May 10, 2012

chocolate sheet cake.

Late last Friday night I was in the mood to bake something.

When I bake it's usually a spur of the moment-in the mood for-hope I have the ingredients-type of thing. 

But recently I found that there has been nothing that I have been dying to make. So to get back to my baking self, I decided to turn to my Pinterest baking page and figured maybe I should actually start making the things that I pin? 

Yes, I'm pretty sure that is what you are suppose to do. 


So after reviewing my options, based on time and ingredients on hand, I decided to make a chocolate sheet cake. It is quite large which is why it is popularly referred to as "Texas Sheet Cake" and apparently every good southern woman has this recipe on hand.

I don't know any to confirm, but I can tell you that is it is delicious and moist and the icing really seals the deal. This is one of those recipes to make if you have some guests to impress. It is really easy and doesn't even take up much time. 


Chocolate Sheet Cake 
Adapted by The Pioneer Woman

For the cake:
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1/4 tsp salt
4 heaping tsp cocoa powder
2 sticks butter
1 cup boiling water
2 large eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla

For the frosting:
1 and 3/4 sticks of butter
4 heaping tbs cocoa powder
6 tbs milk
1 tsp vanilla
3-1/4 cups powdered sugar


Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Grease a jelly roll pan, I used a 11 x 17".

Mix together the flour, sugar, and salt in a large glass bowl.

In a saucepan melt butter, add cocoa powder.
Stir together.
Add boiling water and let mixture boil for 30 seconds.
Stir and turn off the heat.
Pour this into the bowl of flour mixture and stir together lightly.

In a separate bowl, beat eggs.
Add buttermilk, baking soda, and vanilla.
Stir together. 
Stir into the butter/flour mixture.
Make sure it is fully combined, it will take a few stirs.

Pour into your sheet pan and bake for 20-23 minutes.
A toothpick should come out clean.

While you are baking the cake, make the frosting.

Melt butter in a saucepan.
Add cocoa and stir to combine.
Switch off heat.
Stir in the milk, vanilla, and powdered sugar.
Use a whisk to get it completely smooth.

Pour this over your warm cake.
And devour :)

p.s- don't let a sheet cake fool ya, it will go quick

May 7, 2012

happy monday.

A few phone pics from the past week...

[ rooftop view at work spotting the Enterprise ] 
 [ delicious avocado ice cream & potato chip cookie sandwich ]
 [ food truck festival at the seaport ]
 [ freedom tower ]
[cute shop in Chelsea ]
 [ sweet little school garden ]
 [ speakeasy ]
[ blackberry brambles ]
[ obsessed these cocktail books ]

cheers to a great week ahead!