birthday boy and his cake

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

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!

Classic Texas Sheet Cake

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

 

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

In a saucepan, melt butter. Add cocoa.

Stir together.

Add boiling water.

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

Pour over flour mixture, and stir just until combined.

Cool slightly.

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

Stir buttermilk mixture into butter/chocolate mixture.

Mix until completely combined.

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

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.

Add the pecans, and stir to combine.

Pour warm frosting over the warm cake.

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

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

Serves 24