Scrumptious Sheet Cake

I grew up in Texas. Well, not really, I was only there until I was eight years old. But my mother did.. You see, when you mother is from somewhere, you become from there too, even if it is by default. I know all about fried green tomatoes, fried okra, squash casserole and Texas sheet cake!

If you are not from Texas and you have no idea what sheet cake is, let me explain it to you.  It is a warm, sugary, rich chocolate cake, made from scratch with decadent  icing poured over the top. Don’t believe me? Try this recipe. You will wish you were from Texas too.

Ingredients

For the Cake:

• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup water
• 1/4 cup cocoa
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Frosting:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/4 cup cocoa
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 pound confectioners’ sugar (4-1/4 cups)
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

Instructions

For the Cake:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a medium saucepan combine the butter, water and cocoa over medium heat; heat until butter melts.
3. In a medium bowl add the sugar, flour, salt and baking soda.
4. Mix to combine.
5. In a 1 cup measuring cup add the buttermilk, eggs and vanilla.
6. Mix with a fork to combine; add to the flour mixture.
7. Pour flour mixture into the heated chocolate mixture.
8. Using a hand held mixer, mix until smooth.
9. Pour into a 15x15x1-inch jelly roll pan.
10. Bake 20 to 23 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
11. Frost while still hot.

For the Frosting:

12. In a medium saucepan combine the butter, cocoa and milk.
13. Bring to a simmer.
14. Take off of the heat.
15. Add confectioner’s sugar and vanilla mix well with a hand held mixer.
16. Stir in walnuts.
17. Pour over the cake.
18. Spread to cover the hot cake.

Recipe courtesy of Lady Behind the Curtain.

Photo Courtesy of Lady Behind the Curtain.