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    Home » Cakes » Rocky Road Chocolate Sheet Cake

    Rocky Road Chocolate Sheet Cake

    Published: Jun 9, 2021 · Modified: Jun 30, 2021 by Kate · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Rocky Road Sheet Cake is a moist homemade chocolate sheet cake topped with melty marshmallows, rich chocolate frosting, and chopped almonds!

    Slice of rocky road sheet cake with a bite out of it.

    With summer just about here, it's time for barbecues and potlucks. Main dishes are the stars of barbecues, but you don't want to forget the dessert!

    Sheet cakes make great take-along desserts for barbecues, cookouts, and potlucks! They're so easy to make, and there's no fancy frosting to fuss with.

    This Rocky Road Sheet Cake recipe makes a huge cake, which makes it great for big get-togethers. Plus, it only takes about 30 minutes to make and ice it. So, it's also perfect for those times when you have to hurry and make something last-minute.

    This cake is based on my grandma's Texas sheet cake recipe. It's my favorite chocolate sheet cake recipe, and I think it's hard to beat. If you try this easy, delicious cake, you just might find that it becomes a family favorite at your house, too!

    Side view of slices of rocky road sheet cake in rows.

    What is a sheet cake?

    A sheet cake is a single-layer cake that's baked in a rectangular pan. Some sheet cakes are baked in larger pans, like a jelly roll pan. Others sheet cakes are baked in a 9x13-inch baking pan.

    Ingredients for rocky road sheet cake in bowls.

    Ingredients and substitutions

    • Butter: I use salted butter in this recipe. If using unsalted butter, increase the salt in the cake to ¾ teaspoon and add ¼ teaspoon salt to the frosting.
    • Cocoa powder: I use unsweetened cocoa powder, not Dutch-processed cocoa powder, in this recipe. 
    • Buttermilk: Regular or low-fat will work. You can make your own buttermilk substitute with this recipe. 
    • Greek yogurt: I use fat-free. You could also use 2% or full-fat yogurt or full-fat sour cream. 
    • Powdered sugar: If your powdered sugar is lumpy, sift it before you add it to the frosting. This will help the powdered sugar to better incorporate into the frosting so that you don't end up with lumpy frosting.
    • Almonds: I use unsalted roasted almonds. 

    How to make rocky road sheet cake

    Side by side photos of melted butter and cocoa mixture in saucepans.

    Melt butter in a large saucepan.

    Once butter has melted, stir in water and cocoa powder; bring to a boil.

    Once at a boil, add buttermilk, and stir to combine. Remove pan from heat.

    Side by side photos of cake batter in a saucepan and in a baking pan.

    Add the yogurt, eggs, and vanilla, and stir until well-combined. Stir in sugar, flour, baking soda, and salt until just combined.

    Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 15-20 minutes.

    While the cake is baking prepare the icing.

    Side by side pictures of icing ingredients and marshmallows on a baked chocolate cake.

    For the icing, combine the butter, cocoa, and buttermilk. Bring to a boil.

    Remove from heat, and add the powdered sugar, vanilla, and half of marshmallows. Stir to combine.

    Sprinkle remaining half marshmallows over hot cake.

    Side by side photos of icing pouring onto a chocolate cake and the chocolate cake with chopped almonds and marshmallows on it.

    Pour icing over hot cake, and spread evenly over cake.

    Sprinkle with chopped almonds.

    Rocky road sheet cake cut into slices.

    Storage

    This cake is best eaten within 2-3 days after it was made. The frosting can get get soft as it sits, especially if you live in a humid area. I only cover the cut portion of the cake to help avoid that.

    More sheet cake recipes!

    • Texas Sheet Cake
    • Red Velvet Sheet Cake
      Red Velvet Sheet Cake
    • Slice of german chocolate cake with a fork taking a bite out.
      German Chocolate Sheet Cake
    • Blue Ribbon Carrot Sheet Cake

    If you’ve tried this Rocky Road Sheet Cake recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below. I love to hear from people who’ve made my recipes!

    You can SUBSCRIBE to receive my latest recipe newsletters or FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST for even more delicious food.

    Slice of rocky road sheet cake with a bite out of it.

    Rocky Road Sheet Cake

    Rocky Road Sheet Cake is a moist homemade chocolate sheet cake topped with melty marshmallows, rich chocolate frosting, and chopped almonds!
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes
    Servings: 24 servings
    Calories: 285kcal
    Author: Kate @ I Heart Eating

    Equipment

    • 15x11-inch rimmed baking pan

    Ingredients

    Chocolate Cake

    • ½ cup butter
    • ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
    • 1 cup water
    • ½ cup buttermilk
    • ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
    • 2 large eggs
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • 2 cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ teaspoon salt

    Rocky Road Icing

    • ½ cup butter
    • ½ cup cocoa powder
    • â…“ cup buttermilk
    • 3 cups powdered sugar
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla
    • 10 ounce package mini marshmallows
    • 1 cup chopped almonds
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a rimmed cookie sheet (I use a 15x11-inch). Set aside.
    • Melt butter in a large saucepan.
    • Once butter has melted, stir in water and cocoa powder; bring to a boil.
    • Once at a boil, add buttermilk, and stir to combine.
    • Remove pan from heat.
    • Add the yogurt, eggs, and vanilla, and stir until well-combined.
    • Stir in sugar, flour, baking soda, and salt until just combined.
    • Bake for 15-20 minutes.
    • While the cake is baking prepare the icing.
    • For the icing, combine the butter, cocoa, and buttermilk. Bring to a boil.
    • Remove from heat, and add the powdered sugar, vanilla, and half of marshmallows. Stir to combine.
    • Sprinkle remaining half marshmallows over hot cake.
    • Pour icing over hot cake, and spread evenly over cake.
    • Sprinkle with chopped almonds.

    Notes

    • Butter: I use salted butter in this recipe. If using unsalted butter, increase the salt in the cake to ¾ teaspoon and add ¼ teaspoon salt to the frosting.
    • Cocoa powder: I use unsweetened cocoa powder, not Dutch-processed cocoa powder, in this recipe. 
    • Buttermilk: Regular or low-fat will work. You can make your own buttermilk substitute with this recipe. 
    • Greek yogurt: I use fat-free. You could also use 2% or full-fat yogurt or full-fat sour cream. 
    • Powdered sugar: If your powdered sugar is lumpy, sift it before you add it to the frosting. This will help the powdered sugar to better incorporate into the frosting so that you don't end up with lumpy frosting.
    • Almonds: I use unsalted roasted almonds. 
    • Nutrition facts are estimated.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 285kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 187mg | Potassium: 114mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 260IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 1.2mg
    Tried this recipe? Rate it below. Mention @i_heart_eating on Instagram & tag #ihearteating!

    Originally published 04/17/15. Updated with additional photos, tips, and information 6/9/21.  

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    About Kate

    Kate got her first cookbook when she was five years old, and she hasn't stopped cooking since then! Her delicious recipes have been featured on Food Network, MSN, Better Homes & Gardens, Buzzfeed, The Huffington Post, and more. When she's not cooking or baking, she can be found on her mini farm with her husband and her five kids.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Melissa

      June 17, 2021 at 1:05 pm

      5 stars
      Wow, as soon as I saw the pictures I had to try it. It tasted as good as it looked, so so good.

      Reply
      • Kate

        June 19, 2021 at 7:41 pm

        Thank you so much!

        Reply
    2. Jenny

      May 26, 2020 at 12:18 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious addition to our Memorial Day BBQ. It was the first dessert gone.

      Reply
      • Kate

        June 04, 2020 at 10:19 am

        I'm so glad that it was a hit! =)

        Reply
    3. Sarah

      April 18, 2018 at 10:44 am

      5 stars
      So good!!

      Reply
      • Kate

        April 18, 2018 at 11:12 am

        Thank you!

        Reply
    4. Amanda @GlitterItGold

      April 24, 2015 at 10:27 pm

      Rocky Road is my mother's favorite ice cream, this is perfect to make for her for Mother's Day. Looks delicious and easy to slice up and share with a scoop of vanilla on top.

      Reply
      • Kate

        April 24, 2015 at 11:46 pm

        It's my husband's favorite, too! It absolutely is! =)

        Reply
    5. Rachel @ My Urban Oven

      April 17, 2015 at 10:33 am

      I LOVE Rocky Road, my all time favorite ice cream. This cake looks delicious!

      Reply

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    I’m Kate Dean- mom to five young kids, recipe developer, and photographer. Here at I Heart Eating®, I share my family’s favorite tried-and-true recipes.

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