Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Chocolate Almond Sheet Cake

My birthday was a few weeks ago, and while I'm not necessarily a big fan of getting older, it is fun to have a day (or two) to eat lots of yummy foods with minimal guilt. After all, nothing seems to justify erratic behavior like the phrase "it's my birthday!" Last year for my birthday my sweet husband made me this chocolate almond sheet cake, and it was so good that I ate half of it before he could even get candles on it (hey, it's my birthday!). This is a picture from last year, and you can't really tell, but the back half the cake is missing!



So this year to keep the tradition alive, I asked my husband for the same cake. He made me the entire recipe this time, so I wasn't able to eat half of it before he put the candles on, but I was able to get a good chunk out of it. You can see the part missing in the corner. He was able to get the cake away from me in time to have room left for the abundance of candles that it needed!


This cake is rich chocolatey goodness! I think was sets it apart from regular chocolate cake is the almond flavoring, it adds such a lovely depth. Also, since it's a sheet cake, the cake to frosting ratio is much more balanced then in normal cake, and I LOVE rich fudgey chocolate frosting.
Yes, this is a horrible picture, do you like all the pink candle wax, mmm waxy!

Chocolate Almond Sheet Cake

Ingredients

3/4 cup butter
1 cup water
1/4 cup baking cocoa
2 1/2 cups baking flour
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
FROSTING:
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup milk
3 cups confectioners sugar
1/4 cup baking cocoa
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. In a saucepan, bring the butter, water and cocoa to a boil over medium heat. Remove from the heat and cool the room temperature.

2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Beat in cocoa mixture. Add the eggs, buttermilk and extracts; mix well.

3. Pour into a greased 15-in. x 10-in. baking pan. Bake at 375 for 20-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack.

4. For frosting, place butter and milk in a saucepan. Cook and stir over medium heat until butter is melted. Remove from the heat; add remaining ingredients and beat well. Carefully spread over warm cake. Cool completely.

19 comments:

Sara said...

Happy belated birthday! Looks like a delicious cake.

Netts Nook said...

You have a man that cooks also good for you. Twenty seven candles not to bad you will never catch us. I have daughters that old.Hope you had a Happy one the cake sure looks yummy.

Heidi said...

This sounds a lot like my texas sheet cake recipe. I wouldn't have thought to add in the almond extract, but I'm a huge almond fan and can't wait to try this! Do you think it would be good with toasted almonds on top?

Heidi said...

I forgot to mention it, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE your adorable hair cut!

Alissa said...

Oh This should be called heaven cake! It looks so yummy! Droool!

teresa said...

Thanks guys! Heidi, great idea with the almonds! You could bake them in the cake, or sprinkle them on top, or both! YUM!

Anonymous said...

Sorry I missed your bday! I am a March baby too! :D

That looks just like a Texas sheet cake a co-worker used to bring to potlucks - so moist and delicious!

Sweet Cheeks said...

good man! I love almond. Love it! and who doesn't love chocolate...really!

Unknown said...

It sounds scrumptious! Happy belated birthday!!!

MaryBeth said...

Happy Birthday... You are so correct in the fact that when it is our birthdays it does give us the right to eat our cake when we want..even if not done yet!

Donna-FFW said...

Teresa.. you look adorable and the cake sounds and looks delicious.. happy Happy Happy Birthday!!

Emily said...

What a great hubby to make such a killer cake for your birthday! Happy birthday too!

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

I could only dream about my husband making me a cake. That cakes looks like a whole lot of chocolately goodness! I like chocolate and almond toether too!

Maria said...

Happy late birthday! The cake sounds amazing!

Annie Hawkins said...

Happy Birthday!!! your cake looks so good, I have to try it one day. I tried your roasted potatoe onion and garlic recipe and I loved it. I just wanted to let you know I tired something your blog. :D I enjoy your recipes and I wish there would be more time in a day so I can try out more recipes. LOL

Pam said...

Happy belated b-day. The cake looks FANTASTIC!

Anonymous said...

mm! I'll bet the almond paste made a great difference! but to make it even more almondy, I think I would add a bit of almond paste! and maybe even slivered almonds!

Ingrid_3Bs said...

Happy belated birthday! How sweet of your honey to make you cake!!
~ingrid

Angela said...

Mmmmmmmm......
(And I love the picture of you! :)