Carolyns Texas Sheet Cake Food

TEXAS SHEET CAKE

Steps:

• Batter:.
• Put margarine (or butter), water and cocoa in a large pan and bring to a boil.
• Remove from heat and add the rest of the batter ingredients.
• Mix with electric mixer until smooth.
• Pour into an 11 x 16 x 1.5-inch jelly roll pan.
• Bake at 350° for 20 minutes.
• Frosting:.
• Bring margarine (or butter), cocoa, and milk to a boil.
• Remove from heat and stir in confectioners' sugar and nuts.
• Add vanilla.
• Pour on cake as soon as it comes out of the oven.

SPICY TEXAS SHEET CAKE

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with foil; butter the foil.
• Toast the chiles in a dry medium saucepan over medium heat until darkened and pliable, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, add 1 cup water and soak until the chiles soften, about 5 more minutes. Transfer the chiles and soaking liquid to a blender and puree. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve back into the saucepan. Finely chop any chile pieces left in the sieve and add to the saucepan.
• Meanwhile, whisk the flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, salt and baking powder together in a large bowl; set aside.
• Add the butter and cocoa powder to the saucepan with the chile puree; bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring, until the butter is melted. Pour into the flour mixture and stir until combined. Whisk the buttermilk, eggs, vanilla and baking soda together in a liquid measuring cup; stir into the batter in two additions until combined.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan, spreading it evenly. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool slightly in the pan.
• Meanwhile, make the frosting: Combine the pecans, butter, cayenne and salt in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat until the butter is melted and the pecans are lightly toasted, about 5 minutes. Remove 1/2 cup pecans with a slotted spoon and set aside for topping. Stir the cocoa powder into the saucepan and remove from the heat. Whisk in the confectioners' sugar in two batches, alternating with the milk, mixing well after each addition.
• Immediately pour the warm frosting over the warm cake and gently spread to cover. Top with the reserved pecans and let cool completely before slicing.

GLUTEN-FREE TEXAS SHEET CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 18x13x1-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
• Combine butter, water, and cocoa powder in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir together and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and mix in sugar and vanilla extract. Set aside and allow to cool, about 15 minutes.
• Whisk together buttermilk and eggs in a small bowl. Combine gluten-free flour, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl, mixing well. Add buttermilk-egg mixture, followed by cocoa mixture. Stir batter well until no lumps remain. Pour into the prepared baking pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted comes out clean and the cake is starting to pull from the sides of the pan, 25 to 35 minutes. Allow to cool for 15 minutes before frosting.
• Combine butter, cocoa powder, and milk in a saucepan over medium heat to make the frosting. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat once milk is boiling and whisk in confectioners' sugar and vanilla. Pour frosting over the warm cake and spread evenly over the tops and the sides with a spatula. Sprinkle with chopped pecans.
• Allow cake and frosting to cool completely before serving, about 30 minutes.