Iowa Pumpkin Sheet Cake

A bit different from your typical pumpkin bar, 

these have a unique secret ingredient and a frosting that is mouthwatering!

Here's the thing.  The state of Texas has a lot going for them.  Here is my short, very thought through list.

Cowboys.

Excellent Tex-Mex.

Talented football teams.

Award-winning barbecue.

Matthew McConaughey.

Texas Sheet Cake.

You see they have all this great stuff and then they had the nerve on top of all their glory to name a cake after themselves.

Geesh.

The history of Texas sheet cake is a bit foggy.  There are many articles out there saying how it became the dessert of the south.  Relish wrote this article awhile back on it, if you feel like digging in.

One thing is certain it is a dark chocolate cake baked in a jelly roll pan, glazed with a chocolate frosting.  Sometimes it has nuts, sometimes it doesn't.  It's good.  End of story.

Speaking of jelly roll pans, I have this one and I love it.  I'm pretty sure my mom got it for me {because, you know, I'm a dork and these are the things I put on my lists}.  Anyway, I highly recommend this one.

Oh my golly, these are good.  And folks they have a secret ingredient....melted Blue Bunny Pumpkin Pie Spice ice cream.  It's IN the batter.  

I got up and in the kitchen at 7 a.m. on Saturday and starting making the biggest kitchen mess of my life.  The husband got home later, walked in and wondered what in the $%^#! I was doing.  It was a bit like tornado alley.  But I promised in 15 minutes I'd have the place put back together, and I did!

And having these warm on the counter, with frosting dripping downs the sides waiting for all of us, made the mess totally worth it.

So I know you are wondering, why is this called "Iowa Pumpkin Sheet Cake"?

Well, I wanted to one-up that big state of Texas.  I wanted Iowa to have a sheet cake two. I'm from Iowa, I live in Iowa and I like Iowa.  Let's start a trend, shall we?  Can I get all of you to share this recipe with your friends and family and call it "Iowa Pumpkin Sheet Cake"?

I'd love you forever.

Maybe someday this sheet cake can be AS popular as the Texas cousin.  

Please give this recipe some love! If you make it and enjoy it as much as we did, please leave a star rating review below on the recipe card. Thank you!