22 Party-Perfect Sheet Cake Recipes

By Zoe Denenberg
December 09, 2011
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez
Simple, elegant, and sure to be crowd-pleasers, these quick and easy sheet cakes are the perfect way to feed a crowd without breaking the bank (or breaking a sweat). A 13- by 9-inch sheet cake pan is all you need to transform drab boxed cake mix into a luxurious birthday cake, a fan-favorite carrot cake, or a festive berry poke cake. Learn the secret ingredient to a perfect chocolate sheet cake (hint: you can find this popular summer vegetable at your local farmers’ market) or charm your guests with a rich, nutty Texas sheet cake. These playful cakes are approved by kids and adults alike. Whether you’re celebrating a graduation, a birthday, or simply toasting to life, these recipes will be your no-fuss secret to easy, breezy hosting. So ditch the store-bought cake and opt for one of these simple yet impressive sheet cake recipes to wow your crowd this season.
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22 Party-Perfect Sheet Cake Recipes

Simple, elegant, and sure to be crowd-pleasers, these quick and easy sheet cakes are the perfect way to feed a crowd without breaking the bank (or breaking a sweat).

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Coconut Tres Leches Sheet Cake

Credit: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Coconut Tres Leches Sheet Cake

This cake's warm yet light flavors are sure to please at any summer party. The toasty coconut and zesty lime toppings will transport you right to the tropics.

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Chocolate-Zucchini Cake

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Chocolate-Zucchini Cake

Zucchini may be an unconventional cake ingredient, but it's the key to this super-moist sponge cake. With rich chocolate flavor and Brown Butter-Pistachio Frosting, your kids will never even guess that they're eating their vegetables.

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Coconut-Carrot Cake with Coconut Buttercream

Credit: Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Recipe: Coconut-Carrot Cake with Coconut Buttercream

Coconut and carrot combine to bring layers of moist, toasty goodness to this unconventional sheet cake.

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Cream Soda Confetti Sheet Cake

Credit: Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Cream Soda Confetti Sheet Cake

This whimsical cake balances the sugary sweetness of cream soda with the fruity freshness of strawberry icing. Its cool flavor palate will be a favorite amongst kids and adults alike.

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Banana Pudding Poke Cake

Credit: Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Banana Pudding Poke Cake

This sheet cake recipe is a fresh take on traditional banana pudding that's perfect for large parties.

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Classic Birthday Cake

Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Classic Birthday Cake

You can't go wrong with vanilla and rainbow sprinkles. No birthday celebration is complete without lots of family and friends, and this sheet cake can accommodate your party crowds.

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SweeTARTS and Smarties Tie-Dye Cake

Credit: Alison Miksch

Recipe: SweeTARTS and Smarties Tie-Dye Cake

Your favorite childhood candies star in this whimsical and nostalgic sheet cake recipe. Kids will love the playful design and bright colors. Trust us, this cake tastes as good as it looks.

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Graduation Sheet Cake

Credit: Antonis Achilleos

Recipe: Graduation Sheet Cake

Celebrate your grad's accomplishments with this simple crowd-pleasing sheet cake. Adorn with edible wafer cookie "diplomas" and decorate in school colors for a spirited treat.

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Red, White, and Blue Poke Cake

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Red, White, and Blue Poke Cake

This star-spangled sheet cake uses a poke cake technique that helps the sponge soak up all the flavor of the two fruit fillings. You're sure to find bursts of fresh strawberry, blueberry, and cream in every bite.

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Fresh Apple Cake

Credit: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Recipe: Fresh Apple Cake

Thinly sliced apples create rich, moist layers of fruit within the cake. Top with your choice of Browned Butter Frosting, Cream Cheese Frosting, or Dark Chocolate Frosting.

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Flag Cake

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Flag Cake

Perfectly patriotic and undeniably festive, this cake features a tangy sour cream vanilla frosting with fresh blue and red berries.

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Coconut-Butter Pecan Sheet Cake

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Coconut-Butter Pecan Sheet Cake

There's nothing better than warm, roasted butter pecans, and this recipe pairs nuts with light coconut to make this sheet cake perfect for the summer.

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Mini Confetti Cakes

Credit: Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Recipe: Mini Confetti Cakes

To upgrade and refine your sheet cake, use a small round cutter to construct the layers of these adorable Mini Confetti Cakes. Adorn with edible flowers to complete the perfect miniature dessert for your ladies' luncheon or afternoon tea party.

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Strawberries-and-Cream Sheet Cake

Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Strawberries-and-Cream Sheet Cake

Trust us. This simple sheet cake will be a keeper in your recipe box. File it under "springtime crowd-pleaser."

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Heavenly Angel Food Cake

Credit: Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Heavenly Angel Food Cake

The rich, moist texture of this divine angel food cake is unlike any other. Made from scratch in minutes, it's spread with frosting that's a lemon lover's dream.

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Shortcut Carrot Sheet Cake

Credit: Photo: Kelsey Hansen; Food Styling: Karen Rankin; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Recipe: Shortcut Carrot Sheet Cake

Packed with the warm flavors of walnut, toasted coconut, and pineapple (which adds extra moisture), this carrot spice cake is a must-have fall recipe. Feed a Thanksgiving crowd with this quick and sophisticated sheet cake. Plus, you can save the leftovers for days of snacking.

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Texas Sheet Cake with Fudge Icing

Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Texas Sheet Cake with Fudge Icing

Don't mess with Texas! This iconic Texas Sheet Cake is rich in chocolatey, nutty flavors. Its signature fudge icing is poured on just after the cake is removed from the oven, leading to a gooey, soft frosting that melts in your mouth.

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Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

Mayonnaise is the secret to this chocolate cake's fluffy, light texture.

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Blond Texas Sheet Cake

Credit: Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Blond Texas Sheet Cake

A twist on the beloved chocolate Texas Sheet Cake, this blond version maintains all of the cake's signature nutty richness without any cocoa. The addition of buttermilk keeps the cake extra moist and fluffy.

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Mississippi Mud Cake

Credit: Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Mississippi Mud Cake

With its fluffy chocolate sponge and marshmallow-pecan topping, this classic cake is a grown-up homage to summer s'mores.

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Plum-Berry Cornmeal Sheet Cake

Credit: Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Plum-Berry Cornmeal Sheet Cake

The combination of tart stone fruit, fresh berries, and toasty cornmeal makes this recipe adaptable and suited for any season. Great for brunch or an afternoon snack, this sheet cake can be taken on the go or enjoyed on your front porch.

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Sweet Tea-and-Lemonade Cake

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Sweet Tea-and-Lemonade Cake

This sheet cake combines all the flavors of your favorite Southern beverages into a light, refreshing dessert. Feeling rowdy? Spin this into a tipsy cake by substituting up to 2 Tbsp. vodka or bourbon for the lemon juice in the frosting.

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By Zoe Denenberg