Thursday, May 24, 2012

Recipe: My Birthday Treat for You--Texas Sheet Cake

Peach rose bush--a birthday gift from my hubby.
Roses on the table.
My birthday is this week and I am celebrating all week long it seems, almost a month long since my husband surprised me with this beautiful rose bush for my gift early in May. Last night a dinner out with friends at a restaurant on a small inland lake (gorgeous evening), tomorrow shopping trip, and Sunday the whole family comes over for a cookout.




Since the family is bringing the food, I volunteered to make my birthday cake, so of course, I get to make my favorite, Texas Sheet Cake. A delicious chocolate cake with chocolate icing (or do you say frosting?) poured over the top of the cake while it is still warm. Mmmmm....good. The cake is baked in a cookie sheet (with sides), so it is a Texas-sized cake for sure. 


Do you want a piece of this delicious cake? Okay, cyberly speaking, you can, but virtually you really can because I am including the recipe for you. My neighbor, Trude, made one of these for us about 38 years ago and gave me the recipe. It has become one of our family's favorites. Thanks, Trude!


Birthday : Happy Birthday topic image 1 - vector illustration.


Trude's Texas Sheet Cake

Heat oven  to 400 degrees. Prepare a cookie sheet by spraying with cooking oil.

2 c. flour
2 c. sugar
1 cup margarine
1/2 c. cocoa
1/2 c. oil
1 c. water
1/2 c. buttermilk (I make my own buttermilk-- Put 1/2 T. vinegar or lemon juice in measuring cup and add milk to measure 1/2 cup.) You can also use sour cream or plain yogurt. 
2 eggs
1 tsp baking soda
 a pinch to 1 tsp. of salt

Mix flour and sugar in bowl.

In saucepan, heat the butter, cocoa, oil , and water till melted. Pour over the flour and sugar in the bowl, then  stir well. Add remaining ingredients and beat together. Pour into prepared cookie sheet. 

Bake 20 minutes.

Frosting: Begin making this five minutes before cake is done.

1 stick margarine
4 T. cocoa
6 T. milk
1 lb. box powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla 
1 c. nuts (optional)


Bring butter, cocoa, and milk to a boil in saucepan. Remove from heat and immediately stir in powdered sugar, and 1 tsp vanilla. Beat smooth, fold in nuts, and pour frosting over cake.

Mmmmm...making my mouth water now! Serve it warm with ice cream or let it cool and serve with ice cream. It's good just plain too!!! Enjoy....

And no I won't tell you how many candles there are on my birthday cake!! 







14 comments:

Tess Grant said...

It's my B-day this week too! Happy day fellow writer!

J.Q. Rose said...

Well, hey, happy birthday back at ya'! What kind of cake do YOU like????

Conda Douglas said...

Oh man, I gained weight reading that recipe!

Penny's Tales said...

Well Happy Birthday to you! When I eat cake there are never any calories, because I eat it when nobody is around to see..therefore, no calories...right? right? Come on!

Lawna Mackie said...

Happy Birthday! That cake sounds wonderful. I'm going to try that recipe!

Gail Roughton said...

Oh, my Lord, there's nothing better than warm cake with icing poured over it still hot. And since I saw on my Facebook reminder that today was your birthday, you might wanta check your mailbox (the physical one, not the cyber one). I hope it gets there today, certainly by tomorrow. If it doesn't make it till Tuesday with the Memorial Day holiday, I will be hacked. However, you will laugh your rear off!

Pat McDermott said...

So did I, Conda. What gorgeous roses! Hope you had a fabulous birthday, Janet!

Heather Haven said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! And many more. Love the recipe!

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

Oh mine, I better throw out my scales. One of our son's has a birthday this week too. He's probably the same age as you... 40?

J.Q. Rose said...

Yes, Ladies, this is definitely a no-calorie birthday cake. So eat up! I like the idea no calories cause nobody sees you eat it! Very clever.

J.Q. Rose said...

Thanks, Gail. I can't wait to check the mailbox, so far not a card today...That will just extend the birthday celebration when I receive it!! You are good. When I see the reminders of birthdays on Sunday, I forget about the special day by Friday! I'm so proud and humbled you all remembered.

Anonymous said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Thanks for sharing the recipe for the sheet cake. Will keep this recipe in mind the next time I need to bake something for church.

J.Q. Rose said...

I made recipe originally pubbed on May 25 for my birthday party on Sunday, May 27 and discovered it is NOT Trude's. Today I corrected the recipe in the blog post. The earlier recipe was good, but not cake-like. If you want more of a cake recipe, this is the one you'll want. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Esther said...

Happy Birthday!! I'll be right over to watch you make that cake. Yummy!

Happy Birthday, Tess!

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