Texas Sheet Cake

07:25 Steampunk 0 Comments

Visiting the Texas warmth during Minnesota Tundra season is lovely in so many ways.  This winter has been exceptional for it’s bitter chill across the country.  When the meteorologists name the cold a Polar Vortex, you know it’s serious.  What better time to jump on a plane and head south to explore the southern reaches of the great state of Texas?  Good bye snow….

Hello Texas!  Water that moves, live green plants, warmth from the sun and fresh breezes.  Ahhhhhhh.

Having been sufficiently revived to make it through at least January, we decided to commemorate our good times with a little Texas chocolate.  Having seen oodles of recipes for Texas Sheet Cake on Pinterest, I decided to try one myself.  Having never tasted this delight before, I’m not sure this is the ultimate sheet cake, but it was darn good. The fact that it uses a whole pound of butter didn’t hurt.  I used this recipe from Southern Food, but also found a similar one on The Pioneer Woman .  Here is my take on this decadent chocolate delight.

Gather Ingredients:

2 c. sugar

2 c. flour

1/4 to 1/2 tsp salt

2 sticks butter

3 -4 T cocoa – don’t worry about leveling, just dig into the cocoa and dump

1 c. water – The Pioneer Woman recommends boiling water

2 eggs

1/2 c. buttermilk

1 t. vanilla

1 t. baking soda – I did not include the baking soda, but would next time.

Melt the butter, cocoa and water and bring to a boil for half a minute.  Pour the hot chocolate on the bowl of sugar, flour and salt, and mix.

Beat the eggs and add the buttermilk and soda and pour into the flour, butter and chocolate bowl and then into the sheet pan which is 12″ X 15″.  Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

Frosting:

2 more sticks of butter

4 T cocoa

4 c. powered sugar

4 T milk

1 c. chopped pecans

1 tsp. vanilla

Melt butter, cocoa and milk and bring to a quick boil.   Add powdered sugar, pecans and vanilla and pour hot frosting over the hot cake.

Simple ingredients = simple goodness.  Do you have a favorite Texas Sheet cake recipe?  I’d love to hear how you do this classic.  In honor of our recent trip I cut the cake into this shape and the whole family dug in.  Luckily this recipe makes a big pan.

I have to finish the post with this picture from Cowboy Harley Davidson where we picked up t-shirts for the grand-kids.  Another bonus about Texas?  You can ride your motorcycle all year down here!