Wednesday, September 16, 2009

TEXAS SHEET CAKE - CAKE TEXAN

Lately, I have noticed that sheet cakes have made a kind trendy comeback in America. Not one magazine I've opened lately didn't have a recipe for this old-fashioned bakery item...

This easy to make, classic, humble and single-layer frosted cake baked in a sheet pan or jelly roll pan seems to trigger people's interest again. It provides an ideal solution for a sweet treat at a larger gathering and can be customized as wished, so this is what makes this cake very appealing. It is no wonder it's popularity never seems to decrease.

I've always appreciated the unpretentiousness of sheet cakes and always liked their advantageous shape. And being the big bar addict that I am, sheet cakes somehow remind me of them and feels quite familiar!

As I've been quite busy lately and haven't had much time to bake anything fancy, I thought that I'd go for that variety of cake and prepare something that would look modest, but would be a total knock over.

I have thought a lot about Texas lately. Since my good friends and ex-neighbors Jessica & Jonathan (Jessica has two great blogs named "In Search Of Dessert" and "Jessica Maier Photography") moved to Austin at the beginning of the year, I have wanted to learn more about this southern USA state and it's culinary traditions.

So, in order to expand my food knowledge I decided that, this time around, I was going to bake something from Texas. My choice naturally wen
t to Lisa's ( "Homesick Texan", USA) "Texas Sheet Cake" recipe which I had been eying my for quite a time now.

Whether this famous cake really originates or not from Texas is difficult to say, but there is no doubt that it is very popular in this part of America as you'll have difficulties finding someone who doesn't serve this rectangular chocolatty treat at BBQs, pot-lucks, birthday parties, picnics, bake sales or any other event that'll require portable food.

For me, this "Texas Sheet Cake" is really a revelation as it is super moist, wonderfully chocolaty and droolworthingly rich, yet quite fluffy/soft in texture (it stands somewhere between cake and Brownies). And with it's contrasting crunchy pecan bits, the shiny icing makes this cake even the more irresistible.

This old favorite will fill your chocolate cravings and will soon become your personal favorite after only your first bite!

~ Texas Sheet Cake ~
Recipe by Lisa at "Homesick Texan".

Ingredients for the "Cake":
2 Cups (420g) Castor sugar
2 Cups (255g) Flour
1 Pinch Salt
2 Sticks (1 cup/240g) Unsalted butter
4 Tbs (22.5g) Unsweetened cocoa
1 Cup (240ml) Water
2 Eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 Cup (120g) Buttermilk
1 Tsp (5g) Baking soda
1 Tsp Pure vanilla extract
1 Tsp Cinnamon
1 Tsp Ancho chile powder (optional)
Ingredients for the "Icing":
1 Stick (120g) Butter
4 Tbs (22.5g) Unsweetened cocoa
6 Tbs Milk
1 Tsp Pure vanilla extract
1 tsp Cinnamon
1 Cup (120g) Pecans, roasted and chopped
1 Pound (450g) Powder sugar

Method for the "Cake":
1. Preheat oven to 200° C (400° F).
2. Sift the sugar and flour together in a bowl.
3. Melt the butter on low in a saucepan, and when melted add cocoa and water and heat until boiling.
4. Pour cocoa mix over sugar and flour and mix well with a spoon.
5. Add eggs, buttermilk, vanilla, cinnamon, baking soda and chile powder, and mix well with a spoon.
6. Pour batter into greased 9x13 inch pan, and bake for about 30 minutes, checking it at 20 minutes.
Method for the "Icing":
7. Five minutes before cake is done, bring to a boil the butter, cocoa and milk.
8. Remove from heat, and mix in sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nuts.
9. Beat well, and then spread over cake while both are still warm.
10. Let cool on a rack.


Remarks:
If you want a more chocolaty tasting, you can always add 1 tablespoon more cocoa to the cake batter and the frosting.

Serving suggestions:
Serve with whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream.

***************

~ Cake Texan ~
Recette par Lisa de "Homesick Texan".

Ingrédients pour le "Cake":
420g de Sucre cristallisé
255g de Farine blanche
1 Pincée de Sel

240g de Beurre, non-salé
4 CS (22.5g) de Cacao, non-sucré
240ml d'Eau
2 Oeufs, légèrement battus
120g de Babeurre
1 CC (5g) de Bicarbonate de soude
1 CC d'Extrait de vanille pure
1 CC de Cannelle en poudre
1 CC de Poudre de piment ancho (en option)
Ingrédients pour le "Glaçage":
120g de Beurre, non-salé
4 CS (22.5g) de Cacao, non-sucré
6 CS de Lait
1 CC d'Extrait de vanille pure
1 CC de Cannelle en poudre
120g de Noix de pécan, torréfiées et hachées grossièrement
450g de Sucre en poudre

Méthode pour le "Cake":
1. Préchauffer le four à 200° C.
2. Tamiser (dans un grand bol) le sucre, la farine et le sel ensemble.
3. Faire fondre le beurre, à feu doux, dans une casserole moyenne et ajouter l'eau ainsi que le cacao une fois que le beurre aura fondu. Porter à ébullition.
4. Verser ce mélange sur la farine et le sucre dans le bol. Bien mélanger à l'aide d'une spatule.
5. Ajouter les oeufs, le babeurre, la vanille, la cannelle, la bicarbonate de soude et la poudre de piment puis bien mélanger.
6. Verser la pâte dans un moule beurré de 23x28cm et cuire pendant 30 minutes.

Méthode pour le "Glaçage":
7. Cinq minutes avant la fin de la cuisson, porter à ébullition le beurre, le cacao et le lait.
8. Retirer du feu, ajouter le sucre en poudre, la vanille, la cannelle et les noix.
9. Bien mélanger et immédiatement verser sur le cake encore chaud.
10. Laisser refroidir sur une grille.

Remarques:
Si vous voulez un goût plus prononcé de chocolat, vous pouvez ajouter 1 CS de cacao à la pâte et au glaçage.


Idées de présentation:
Servez ce cake avec de la crème chantilly ou avec de la glace.

109 comments:

  1. Ah looks divine..pass a piece pls :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lovely photos. You just describe it well on your post and this is truly a Yummy Yum. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. même la longue liste des ingrédients ne me découragera pas, en plus j'ai ce piment en poudre... et hop, à faire

    ReplyDelete
  4. I've never heard of sheet cake before but it surely looks good.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Je ne le trouve pas du tout old fashionned !

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is absolutely mouth watering yum... i must try this cake :)

    meedo
    Arabic Bites & Mun Beads Design.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great recipe & pictures...looks beautiful & so tempting :)

    zainab :D

    ReplyDelete
  8. Just saw your tweet and sheet cake had me interested.
    I just have discovered a sheet cake. It sure looks good. I always thought this was one made in order to make a jelly roll! :(

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wow, I just want to take a bit bite out of that! It looks so yummy! I'm going to have to bookmark it.

    ReplyDelete
  10. rien qu'en regardant les photos je deviens complètement addict moi aussi !

    ReplyDelete
  11. C'est une vraie gourmandise ce cake. Le meilleur anti-depresseur que je connaise.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Voilà de quoi se réconforter à l'arrivée des baisses de température, c'est beau!

    ReplyDelete
  13. J'étais impatiente de lire la recette en français, en voyant les premières photos !
    C'est super gourmand !
    Bisous, Doria

    ReplyDelete
  14. Mmm, you always come up with the best ideas. Well, anything super chocolatey is a winner with me ;-) It just looks amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  15. What a decadent cake, Rosa, love it :-)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Quel beau cake, il a l'air fabuleux!!!
    Mes papilles se sont réveillées ce matin en voyant tes belles photos appétissantes!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Waouh ! quelle belle texture, tout comme j'aime ce cake ! bises

    ReplyDelete
  18. MMMMMM Ce gâteau semble étonnant, particulièrement le givrage décadent !

    ReplyDelete
  19. Wow, it looks amazing! So moist and delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  20. The cake looks great, but that frosting looks wonderfully decadent.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Oh that frosting looks so good! Not sure if I'd dare make this cake, I'd probably eat all the frosting before the cake had a chance.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I admit, I haven't seen to many sheet cakes around yet in Australia. I always used to have them as a kid... now, not so much. This Texas one looks great - very moist!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Rosa, I love this cake! I grew eating it frequently eating it Illinois, and now that I live in Austin, people love it here too. Always a crowd pleaser!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Eh! eh! Old fashion you say? LOL ...you cannot imagine how sheet cakes have been a stapple of American desserts ...boy, since I was Pfff... at least 5! And even way before that! I guess since the arrival of Betty Crocker on the baking scene! LOL

    Nevertheless, you're also right in thinking they are a classic; easy and simple they make great dessert when you don't have time to fuss.

    Very well done for a Suissesse!!! LOL ...je te taquine, tu sais que je te taquine!

    Qui aime bien, châtie bien :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. Growing up we always had a sheet cake for birthdays. Our standard was an orange cake with a sour cream cheese frosting. Delish!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Rosa this Cake look amazing!! I love the photos! xxgloria

    ReplyDelete
  27. I've been seeing Texas sheet cake all over too! I really need to make one. Yours looks terrific in that beautiful pan!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Ce cake est fabuleux ! je ne suis pas très "frosting" (je préfère la crème chantilly) mais à chaque fois que je vois les tiens, ça me tente énormément ! Va falloir que je m'y mette ! ;)
    Tes photos sont sublimes.
    Bises.

    ReplyDelete
  29. il faut que je le goute tout de suite !!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Either I am way left behind, or something else ... I never heard of this interesting name cake. Sounds really intriguing with interesting flavors such as ancho chile and cinnamon. Your photos making it especially mouth watering.

    ReplyDelete
  31. ca me fait un effet immédiat cette recette : la reproduire !!!!! bonne soirée Rosa.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Sheet cakes are still quite popular in my area, but I don't think I've ever seen one this...pretty before. It looks delicious. I'm from the U.S. - Texas stakes claims on everything!:)

    ReplyDelete
  33. Wow! Lovely recipe & the cake looks absolutely delicious!

    Greetings,
    Tiina

    ReplyDelete
  34. Your pictures are gorgeous! I'm trying to eat less cakes but for a party I'll try this recipe.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Un cake super gourmand et ce glaçage sur le dessus, un pur bonheur pour les papilles!
    Bises

    ReplyDelete
  36. sheet cake est intraduisible, mais surement délicieux en Vo comme en VF!

    ReplyDelete
  37. pas léger léger maisil doit être super bon???

    ReplyDelete
  38. Yes, you can even see from the picture how very moist this cake is. Very decadent. I'm a big fan of sheet cakes and used to make one for everyone's birthday at the restaurant I once worked in. So popular around here!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Ciao Rosa ! I've just fallen in love !!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Quelle gourmandise, il est superbe !
    Bisous

    ReplyDelete
  41. Nice to learn Texas specialty, beautiful again!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Oooh, this looks fantastic! I love the pecans in the icing. By the way, your cake pan is adorable!

    ReplyDelete
  43. ooops...I just drooled all over it, can I take the whole tray =)

    ReplyDelete
  44. Yummy Yummy in my tommy.

    Regards

    olguis.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Wow, this cake looks incredible! I just love the addition of pecans to the icing, yum!

    ReplyDelete
  46. Tes photos sont un voyage à la gourmandise, comme toujours venir te voir est merveilleux, je te souhaite une bonne soirée, bisous

    ReplyDelete
  47. rosa this is fantastic!! m drooling already!! want to have a bite right now!! sound heavenly delish :D
    cheers!

    ReplyDelete
  48. Looks delicious, very moist.
    I always assume people say "Texan" when they mean "big"!

    ReplyDelete
  49. WOW that looks delicious. That topping is particularly alluring!

    ReplyDelete
  50. There is nothing like a huge chocolate sheet cake to make a crowd very, very happy!

    ReplyDelete
  51. This looks so delicious, Rosa! It's interesting to me that you chose this uniquely American cake when I'm so often in awe of your fabulous Continental baking skills!

    ReplyDelete
  52. I remember baking sheet cakes in my childhood. It's been years since I made one. I will soon because this looks to good. Très belles photos.

    ReplyDelete
  53. You are so right! This style of cake is everywhere these days in North America.

    Interestingly (or not!) here in Canada these cakes were called snack'n cakes in the1970's since they were to be made just to have cake around. Not, like layer cakes, for a special occasion.

    ReplyDelete
  54. You are so right! This style of cake is everywhere these days in North America.

    Interestingly (or not!) here in Canada these cakes were called snack'n cakes in the1970's since they were to be made just to have cake around. Not, like layer cakes, for a special occasion.

    ReplyDelete
  55. Et avec de la glace et de la chantilly, je peux?? ;-))
    Il a l'air succulent!
    Bises et belle journée!

    ReplyDelete
  56. Très très gourmand mais tu ne peux nous présenter des parts de trop près, c'est trop pour moi :-) Bises!

    ReplyDelete
  57. humm je fond littéralement devant les photo ça doit être trop bon, je croit que je vais me laisser tenter et la tester très vite !! biz sandra

    ReplyDelete
  58. ça al 'ait bien riche alors on ava attendre pour les premiers frimas !!
    chez moi c'et encore un peu l'été :fruits et fleur t'attendent !à tres bientôt Pierre

    ReplyDelete
  59. Ce cake texan est appétissant et très gourmand avec ce tout ce chocolat!!

    ReplyDelete
  60. ..c'est beaucoup trop gros pour toi!!..tu partages avec moi Rosa??..

    ~nancy xx

    ReplyDelete
  61. I never knew rectangular single layer cakes were called sheet cakes. Guess now I know that I've been baking sheet cakes for years! Yours looks just lovely!

    ReplyDelete
  62. Oh wow...that's an delectable and yum recipe....

    ReplyDelete
  63. Now honey, I think I can do this one! Thank you! giggle. We actually made one of these in my cakes class at the Viking School. YUM. Maybe I'll make one for the nurses tomorrow and let them dive in! I'll enjoy comparing our recipes! <3

    ReplyDelete
  64. Je suis déjà dingue du glaçage !

    ReplyDelete
  65. I would loooove to have a piece, if you still have some.

    ReplyDelete
  66. ah le gateau au chocolat, il a toujours un grand succès auprès des petits mais aussi auprès des grands !!!

    http://lesgourmandisesdevirginie.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  67. Je ne trouve pas mes mots devant ton texan. Il est magnifique.

    ReplyDelete
  68. oh you had me when you said somewhere between a cake and a brownie... i've never heard of a texas cake either but it looks fantastic!

    ReplyDelete
  69. Oh Rosa, I've only just made a cake (Victoria Sponge) and now I want to make this one! Maybe at the weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  70. Rosa, you're right. A Texas Sheet Cake will satisfy a chocolate craving.
    Although, I had never thought to add chile powder to this cake. I'd bet that addition would kick my non-Texan butt.

    ReplyDelete
  71. une recette à essayer, merci pour la découverte, un délice c'est sûr!!
    bisous

    ReplyDelete
  72. This looks so good! No wonder it is having a comeback! :)

    ReplyDelete
  73. il a une couleur qui laisse deviner de bons ingrédients et surtout un futur grand moment de plaisir gustatif

    ReplyDelete
  74. Quel joli cake;)

    Bon jeudi à toi Rosa!! xxx

    ReplyDelete
  75. waou!!! je ne dirais pas non à un petite part!! Bises

    ReplyDelete
  76. La démentielle présence du sucre et du beurre ne me ferait qu'à peine frémir devant pareille merveille!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  77. aïl aïl AIL !!!!!!!!
    je craque !!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  78. The fluted edges on the pan are nice. Interesting shape. Looks quite good!

    ReplyDelete
  79. I'm not fond of chocolate but that does look good.

    Btw, very cool pan! It kinda fancies up the sheet cake! Is it a 9x13? And if I may did you find it online? Thx!
    ~ingrid

    ReplyDelete
  80. There is something wonderfully nostalgic about sheet cake.

    ReplyDelete
  81. Et hop, j'imprime la recette de ce cake, il me fait craquer !

    ReplyDelete
  82. Sheet cakes may have fallen out of favor here, but they are still traditionally ordered at bakeries for special occasions like birthdays, retirements and anniversaries. Easiest cake in the world to bake and frost, too. Yours looks scrummy, Rosa!

    ReplyDelete
  83. New to me.
    I am glad I have you as a friend so I get to know and see these delicious recipes.
    Always love your photos x

    ReplyDelete
  84. INGRID: Thanks. I bought that mould at my local supermarket. It is in fact a small tart pan...

    ReplyDelete
  85. Oh my, that is one yummy sheet cake!

    ReplyDelete
  86. wow this is gorgeous recipe, I would defintiely try it out! you are a fabulous babe!

    ReplyDelete
  87. A good Texas Sheet Cake is an awesome dessert. Yours looks yummy.

    ReplyDelete
  88. Rien qu'avec la photo,je salive déjà!!!
    Bisous.
    Caro

    ReplyDelete
  89. I have not tried making a sheet cake yet but they look and sound really good!

    ReplyDelete
  90. C'est vrai que c'est un classique en nord Amerique mais tu lui donnes une autre dimension comme ton habitude.
    J'aime beaucoup...
    To be baked!!
    Kisses

    ReplyDelete
  91. not old-fashionned!! on the contrary, very fashionable!!!
    pass me a piece please...LOL

    ReplyDelete
  92. Just catching up after being away for most of last week. Awesome cake, Rosa!

    ReplyDelete
  93. Superbe! First time I heard the word 'Sheet Cake' was from Martha Stewart's podcast with her nephew, where she halved 2 layers of sheet cakes into 4 and topped it up with generous spread of cream and fresh fruits for her sister.

    Your version of Texas sheet cake is fabulous!

    ReplyDelete
  94. You tempt me every single time I visit your blog!

    ReplyDelete
  95. I am in Texas!! what a decadent looking cake!

    ReplyDelete
  96. yeah, sheet cakes are awesome, there's no denying that. they don't usually have such yummy frosting in my experience, so your version is a cut above!

    ReplyDelete
  97. tes photos sont trop gourmandes!!!! ca donne envie daller vite le préparer

    ReplyDelete
  98. I've never had a Texan sheet cake, but it sure looks and sounds delicious!! Wish I had a slice

    ReplyDelete
  99. Huuumm!!!Quel délicieux gâteau!!!

    ReplyDelete
  100. Oh la la , j'étais passé à coté de ce gateau, il est terrible. Merci pour ces explications et recette
    Bisous

    ReplyDelete
  101. Bonjour
    Je voudrai savoir ou on trouve du Babeurre ou comment on peut en faire
    meci d'avance

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bonjour, Merci pour votre commentaire. Le babeurre ou lait ribot se trouve dans tout supermarché. Pour le remplacer: 1 tasse de babeurre = 1 tasse de lait à laquelle on soustrait une càs de lait, ensuite on ajoute à la tasse de lait 1 cuillerée à soupe de vinaigre ou de jus de citron, puis on mélange le tout et on laisse reposer quelques minutes.

      Delete