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birthday boy and his cake

opening presents

Happy 22nd Birthday to my fabulous son, Connor!

Please know that even though I’m not with you today, you are in my heart and on my mind.  I love you from here to the moon and back! xoxo

wish made

Here is the classic and easy-to-make chocolate sheet cake I made for my boy. With lots of pictures showing each step. I was camera happy this day!

birthday boy piece

Classic Texas Sheet Cake

cake recipes

Cake
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup cocoa
2 sticks unsalted butter
1 cup boiling water
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Frosting
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
1-3/4 sticks unsalted butter
1/4 cup cocoa
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 pound powdered sugar
24 pecan halves

 floursugar

Cake: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt, and set aside.

add cocoa

In a saucepan, melt butter. Add cocoa.

simmer

Stir together.

add boiling water
Add boiling water.

whisk until smooth

Allow mixture to boil for 30 seconds, and then remove from heat.

butter cocoa to dry

Pour over flour mixture, and stir just until combined.

smooth mixture

Cool slightly.

egg mixture

In a measuring cup, mix together the buttermilk; add beaten eggs, baking soda, and vanilla.

egg to cocoa

Stir buttermilk mixture into butter/chocolate mixture.

mix till smooth

Mix until completely combined.

pour and bake

Pour into an ungreased sheet cake pan and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

frosting

While the cake is baking, make the frosting. Melt the butter in a saucepan. Add cocoa, stir to combine, and then remove from heat. Add the milk, buttermilk, vanilla, and powdered sugar. Stir together.

chop fine

stir in nuts

Add the pecans, and stir to combine.

ice cake

Pour warm frosting over the warm cake.

offset spatula

Use an offset spatula to spread the frosting evenly over the cake.

score and top

Score the cake into 24 squares and top each square with a pecan half. Enjoy with your own birthday boy!

24 servings

Serves 24


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4 comments

1 Marissa { 05.24.13 at 8:21 AM }

You are in my heart and mind today too Connor! Happy birthday! Love you!

2 Sloane { 05.24.13 at 9:36 AM }

You are with me in person today!!!! Cant wait to see you and Grandpa for a yummy birthday dinner!!!!

3 Chef Gwen { 05.24.13 at 9:47 AM }

I LOVE Texas Sheet Cake…. Happy birthday, Connor.

4 Ginger Tunheim { 05.24.13 at 6:56 PM }

Happy Birthday Connor! I can’t believe you are 22 already. I just had you in 3rd grade yesterday. That cakes sounds delicious. I will make that for sure.

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