy and delicious cookie recipes to add to your baking repertoire:
Strawberry Lemonade Cookies
Apple Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies
Pie Crust Cookies
Potato Chip Cookies
Bacon Peanut Butter Cookies
Chocolate Chip Cake Mix Cookies
Don’t forget to check out all of our recipes using chocolate cake mix for more creative ideas!
If you’re a fan of our recipes, you’ll find plenty more to love in our collections of copycat recipes, dessert recipes, and our incredibly convenient Crock Pot Recipes.
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Texas Sheet Cake Cookies Recipe
These easy Texas Sheet Cake Cookies are made effortlessly with a chocolate cake mix and topped with a decadent chocolate icing, delivering all the rich flavors of the classic sheet cake in a convenient cookie form.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Total Time: 28 minutes
- Yields: 21 cookies
- Calories per serving: 220 kcal
- Author: Tammilee Tips
Ingredients
Cookie Ingredients
- 15.25 oz Chocolate cake mix
- 2 Large Eggs
- ⅓ cup Vegetable Oil
Chocolate Icing Ingredients
- ½ cup Unsalted Butter (room temperature)
- 2 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder
- 3 Tablespoons Milk
- 2.5 cups Confectioners Powdered Sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Cookies
- In a large bowl, combine the chocolate cake mix, vegetable oil, and eggs. Mix until a thick, uniform dough forms.
- Using a medium cookie scoop, drop rounded balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving enough space between them for spreading.
- Bake for 7-8 minutes. Do not overbake; cookies should appear soft in the center and will firm up as they cool.
- Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely before icing.
Chocolate Icing
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the room temperature butter, cocoa powder, and milk. Whisk continuously until the mixture has melted together and is smooth.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and gradually whisk in the powdered sugar until the icing is completely smooth and pourable.
- Pour the warm icing over the cooled cookies on the wire rack (placed over a parchment-lined pan to catch drips). Spread gently with a spoon if needed to coat evenly.
- Allow the frosting to cool and set on the cookies before serving.
Kitchen Tools You’ll Need
- Parchment Paper or Silicone Baking Mats
- Baking Sheets
- Medium Cookie Scoop
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Small Saucepan
- Whisk
- Wire Cooling Rack
Nutrition Facts
Amount Per Serving (1 cookie)
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Calories from Fat: 108
- Total Fat: 12g (18% Daily Value)
- Saturated Fat: 6g (38% Daily Value)
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Cholesterol: 27mg (9% Daily Value)
- Sodium: 216mg (9% Daily Value)
- Potassium: 86mg (2% Daily Value)
- Total Carbohydrates: 30g (10% Daily Value)
- Dietary Fiber: 1g (4% Daily Value)
- Total Sugar: 22g (24% Daily Value)
- Protein: 2g (4% Daily Value)
- Vitamin A: 163IU (3% Daily Value)
- Calcium: 38mg (4% Daily Value)
- Iron: 1mg (6% Daily Value)
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.