All American Sheet Cake Food

TEXAS SHEET CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F; butter the bottom and sides of a 15 1/2-by-10 1/2-inch jelly roll pan.
• Whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a large bowl until combined. Whisk the sour cream, vanilla and eggs in a medium bowl or large liquid measuring cup until smooth. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, add the butter, cocoa powder and 1 cup water to a medium saucepan and set over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the butter is completely melted, about 5 minutes.
• Pour the melted butter mixture into the flour mixture and stir until combined. Stir in the sour cream mixture in 2 additions until combined. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it into an even layer.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool slightly in the pan.
• For the frosting: Combine the pecans, butter and salt in a medium saucepan and place over medium heat. Cook until the butter is melted and the pecans are lightly toasted, about 5 minutes. Stir in the cocoa powder and vanilla and remove from the heat. Whisk in the confectioners' sugar in 2 batches, alternating with the milk and mixing well after each addition.
• Immediately pour the warm frosting over the warm cake and gently spread to cover. Let the cake cool completely before slicing.

ALL-AMERICAN MOSAIC CAKE

Steps:

• Melt 2 cups (one 12-ounce bag) each red and blue candy melts in separate bowls. Pour each color onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and spread evenly with an offset spatula. Refrigerate until set, about 20 minutes.
• Break the red and blue candy into small irregular pieces.
• Arrange the candy on a vanilla-frosted cake, gently pressing the pieces into the frosting.

ALL-AMERICAN SHEET CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Combine cake mix, buttermilk, oil and eggs; beat on low speed for 30 seconds. Beat on medium for 2 minutes. , Pour into a 13x9-in. baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 25-30 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack., Spread whipped cream over cake; top with fruit. Refrigerate.

FLAG CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Butter and flour an 18 by 13 by 1 1/2-inch sheet pan.
• Cream the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on high speed, until light and fluffy. On medium speed, add the eggs, 2 at a time, then add the sour cream and vanilla. Scrape down the sides and stir until smooth.
• Sift together the flour, cornstarch, salt, and baking soda in a bowl. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture to the butter mixture until just combined. Pour into the prepared pan. Smooth the top with a spatula. Bake in the center of the oven for 20 to 30 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool to room temperature.
• For the icing, combine the butter, cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mixing just until smooth.
• Spread three-fourths of the icing on the top of the cooled sheet cake. Outline the flag on the top of the cake with a toothpick. Fill the upper left corner with blueberries. Place 2 rows of raspberries across the top of the cake like a red stripe. Put the remaining icing in a pastry bag fitted with a star tip and pipe two rows of white stripes below the raspberries. Alternate rows of raspberries and icing until the flag is completed. Pipe stars on top of the blueberries.
• I serve this cake right in the pan. If you want to turn it out onto a board before frosting, use parchment paper when you grease and flour the pan.

WHITE TEXAS SHEET CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. Grease a 15x10x1-in. baking pan., In a large bowl, whisk the first 5 ingredients. In a small saucepan, combine butter and water; bring just to a boil. Stir into flour mixture. In a small bowl, whisk eggs, sour cream and extract until blended; add to flour mixture, whisking constantly., Transfer to prepared pan. Bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 18-22 minutes. Cool on a wire rack 20 minutes. , For frosting, combine butter and milk in a large saucepan; bring just to a boil. Remove from heat; gradually stir in confectioners' sugar and extract. Stir in walnuts. Spread over warm cake.

ALL-AMERICAN FLAG CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13-inch baking pan.
• Stir yellow cake mix, 1 cup water, vegetable oil, and eggs in a mixing bowl until moistened; beat with a mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes. Pour batter into prepared baking pan.
• Bake cake in the preheated oven until lightly browned and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack. Poke holes about 1 inch apart all over the cake with a fork.
• Dissolve strawberry gelatin in boiling water in a bowl and pour gelatin slowly over the cake, letting gelatin seep into holes. Refrigerate cake until gelatin sets, about 1 hour. Transfer cake to a serving platter and cut in half horizontally.
• Mix instant vanilla pudding mix with milk in a bowl and whisk until thickened, about 2 minutes; stir in 1/2 cup blueberries. Spread blueberry filling onto bottom of cake and place top of cake over the filling. Spread 2 cups whipped topping smoothly over top and sides of cake and arrange 1/2 cup blueberries in a square in the upper left corner of the cake for stars. Arrange alternating layers of strawberries and miniature marshmallows into horizontal red and white stripes.