Texas Sheet Cake Lighter Version Recipes

Steps:

• Make the cake: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a half-sheet pan (13-by-18-by-1-inch). Spread the pecans on a second half-sheet pan and bake until lightly toasted, 7 to 9 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt, and make a well in the center. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter, stirring often. Add the cocoa powder and stir well. Then add the hot coffee and boil for 30 seconds, stirring continuously. Pour the mixture into the well in the dry ingredients, then fold gently just until no traces of flour remain. Set saucepan aside without washing.
• Whisk the sour cream, eggs and vanilla in a medium bowl. Pour into the chocolate mixture and fold gently until incorporated. Pour into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few crumbs, 18 to 20 minutes. Set the pan on a wire rack.
• Right after the cake comes out of the oven, make the icing: Melt the butter in the reserved saucepan over medium heat, stirring often. Add the cocoa and stir until smooth and bubbling, then turn off the heat. Add the milk, vanilla and confectioners' sugar, and stir until smooth. It's OK if there are tiny lumps.
• Pour the warm frosting over the warm cake and spread evenly. Sprinkle the toasted pecans all over the top and gently press into the icing. Cool completely in the pan on a rack. The cake keeps, tightly wrapped, at room temperature for up to 3 days, in the refrigerator for up to 1 week and in the freezer for up to 3 months. If needed, bring to room temperature before serving.

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring butter and water just to a boil. Immediately remove from the heat; stir in the flour, sugar, eggs, sour cream, applesauce, salt, baking powder, extract and baking soda until smooth. , Pour into a 15x10x1-in. baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 375° for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes. , For frosting, in a small bowl, beat butter and extract until smooth. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar. Add milk; beat until smooth. Spread over warm cake; sprinkle with walnuts. Cool completely.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10x15 inch pan.
• Combine the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Beat in the sour cream and eggs. Set aside. Melt the butter on low in a saucepan, add the water and 5 tablespoons cocoa. Bring mixture to a boil then remove from heat. Allow to cool slightly, then stir cocoa mixture into the egg mixture, mixing until blended.
• Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
• For the icing: In a large saucepan, combine the milk, 5 tablespoons cocoa and 1/2 cup butter. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat. Stir in the confectioners' sugar and vanilla, then fold in the nuts, mixing until blended. Spread frosting over warm cake.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F. Spray 15x10x1-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
• In large bowl, stir together flour, granulated sugar and salt; set aside.
• In 2-quart saucepan, heat 1 cup butter, the water and 3 tablespoons baking cocoa to boiling. Remove from heat. Pour over flour mixture in bowl; stir until well mixed. Add buttermilk, baking soda, 1 teaspoon vanilla and the eggs; stir until well blended. Pour into pan, spreading evenly.
• Bake 22 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Meanwhile, in another 2-quart saucepan, heat 1/2 cup butter, 3 tablespoons baking cocoa and the milk to simmering. Remove from heat. Beat in powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla with whisk until smooth. Stir in pecans.
• Pour frosting over hot cake. Cool completely before cutting, about 1 hour.