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Cherry Chip Texas Sheet Cake

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A simple but delicious sheet cherry chip Texas style sheet cake is the perfect way to feed a crowd. It will be a hit at your next party, potluck or BBQ.

piece of cherry chocolate chip Texas sheet cake with white icing and chocolate chips on top.

Sheet cakes are the perfect way to feed a crowd.  The batter comes together so easily and you melt the butter, so there’s no need to think ahead to let ingredients come to room temperature. 

Plus the icing is dump and spread, no piping for fanciness.  Despite being easy, they are not short on taste and this cherry chip one is superb.

Bright red cherries, a bit of vanilla almond goodness and a sprinkling of mini chips for a fun and chocolaty finish

According to the calendar, we should be getting warmer weather.  After three straight Sundays of snow, who knows what Mother Nature might do to us next.

In fact I broke a sweat in a t-shirt and got a sunburn on Thursday just to have to bundle up to run out this morning… so deciding what to wear each day is a bit like rolling the dice.

chopped cherries and knife on cutting board with measuring cup of cherry juice.

But when warm weather does come and bless us on a weekend, we are sure to have some burgers on the grill and hopefully some friends over. It has been too long!

I love making sheet cakes for occasions like that because they are so easy to make and are perfect for feeding a crowd.

I suppose I get my love for Texas style sheet cakes honestly.  My grandma made the original Texas sheet cake quite frequently when I was a child.

MiMi makes great flavor combinations as well.  Her chocolate chip cookie dough sheet cake and Arnold Palmer sheet cakes were both original recipe creations that were very popular with our family and readers alike!

pouring white icing over cherry cake.

I had a jar of maraschino cherries calling my name and I was in the mood for making a cake. I know, big surprise!

So the wheels got to turning and this cake was born.  It is the perfect mix of cherry, vanilla, almond and chocolate.  The cake has a nice subtle cherry flavor and is dotted with bits of fruity goodness.

The icing adds that bit of sweet creamy goodness you’d find in a cherry chip ice cream or chocolate covered cherry.  The hint of almond pairs so nicely with the cherry and vanilla as well.

I know a few of you are not almond extract fans and that is fine.  You could always leave it out or add a touch more vanilla if you’d like.

The mini chips are a fun way to add a touch of chocolate, plus they make the visual presentation so much more fun.  They add a little bit of texture to each bite as well.

corner of sheet cake with icing and chocolate chips.

Surprisingly after seeing me work on the cake, my husband was pretty excited to try a bite.  So much so that he actually saved room for a slice rather than going back for more meat and potatoes.

It was an uncharacteristic move, but one he seemed to think was the right call. 

He happily enjoyed his slice, remarking that he thought the flavors were nice and it wasn’t too sweet as he thinks cakes sometimes are.

So next time you are looking for a simple sweet to serve at a party, potluck or get together, you should definitely consider this cake. 

In fact, maybe you should plan one just as an excuse to make the cake!  Break out the sheet pan and get baking!

piece of cherry chocolate chip Texas sheet cake with white icing and chocolate chips on top.

Cherry Chip Texas Sheet Cake

Carlee
A simple but delicious sheet cherry chip Texas style sheet cake is the perfect way to feed a crowd. It will be a hit at your next party, potluck or BBQ.
4.88 from 8 ratings
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 24 Servings
Calories 335 kcal

Ingredients
 

Cherry Sheet Cake

  • 1 cup butter
  • 10 ounce jar maraschino cherries
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 2 large eggs

Icing

  • ½ cup butter
  • ¼ cup milk
  • cups powdered sugar
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract
  • 3 Tablespoons mini chocolate chips
Makes: 13 x 18inch rectangle1inch height

Instructions
 

Cake

  • Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 13x18x1-inch sheet pan.
  • Drain the juice from the jar of cherries into a measuring cup. Roughly chop the cherries and set aside.
    10 ounce jar maraschino cherries
  • Bring the cherry juice up to one cup of liquid using water. Pour the 1 cup of cherry juice/water into a medium saucepan and add the butter. Bring to a boil and then remove from the heat.
    1 cup butter
  • In a large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt.
    2 cups all purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt, 2 cups granulated sugar
  • Pour the butter mixture over the flour mixture and stir until just combined. Stir in the remaining ingredients, including chopped cherries.
    ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon almond extract, ½ cup sour cream, 2 large eggs
  • Pour into prepared pan and bake for about 22 minutes, or until a toothpick tests clean.
  • Set aside to cool for 20 minutes, meanwhile make the icing.

Icing

  • In a large saucepan bring butter and milk to a low boil.
    ½ cup butter, ¼ cup milk
  • Whisk in powdered sugar, vanilla, and almond extract. Stir until you have a spreadable consistency
    3½ cups powdered sugar, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon almond extract
  • Spread warm frosting over cake. Sprinkle with mini chocolate chips.
    3 Tablespoons mini chocolate chips

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 335kcalCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 2gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 49mgSodium: 243mgFiber: 1gSugar: 39g
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Recipe Rating




Jennifer

Monday 24th of July 2023

A half of cup of vanilla extract? And almond extract? Is this a typo

Carlee

Monday 24th of July 2023

a half cup of extract might make your eyes pop out of your head! It's definitely 1/2 teaspoon of each.

Kris

Sunday 9th of May 2021

I made this for Mother's Day. Delicious! Loved by everyone.... I'll definitely be making this again!

Carlee

Monday 10th of May 2021

YAY! I am so glad you liked it!

Mom of Seven

Saturday 16th of March 2019

How do you store this cake? I am making it for my daughter's birthday but need to make it a day before the party.

Carlee

Saturday 16th of March 2019

I usually store sheet cakes like this on the counter with no issue. And what an honor to be chosen for the birthday cake! I hope you all love it!

Amy

Wednesday 2nd of May 2018

I believe that it would be impossible to go wrong with cherries and chocolate chips. This cake looks so good in addition to being pretty.

Carlee

Friday 4th of May 2018

I am with you, it would really be hard to mess it up. Thank you!

Carlee

Thursday 26th of April 2018

Thank you!