Grandma Shoaf’s Quick and Easy Chocolate Sheet Cake

By srumbel

First up in my Cheater Dessert category is my Grandma Shoaf’s famous chocolate sheet cake. This is one of Thomas’ very favorite desserts and something I’ve been making for years and years. My grandma raised 13 kids and has a TON of grandkids. She loves making this cake because it’s delicious but it also feeds a lot of people. It’s a perfect candidate for parties, picnics, and reunions this summer. I’ve gotten it down to an art and can make this beauty in just under 30 minutes, start to finish. Here’s a few other accolades, it’s great the next day (if not better) and it travels really well. Put this on your to make list next time you have an event to attend because it’s pretty perfect. The best part, you cheat a little and use a box of cake mix for the cake (and yep, my Grandma uses the cake mix too, she’s the one who let me in on her time-saving tip!). A fool-proof homemade icing and some sprinkles seal the deal and you are done!
from blessthismessplease.com

Ingredients

• For the Cake
• 1 box Better Crocker Devil's Food Cake Mix (plus ingredients called for on the box)
• For the Icing
• 1 stick (1/2 cup) butter
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder (I like the dark dutch-processed kind, my family prefers normal Hershey's kind)
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 pound or 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• As many sprinkles as your heart desires, the more the better

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Make the cake batter according to the package directions and spread it evenly into a large greased, rimmed sheet cake pan (also called a Jelly Roll pan, should measure about 17 1/2 inches by 13 inches). Bake until the cake is cooked through. You'll start to smell the cake and the cake will spring back when touched lightly, 12 to 15 minutes.

While the cake is cooking, in a small sauce pan heat the butter, milk, and cocoa over medium heat until the butter melts, stirring often. Remove from the heat. Add the powdered sugar to a large bowl (you can also use a stand mixer here) and slowly whisk in the melted butter mixture into the powdered sugar. Stir until well combined and no lumps remain. Add the vanilla and stir to combine.

While the cake is still warm (let it sit for maybe 5-7 minutes, you want it hot but not pipping hot), drizzle the icing over the warm cake and then use a spatula to spread it to the edges. If you try to spread too much or go over the same place again and again you are going to pull up the top of the cake and get crumbs in your icing. The goal is to quickly spread it out and move on... too much fussing will just make a mess. Add the sprinkles while the icing is still warm. The sprinkles will also cover any messes you made if you tried to spread the icing too much.

The cake is great warm, at room temperature, and even the next day. No need to refrigerate over night, sugar is an excellent preservative. I have a plastic lid that fits my sheet cake pan and makes traveling a breeze. I highly recommend a lid for your pan.