Texas Sheet Cake

 Texas Sheet Cake

From Ellen's kitchen, with special thanks to Lorelei

• Cake ingredients:
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup (8 oz) unsalted butter
• 1 cup water
• 5 tbs cocoa
• 1/2 buttermilk
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Frosting ingredients:
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 5 tbs cocoa
• 1/3 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• pinch of salt
• 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Cake:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly grease baking sheet or pan - 11 x 17 makes a thin cake,  9 x 11 much taller cake.
• Whisk granulated sugar, flour, baking soda and salt in large bowl.
• Put butter and water in medium saucepan.   Sift in cocoa.  Bring the mixture to boil.  Pour over dry ingredients and stir until combined.
• Add buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla.  Mix until combined.
• Spread batter evenly in pan.  Bake for 20-25 minutes (depending on pan selection) until cake is evenly baked and springs back lightly to touch.  Watch carefully as you may need less time.

Frosting:

• Sift powdered sugar and set aside.
• In medium saucepan, combine butter, sifted cocoa, buttermilk, vanilla, and salt.  Heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a simmer.  Immediately remove from heat and whisk in powdered sugar gradually until frosting is smooth.  Keep warm until cake is finished baking.
• Pour warm frosting over warm cake and spread evenly.  Serve cake warm or at room temperature.