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One of the most amazing things about blogging is the incredible friendships that you build along the way. And today, a group of bloggers have come together to celebrate one those incredible friends – Amber of Bluebonnets & Brownies. Since we’re all strewn across the country, we decided to throw Amber a baby shower – blogger style!
I first met Amber over 3 years ago on Twitter – she put her computer whiz skills to work by helping me create custom table markers for an event I was assisting with. I quickly realized that Amber and I were basically separated at birth. Meeting in person at BlogHer Food in San Francisco pretty much sealed the deal.
Amber is kind, witty, hilarious and incredibly real – her husband, James, The Brit – is the icing on the cake. There is no doubt in my that they are going to be the best parents on the planet. Seriously, Evan is one lucky baby!
To celebrate Baby Evan, I made a cake – Texas style. I’ve never baked Texas Sheet Cake before, but it sounded like a winner. And the enormous size makes it perfect for any type of party – including Texas themed baby showers!
Amber and James I don’t think words could ever express how happy and excited I am for both of you. I cannot wait to meet to your little guy this Fall.
Keep the Celebration Going!
Sugarcrafter | Breakfast Tostadas
My Kitchen Addiction | Baby Texan Cookies
My Baking Addiction | Texas Sheet Cake
Simple Bites | Grilled Shrimp Tacos with Charred Corn Salsa
Stetted | Queso Mac
Food for My Family | Texas Pepper Barbecue Sauce
Dessert For Two | Frito Chocolate Chip Cookies
Confessions of a Cookbook Queen | Coconut Tres Leches Layer Cake
TidyMom | Pizza Bread Sticks
Miss in the Kitchen | Blackberry Milkshakes
Art of Gluten Free Baking | Peach-Pecan Pie, Gluten-Free
Bon Appetit Hon | Cheddar Ranch Crackers
Food Babbles | Southern Pecan Pie
Jelly Toast | Peach Iced Tea
Sweet Adventures of Sugarbelle | Decorated Elephant Cookies
i am baker | Texas Brownie Cake The Kitchen Trials | Coca-Cola Cake
Cookies & Cups | Sticky Toffee Pudding Cookies
A Farmgirl’s Dabbles | Peanut Butter Bonbons the Size of Texas
Steph Chows | Fiesta Dip
Texas Sheet Cake
Ingredients:
For the Cake
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 sticks unsalted butter
- 4 heaping tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
For the Frosting
- 1 3/4 sticks unsalted butter
- 4 heaping tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 6 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 pound (minus 1/2 cup) confectioners' sugar
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray an 18x13 sheet cake pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt.
- In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt butter. Once the butter is melted, whisk in cocoa powder until thoroughly combined. Add boiling water and turn up the heat to medium. Allow mixture to boil for 30 seconds and immediately turn off the heat. Pour the cocoa/butter mixture over flour mixture, and stir lightly to cool.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, eggs, baking soda, and vanilla. Stir buttermilk mixture into chocolate mixture. Pour into prepared sheet cake pan. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes.
- While cake is baking, make the frosting. In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt butter. Once the butter is melted, whisk in cocoa powder until thoroughly combined. Add milk, vanilla, and powdered sugar whisking until all ingredients are fully incorporated. Pour over warm cake using an offset spatula to spread the frosting all over the cake.
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How many will this serve?
Hi Jill – This definitely serves a crowd! You could probably get up to 24 slices out of this, depending on how big you cut the pieces. Hope this helps.
-Jamie
Will this keep at room temp for a day before serving?
I think it should be just fine, Michelle. Let me know how you like it!
I made this cake for the first time and completely forgot to add the eggs and thank goodness it still turned out amazing. Next time i will try and not let the kids distract me. If you only want to have a small piece of cake then this isnt the cake for you..its totally addicting. Thank you for sharing.
You’re welcome, Donna! And cake makes a very good distraction as far as kids are concerned! ;)
What size of sheet cake pan do I need?
Vanessa-
I used an 18 X 13 sheet cake pan. I hope this helps.
-Jamie
close but without the cinnamon and pecans it just isn’t a Texas sheet cake….and if you really want to make it a cake you will never forget use Mexican Vanilla – it sets the chocolate off like you would never believe.
Jennifer-
Thanks for visiting.
-Jamie
Hi Jamie, I’m from Brazil, and we don’t have buttermilk to buy over here, can I replace it with just milk? Or something else??
Cris-
Check out this post: http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-a-quick-easy-buttermilk-substitute-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-185757 – I hope this helps!
-Jamie
It is important that it says to stir in the buttermilk. If you are real gung-ho and whisk it to death like a normal cake the reaction between the buttermilk and baking soda will be damaged and your cake will be too heavy. If you are lazy, and just stir in the buttermilk, it comes out great.
I also use the frosting by itself
to make quick fudge – wow! People love it all by itself.
Texas Sheet Cake is a staple dessert in my house for desserts. They are quick to make and are always a huge hit. The only down side though is they are big and addicting which means each time I make it I gain a few more pounds.