Dark Chocolate Sheet Cake with Dark Chocolate Frosting

Ingredients

1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour

1 cup dark cocoa powder (such as Hershey’s® Special Dark)

2 teaspoons baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar

½ cup white sugar

½ cup unsalted butter, softened

2 large eggs, at room temperature

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup strong brewed coffee, at room temperature

1 cup buttermilk, at room temperature

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

¾ cup dark cocoa powder (such as Hershey’s® Special Dark), sifted

1 teaspoon instant espresso powder

⅛ teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 cups powdered sugar, or to taste

7 tablespoons heavy whipping cream, or as needed

Directions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 10×15-inch rimmed baking sheet and line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper.

Step 2

Whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl until thoroughly combined. Set aside.

Step 3

Beat brown sugar, white sugar, and butter together in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract. Add in 1/3 of the flour mixture, and mix until just combined. Add in 1/2 of the coffee and buttermilk, and mix until just combined. Continue alternating additions of the flour mixture with coffee and buttermilk, mixing just until combined. Pour batter into the prepared pan; smooth into an even layer. Tap pan firmly on the counter several times to remove air bubbles.

Step 4

Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out with a few moist crumbs, about 25 minutes. Do not overbake. Place cake on a wire rack and allow to cool completely.

Step 5

Meanwhile, make the frosting. Beat butter in a large bowl until completely smooth. Mix in cocoa powder, espresso powder, and salt until thoroughly combined. Mix in vanilla. Add in powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition. Pour in heavy cream and beat until frosting is light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. If frosting is too thick, add more heavy cream.

Step 6

Spread frosting over the cooled cake.

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