Dee’s Chocolate Sheet Cake

I hope it doesn’t sound like I’m bragging but this is really the BEST chocolate cake. Truly. It’s dense and rich and very chocolate-y. Just the way I like my cake. Fortunately it is a sheet cake which means it serves a lot of people. That keeps me from making it very often. Which is a good thing. I made it this past Friday for the Happyland Volunteer Fire Department (yes, that’s it’s real name) community dinner. There were a LOT of desserts so I was able to bring some of my cake back home with me. In fact, I’ve had a piece along with a cup of tea each evening since.

It doesn’t look fancy but what it lacks in decoration it more than makes up for in taste. It’s not hard to make. Just go ahead and read through the directions first so you don’t have to wait for the water to boil when you are ready to add it.

Cake

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 4 heaping tablespoons cocoa
• 2 sticks butter (the real thing, of course)
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3 teaspoons vanilla

Directions:

Combine flour, sugars, cinnamon and salt in mixing bowl. In medium saucepan melt butter then stir in cocoa. Add boiling water, allow to boil about 30 seconds then remove from heat. Pour over flour mixture and stir to cool. In measuring cup pour buttermilk then add beaten eggs, vanilla and baking soda. Mix well then pour into flour/chocolate mixture. Stir until completely combined and pour into greased sheet cake pan (18×13). Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, make icing.

Icing

Ingredients:

• 1 3/4 sticks butter
• 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 3 heaping tablespoons cocoa
• 6 tablespoons milk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 3 1/4 cups powdered sugar

Directions:

Melt butter in saucepan. Add chocolate chips, stirring until melted then add cocoa powder. Stir to combine and remove from heat. Add milk and vanilla then mix with powdered sugar until smooth. Pour over warm cake. Make a cup of tea, cut a square of cake and enjoy.