With their rich chocolate coating and sweet, soft center, these Texas sheet cake cookies are a real treat! It’s the cookie version of the classic bake sale confection!
Texas Sheet Cake Cookies
I’m not originally from Texas, so when I first moved here in college, I had a LOT to learn about the traditions here. And trust me, Texas is a state that is built on tradition!
One such tradition is the food: barbecue, chicken fried steak, pecan pie…think hearty food made from available ingredients that would fuel hard-working ranchers and farmers.
Oh, and it’s all delicious! No wonder these foods stuck around even as fewer Texans live the traditional ranch lifestyle.
Another one of my favorite Texas foods is Texas sheet cake – it’s made with simple ingredients and is a chocolate lover’s dream!
These Texas sheet cake cookies are a handheld version of the classic cake. They’re a fun spin on the traditional recipe, perfect for making at the holidays or for gifting, and they are packed with chocolate flavor!
I love this recipe because it’s fairly easy (chocolate cake mix cookies) but the from-scratch icing makes them taste so incredibly delicious! It tastes like melted chocolate…and it perfectly compliments the fluffy and chewy cookies!
And then of course, we topped them with a pecan in the middle! (Because that is perhaps the most important part of Texas sheet cake!)
Y’all…trust me when I tell you this is my FAVORITE cookie recipe! They are so rich and delicious and incredibly easy to make! Once you try them, I think they will become one of your favorite desserts too!
Related: Love chocolate? Try our Nutella Microwave Fudge too! It’s just as easy as this recipe, and only 3 ingredients!
What is Texas Sheet Cake?
Texas Sheet Cake is one of those things where everyone has their own family recipe, so there is often a bit of controversy when it comes to the “right” way to make it.
However, there are a few key features to pretty much every Texas Sheet Cake recipe:
- Large flat chocolate cake (a sheet cake, as the name implies)
- Rich chocolate icing (the richer the better!)
- Pecans (we love pecans in Texas!)
Sounds delicious right? There’s a reason that Texas sheet cake is so popular!
Related: Be sure to try our Root Beer Float Cookies too and our Peanut Butter Texas Sheet Cake Cookies too!
Why I Love this Recipe
- Easy to make, with only a few ingredients. You probably already have them in your kitchen!
- The pecan makes them as pretty as they are tasty!
- No mixer needed! Just whisk and bake!
Ingredients
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For the Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies:
- 1 box milk chocolate cake mix (your favorite cake mix)
- 2 large eggs
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
For the Chocolate Icing:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
- 2 Tablespoon cocoa powder (this is our favorite kind…SO rich and chocolate-y)
- 3 Tablespoon whole milk
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- Pecan halves (one for each cookie)
Kitchen Supplies Used:
- Cookie sheet
- Wire cooling rack
- Non-stick silicone baking mats
- Medium cookie scooper
- Saucepan
- Wire whisk
- Measuring cups and spoons
How to Make Texas Sheet Cake Cookies
This recipe makes 18-24 cookies, depending on how large you make the dough balls. Our last batch yielded 19 cookies, using a generous 1 Tablespoon of batter for each.
To Make the Chocolate Cookies:
Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare two cookie sheets with parchment paper or non-stick silicone baking mats. (We love these mats because you can wash them and reuse them and cookies slide right off them!)
In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix, eggs and oil until you have a smooth batter. A stand mixer is not necessary — stirring with a large wooden spoon or wire whisk will work just fine.
Use a cookie scooper or spoon to create balls of cookie dough (about 1TB in size) and place on your prepared baking sheet, 2 inches apart from each other.
Bake for 8-10 minutes (you’ll want them to be a touch soft in the middle), then remove from oven and transfer to a wire cooling rack.
Chocolate Frosting Instructions:
Combine the butter, cocoa powder and whole milk in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk together until smooth.
Remove pan from heat and slowly whisk in the powdered sugar until incorporated completely.
Slide a cookie sheet under the wire rack where your cookies are resting (this will catch excess icing). Pour icing over your cookies slowly to coat them.
While the icing is still wet, gently press a pecan half in the center of each cookie.
Allow icing to set before serving or storing.
Prep Tips
- When making the frosting, keep it warm until all cookies are coated. This frosting will start to harden as soon as it cools, and once it does, it cannot be re-heated.
- Pecans are a key ingredient in Texas sheet cake, but if you don’t like nuts (or allergies are a concern), you can omit them. This is an excellent chocolate cookie recipe all in its own!
- There is no specific type of chocolate cake mix you need to use. If you have a box in your pantry, you can use it!
- Most box cake directions will call for water, in addition to the eggs and oil. Follow our recipe directions instead, which omit the water (we did that on purpose for thick, fluffy cookies!)
- If you love the cookies, be sure to try our extra thick and fluffy Texas Sheet Cake and our Chocolate Peanut Butter Texas Sheet Cake too!
Grab a free printable copy of our Texas Sheet Cake Cookies Recipe:
If you like this recipe, please rate it! We’d also love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
Texas Sheet Cake Cookies (Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies with Fudge Icing)
Ingredients
Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies Ingredients
- 1 box Chocolate Cake Mix
- 2 Eggs
- 1/3 cup Canola Oil
Icing Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoon Cocoa Powder
- 1/2 cup Unsalted Sweet Cream Butter
- 3 Tablespoon Whole Milk
- 2 cups Powdered Sugar
- Pecan Halves (1 for each cookie)
Instructions
Chocolate Cake Mix Cookie Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line two cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix, eggs and oil until combined and smooth.
- Scoop out dough balls (1TB each) and place them onto the cookie sheet about 2 inches apart from each other.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool for a few minutes before transferring cookies to a wire cooling rack.
Icing Directions
- Using a medium saucepan, combine the butter, cocoa powder and whole milk over medium heat.
- Whisk together until combined and smooth.
- Remove from the heat and slowly whisk in the powdered sugar until smooth.
- Place a cookie sheet under the wire rack to catch excess chocolate.
- Scoop out a spoonful of icing and pour over the cookies.
- While icing is still wet, press a pecan half on top of each cookie.
- Allow the icing to harden before enjoying.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Pin this Texas Sheet Cake Cookies Recipe on Pinterest:
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mary says
Not sure a cake mix has enough cocoa in it…also needs a touch of cinnamon…
Alyssa says
I don’t mind a cake mix recipe- fast and easy is fine by me, but I was a little disappointed to see no cinnamon too. That’s what makes a Texas sheet cake not just chocolate cake to me. I’m sure you could add it (and these look delicious as is too), but I’m afraid they wouldn’t turn out like I was hoping when I saw the name.
Debra says
Ohh! Cinnamon would have been great! I added espresso powder to both the mix and the icing. These came out deeeelicious!!
Marcia says
Yum, I made these yesterday. Also added espresso powder to the icing.
Today I am trying an eggnog version, hope they are good
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Oh fun!! I’d love your recipe for the eggnog cookies!
Kathy says
It took all of 40 minutes to make these yummy cookies!
Marilyn says
I am always suspect of “recipes” that use a mix. Why not just make a cake for real?
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
I like using cake mix for cookies from time to time because the result is super fluffy…and it’s easy!
Kathleen Peterson says
I don’t do gluten anymore, but don’t want to impose GF desserts on friends at pot lucks or parties, so love to start with cake mixes for treats, then add stuff – rather than waste flour I won’t end up using in time.
Twila says
These cookies can also be made into homemade Oreos by frosting the flat side of one cookie with homemade cream cheese frosting and topping with another cookie.
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
That sounds AMAZING and SO decadent! Will have to try!
Penny says
Can these cookies be frozen?
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Sure! Just be sure to keep in a freezer-safe bag or container. I’d imagine they’d last a couple weeks frozen.
Liz Sanders says
Your printable Texas Sheet cake cookie recipe is incorrect. You have the sweet cream butter listed as the cookie ingredient and the icing has no butter. Just thought you might want to know.
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Thanks for pointing that out – I updated the printable recipe!
Kathleen Cooper says
delicious and sooooo chocolatety not good for dieters,but one won’t hurt you, it’s the other two or three that get to yoy…hahahaha….
Jan in Texas says
I was wondering if you have ever tried making these cookies from scratch instead of using a box mix? If so, how did it turn out, comparing the two?
Linda Kelley says
Love this. Thank you.
Candice Murray says
These are divine!!! So perfect and fluffy, really a Texas sheet cake in cookie form. Love these! Cake mix is super easy, I used Devil’s food and didn’t add cinnamon that some sheet cakes call for. Didn’t miss it. Bestie is allergic. Thanks for sharing!
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
I’m so glad you loved them! Thank you for letting me know 🙂
Pat O says
Could these be made into brownies using one of the sheet pans instead of cookies?
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Hi Pat – Since it’s a cake mix, I’m sure it would work if you did them in a pan. However, the cooking time would be different. I’d follow the cooking times on the back of the cake mix box and keep a close eye on them.
Julie says
My daughter sent me this recipe and asked me to make them…I’ve made them 4 times now in the past month! They are SO good and SO easy! Thanks for sharing
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
I’m so glad that you love them! They’re addicting! 🙂
Darlene says
I put sour cream in my cake. Has anyone tried the cake mix with it ?
Heidi says
These are delicious!!! Easy to make and will satisfy anyones sweet tooth via death by chocloate. Have made twice within a weeks time.
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
So glad you loved our Texas Sheet Cake Cookies! Thank you for letting us know!
Lisa says
I was wondering what the serving size is in the nutritional content.
Thank you.
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Hi Lisa, for our calculation, the serving size is 1/16th of the recipe. Depending on how large you make the cookies, that could be for one cookie or two. Keep in mind that the calorie count includes every bit of the ingredients, but when icing the cookies, some of the icing drips onto the pan or may be unused. So calorie count may actually be slightly lower.
Elle says
So it’s easy to add cinnamon to a recipe. You just…add it. Thank you for the recipe. These are delicious!
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
So glad you liked them! And I couldn’t have said it better myself…if you like cinnamon…add it! 🙂
Mary Lovelady says
I added cinnamon and these are the best cookies!!!!! Thank you for the recipe!!!!
Patti says
Is the serving size ONE cookie?
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
The serving size in our calculation is 1/16th of the recipe, so depending on how large you make the cookies, that could be for one cookie. Keep in mind that the calorie count includes every bit of the ingredients, but when icing the cookies, some of the icing drips onto the pan or may be unused. So calorie count may actually be lower. In any case, they are a treat for sure! Not a health food 😉
Sue Klein says
This sounds so good and I love Texas sheet cake so I’m sure I’ll love these. Have you tried using a dark chocolate mix? Dark chocolate is popular in our family. Thanks!
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
I haven’t tried dark chocolate cake mix yet, but I bet it would be delicious! Let me know if you do!
Donna Cornelsen says
Thank you for sharing this cookie recipie it looks yummy!!! I must say it is a real gift when someone shares a special treat from there heart for free!!!
However I must say I am sorry for those that felt the need to respond in a negative comment,as a retired teacher if I had a penny for every time I said “keep your hands to your self or keep your comments to yourself or better yet if you can’t say something nice don’t say anything at all”. I would be living like a movie star! I will be trying this cookie recipe and my comment to you is Thank you for taking time out of your day to give from your heart and keep sharing and know that you made someone’s day by being a give!!!
Your friend
Donna Cornelsen
From Oklahoma
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Hi Donna – thank you so much for your kind comment! I agree that the motto “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all” is a good one to live by, but with the internet it’s easy to comment anonymously and sometimes people forget their manners 😉 Thank you again for stopping by and taking the time to make my day!
Andi says
I would absolutely love to make this recipe and read your blog however, it is impossible to do so with all of the advertisements and videos popping up across the screen. You close out a video, strat reading again and another one pops back up blocking the view. Even as I type this comment, I am having to close out ads so that I can see what I’m typing. I remember when reading food blogs was an enjoyable experience. Thoae days are gone.
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Hi Andi – I do have one video pop-up that shows the recipe being made, as many readers find video tutorials helpful. However, it should not re-open once closed and there should not be multiple pop-up ads. I do make an effort to balance making a living with reader experience and appreciate feedback. If you’d like to send a screenshot of the pop-ups you’re referring to, my email is staceygarska @ gmail .com (you’ll have to remove the spaces – if I paste my email address all together I’ll get spammed by a bunch of bots!)
Linda says
The instructions on my cake mix are different. It cals for 3 eggs milk and oil. Should I still just follow your recipe amounts?
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
In this case, follow the amounts listed on our recipe card. Hope this helps!
Bev says
About how many cookies will this make?
Kara says
Absolutely delicious!!! I did use a dark chocolate cake mix as my grocery store didn’t have milk chocolate cake mixes available. I’m making these for a Christmas party tonight but had to eat one ( just to make sure they are good). It’s going to be really hard not to eat another. Thank you so much for this recipe.
Johanna Jack says
Can’t wait to try this recipe. I might put the pecans in my frosting or both! My sheet cake had them in the frosting.
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Yes, I’ve always had traditional sheet cake with the pecans in the frosting too 🙂 I think it would be delicious with our cookies!
Kim says
Omg, these reminded my of my sweet Nana who always make me a Texas Sheet Cake for my birthday. These were wonderful and will be in rotation at my house. I’m linking this recipe in my Facebook group Lolli Did It!
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
I’m so glad that you loved them! I love recipe that remind me of my grandmothers too 🙂
DSWBoston says
2nd time making these! This time added a hint of mint extract to frosting and sprinkled crushed candy cane on top!
Heather C. says
Just made these with my daughter, and was informed that I need to make them every day. Feels aggressive, but I can’t blame her…they are delicious! Thank you for sharing the recipe!
Samantha Walton says
I made this recipe and my cookies turned out very flat. What did I miss?
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Flat isn’t necessarily a bad thing as long as they taste yummy! A couple things that could affect the consistency: the type/brand of cake mix used and if it is near or past it’s expiration date. The type of size of eggs could also have an effect, as could altitude.
JeNeé Chinn says
Thank you so much for this recipe! I am gearing up to make my 3rd batch of these cookies for my son’s grad party. They are fantastic and my dad who has Alzheimer’s and can’t taste a lot absolutely LOVED how chocolatey these were and indulged in these yummies. These cookies are now one of my favorite recipes.
I appreciate a quickie cake mix short cut for those times I don’t have time or don’t want to make the effort to make a yummy treat.
Again, thanks for your willingness to share this and make an elderly man and his daughter smile and have a sweet memory to cherish.
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
I’m so glad that these are a new favorite for your family and your dad! Alzheimer’s is awful 🙁 my Grandad had it too. I hope that you two get many more years to make your memories together!
Beth says
Loved the chocolate cookies just as your recipe stated. They were delicious. Later I made them for a girls birthday. To make pink I used strawberry cake mix for cookies then left off cocoa and added red food coloring and strawberry extract for icing. Also delicious
Celeste says
I read somewhere that one cake mix worked better than the other. But I don’t remember which one.
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
I think most cake mixes should work well – it may just be personal preference on taste 🙂
Peggy hoeft says
I don’t know why people are against usIng a cake mix. They sound delicious and easy, I can’t wait to make them. Anything that saves extra steps gets my vote!!
Julie says
These cookies are amazing! My daughter asks for them for every occasion she has – bachelorette party, baby shower, birthday! Lol so easy and delicious!
John Ravi says
Hi Stacey,
What an amazing recipe! I am a chocolate lover, and anything containing chocolate becomes my instant favorite. These cookies look so appetizing that just by looking at them, I want to eat them all. My mom used to make dark chocolate chip cookies for me when I was young, and you certainly reminded me of all the happy memories I had of that time. Thanks a lot for sharing this recipe, I have bookmarked it, and I will make it with my mom the next time she visit me.
Rebecca says
Just made these, and they are delicious!
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Yay! Thanks for letting me know!
Bailey says
Such a simple recipe! They are cheap to make, super fast to complete and make so many cookies! Oh and so delicious!
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
I love them too!!
Marg says
These are the best easy cookies. The original recipe without the frosting was on the Duncan Heinz cake mix box In the 60’s. The frosting makes them extra special.
Grandkids love making and eating them.
Mizagorn says
Not the most exquisite cookies you will ever make, but 5 stars for quick and easy, along with adaptability. And because the results were as I expected after going through the (very, very, very, very long, ad-filled ocean of content). Thankfully there is a “print recipe” option on this site!
I was jonesing for some cookies, didn’t have any, so I made these sheet cake cookies real quick. I had added this to my Facebook saves a while back, but I have no idea how originally posted it.
The recipe is quite easy. I used yellow cake mix instead of chocolate to balance it out, and sprinkled some already available chopped nuts over the frosting before sticking the pecan halves in the middle of each one. My kids aren’t big cookie eaters, but they loved them as much as I did. 😍
Wish I could post a picture! 😁 The recipe made 20 cookies for me. The cleanup was much longer than the creation, and let me tell you that the consumption was even shorter than the creation lol.
Thanks for the post, Soccer Mom.