- 24
- 80 mins
- 125 mins
Ingredients
- Cake:
- 3 cups flour
- 3 cups sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3 large eggs
- 3/4 cup sour cream
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) butter
- 3/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 cups hot water
- Frosting:
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- 4 cups powdered sugar (confectioners' sugar)
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preparation
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 18 by 13-inch rimmed baking sheet.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. In a separate mixing bowl, beat the eggs and mix in the sour cream, and vanilla. Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture, mixing until just combined.
In a saucepan over medium-high heat, melt the butter and stir in the cocoa powder, and hot water. Bring the mixture to a boil and then remove from the heat. Cool slightly, and incorporate the cocoa mixture with the dry ingredients, mixing just until blended.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 25 minutes, or until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool completely.
For the frosting:
In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the cocoa powder and mix until smooth. Remove from the heat. In a separate large bowl, whisk together the milk, and powdered sugar until fully incorporated. Stir in the vanilla, and slowly incorporate the chocolate mixture, blending well after each addition.
Frost the cake while both the frosting and cake are still warm.
Cook's Note: Making a sheet cake is the best bang for your buck when it comes to dessert for a group. To vamp it up, take small biscuit cutters and create tiered cakes that can be dusted with powdered sugar. Cake scraps can be saved for a delicious trifle the next day.