Texas sheet cake, that is. I'm not a big cake fan. I'll eat cupcakes but not slice of cake. I figure it's because of the whole committment factor, knowing that the rest of the cake is waiting to be devoured and I don't like the pressure. However, I have discovered a sinfully rich cake that I absolutely love and find incredibly easy to make; plus there's no pressure to devour it since it's always gone as soon as I serve it.

There are a lot of variations to this recipe, but this is the one I follow and have always gotten the best results from. Thanks to Pioneer Woman for the best recipe compilation.

Texas Sheet Cake

In a mixing bowl, combine the following ingredients:
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt

In a saucepan, melt:
2 sticks butter
Add 4 heaping tablespoons cocoa. Stir together.
Add 1 cup boiling water, allow mixture to boil for 30 seconds, then turn off heat. Pour over flour mixture, and stir lightly to cool.
Make sure to keep a good eye on this bubbling chocolaty goo because it tends to burn easily and quickly.

In a measuring cup, beat two eggs and then add 1/2 cup buttermilk, 1 teaspoon baking soda and 1 teaspoon vanilla.

I'm not one to have buttermilk sitting in my fridge so I make my own. It's easy...add 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice to one cup of milk and let it work it's magic for 10 minutes or so. There you have it, buttermilk!

Stir buttermilk mixture into butter/chocolate mixture. Pour into sheet cake pan and bake at 350-degrees for 20 minutes. I suggest you use a pan that's a step up from a 9X13. You want this cake to be more brownie height rather than normal cake height, if that makes sense!

While cake is baking, make the icing:

Melt 1 3/4 sticks butter in a saucepan.
Add 4 heaping tablespoons cocoa, stir to combine, then turn off heat.
Add:
6 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 lb powdered sugar
Stir together.
Pour over warm cake.

My girl cake loving family prefers no nuts, but should you have a boy cake loving family, add 1/3 cup of chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, etc.) to the blended frosting ingredients.

Cut into squares, eat, and be prepared to be transported to a happier place - especially if you have a tall glass of ice cold milk or a cup of black coffee.