Welcome to the definitive guide for crafting the most exquisite White Sheet Cake! This timeless classic is an absolute crowd-pleaser, making it the perfect dessert for any gathering, from casual picnics and summer barbecues to elegant holiday celebrations. Its delicate flavor profile, often enhanced with a hint of almond, offers a refreshing change from richer desserts and can be beautifully adorned with fresh berries for seasonal flair or creatively cut into festive shapes for special occasions. Prepare to delight every palate with this universally loved dessert.
This White Cake Recipe is not only ideal for serving a large group but also appeals to even the most discerning eaters. If you have guests who shy away from chocolate, nuts, coconut, or mint, this simple yet sophisticated vanilla sheet cake is guaranteed to be a hit. Its pure, unadulterated flavor and wonderfully moist crumb make it an undeniable favorite for all ages.
Why This White Sheet Cake Will Become Your Favorite
In a world often dominated by chocolate, there are moments when a lighter, equally satisfying dessert is precisely what’s needed. This remarkable white sheet cake stands out for several compelling reasons, making it an indispensable addition to your baking repertoire:
- **A Refreshing Alternative:** For those occasions when your family or guests crave a dessert that isn’t chocolate-based, this white sheet cake is the perfect solution. Its clean, sweet vanilla and almond notes provide a delightful contrast.
- **Effortless Entertaining:** Designed to easily feed a large gathering, this simple sheet cake recipe minimizes fuss without compromising on flavor. Its generous yield makes it ideal for parties, potlucks, and family reunions.
- **Unmatched Moisture and Tenderness:** The secret to this cake’s exceptional texture lies in the intelligent inclusion of sour cream. This ingredient works wonders, ensuring every bite is incredibly moist and tender, a hallmark of a truly great cake.
- **Flavor Customization:** Whether you prefer the classic warmth of pure vanilla extract, the subtle elegance of almond extract, or a harmonious blend of both, this recipe is incredibly versatile. Experiment to discover your perfect flavor balance.
- **Versatile Serving Options:** While utterly divine on its own, a slice of this white sheet cake can be elevated with a scoop of premium vanilla ice cream and a medley of seasonal berries, adding layers of flavor and texture. Even a plain slice offers an ideal remedy for a mid-afternoon sweet craving.
- **Universally Adored:** This recipe has consistently garnered praise, from my family’s enthusiastic approval to the rave reviews from friends at various social events. Its simple elegance and delicious taste resonate with everyone.
Essential Ingredients for a Perfect White Sheet Cake
Creating an outstanding white sheet cake begins with understanding the role each ingredient plays. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need and why it matters:
- Kitchen Staples: You’ll start with everyday pantry items like butter, water, all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, salt, baking soda, and milk. These form the fundamental structure and flavor base of your cake and frosting.
- Eggs: Large eggs are crucial for binding the ingredients, adding richness, and contributing to the cake’s structure. For optimal incorporation and a smooth batter, ensure your eggs are at room temperature. This helps them emulsify better with other ingredients.
- Sour Cream: This is a superstar ingredient for moisture and tenderness. Always opt for full-fat sour cream, as its higher fat content contributes significantly to a richer, moister crumb that’s truly irresistible.
- Vanilla Extract: For the best flavor, insist on using real vanilla extract. Artificial vanilla flavoring simply cannot replicate the deep, aromatic warmth that genuine vanilla brings to this classic white cake.
- Almond Extract: While optional, the addition of almond extract truly elevates this cake. The subtle, nutty aroma beautifully complements the vanilla, creating a sophisticated and memorable flavor profile. I highly recommend trying this combination.
- Powdered Sugar: Essential for the luscious frosting. To achieve the smoothest, most lump-free frosting imaginable, I strongly recommend sifting your powdered sugar before mixing. This simple step makes a significant difference in texture.
Expert Recipe Tips for a Flawless White Sheet Cake
Achieving the perfect white sheet cake is easier than you think with these expert tips and insights:
- Understanding Your Pan Size: This recipe is specifically designed for a jelly roll pan, which typically measures 15 x 10 inches. This size is smaller than a standard half-sheet pan. If you opt for a different pan size, be aware that the baking time will need to be carefully adjusted. A larger pan might result in a thinner cake that bakes faster, while a smaller pan will yield a thicker cake requiring more baking time.
- The Unique Mixing Technique: One of the distinctive aspects of this recipe is its mixing method. Unlike traditional cakes where butter is creamed with sugar, here, the butter and water are first brought to a boil in a large saucepan. The remaining ingredients are then stirred in by hand. This unusual technique helps create a tender, almost fudgy crumb that’s exceptionally moist and prevents overmixing.
- Precision Baking for Perfection: Always bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. This is the best indicator of doneness. Since oven temperatures can vary significantly, it’s wise to start checking a few minutes before the minimum recommended baking time. Overbaking can quickly lead to a dry cake, so vigilant monitoring is key.
- The Art of Warm Frosting: For the smoothest, most effortlessly spreadable frosting, it’s crucial to apply it while the cake is still warm. This allows the frosting to melt slightly and meld beautifully with the cake, creating a seamless, glossy finish that hardens into a delightful glaze as it cools. If you wait too long, the frosting will set too quickly, making it difficult to spread evenly.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: As mentioned for eggs, bringing all cold ingredients like butter and sour cream to room temperature allows for better emulsification, resulting in a smoother batter and a more uniform, tender cake crumb.
- Sifting Dry Ingredients: While not explicitly stated for flour in the original, sifting flour, baking soda, and salt together can help aerate them and remove any lumps, ensuring a lighter cake texture.
How to Serve and Creatively Present Your White Sheet Cake
This basic white cake recipe is a fantastic foundation for a myriad of serving ideas, making it incredibly versatile for any occasion. Its simplicity is its strength, allowing you to get creative with presentation:
For an elegant touch, serve slices with a generous topping of fresh, seasonal berries – think vibrant strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries in the summer. Alternatively, before the frosting hardens, sprinkle the cake with your favorite colorful sprinkles for a playful look, or add finely chopped toasted nuts for an added layer of texture and flavor. A classic pairing that never disappoints is a scoop of rich vanilla or strawberry ice cream alongside a slice.
If you’re planning ahead, chilling the iced cake overnight opens up a world of creative possibilities. Once firm, you can easily use your favorite cookie cutters to create delightful shapes – stars for the Fourth of July, charming Christmas trees for a holiday party, or even playful hearts for Valentine’s Day. The options for customization are truly endless! To match your theme perfectly, consider tinting the frosting with food coloring or adding decorative sprinkles. This exceptional white sheet cake recipe is an essential staple that deserves a permanent spot in your baking repertoire.
Consider serving this delightful cake with a warm cup of coffee or a chilled glass of milk. For more sophisticated gatherings, it pairs wonderfully with a light dessert wine or a sparkling cider.
Frequently Asked Questions About White Sheet Cakes
The number of servings from a sheet cake largely depends on the size of the pan you use and how generously you slice it. For a standard jelly roll pan (15 x 10 inches), you can expect to serve between 24 to 36 people, depending on whether you cut smaller squares for a large event or slightly larger portions for a family gathering.
The term “Texas sheet cake” typically refers to a chocolate sheet cake, often characterized by its large size, which is usually baked in a half-sheet pan (18 x 13 inches) and covered with a warm chocolate frosting. The name is believed to originate from the sheer size of the cake, reflecting the “everything’s bigger in Texas” adage, and its ability to serve a very large crowd. Our white sheet cake shares the crowd-pleasing practicality but offers a delightful vanilla-based flavor profile.
Absolutely! This white sheet cake is excellent for making in advance. You can bake the cake a day or two before serving. Once it’s completely cooled, frost it and store it covered at room temperature. For longer storage, see our freezing tips below.
Store any leftover white sheet cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2-3 days. If your kitchen is particularly warm, or if your frosting contains fresh cream, refrigeration might be advisable. Always cover it tightly to prevent the cake from drying out.
Yes, this white sheet cake freezes beautifully! You can freeze the unfrosted cake by wrapping it tightly in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil, for up to 2-3 months. To freeze frosted cake, first chill it until the frosting is firm, then wrap it securely. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
The primary difference between white cake and yellow cake lies in the eggs used. White cakes typically use only egg whites, resulting in a lighter color and often a slightly firmer texture. Yellow cakes, on the other hand, use whole eggs (both yolks and whites), which contributes to their golden hue, richer flavor, and often a more tender, moister crumb due to the fat from the egg yolks. Our white sheet cake uses whole eggs for richness and moisture, but is still considered a ‘white’ cake due to its predominant vanilla flavor and light appearance, differing from the more robust, buttery notes often found in a traditional yellow cake.
Explore More Delectable Dessert Recipes
As you prepare for Memorial Day weekend, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, or any special occasion, you’ll undoubtedly need simple yet sensational dessert ideas that impress a crowd. This simple White Sheet Cake is guaranteed to thrill your guests, but don’t stop there! Dive into our collection of other tasty recipes below, perfect for all your summer entertaining needs and beyond. Expand your baking horizons and find your next favorite sweet treat.
- Classic Chocolate Sheet Cake
- Zesty Key Lime Pound Cake
- Our Favorite Cake Recipes Collection
- Delightful Strawberry Pound Cake
- Patriotic American Flag Fruit Tart
- Refreshing Frozen Grasshopper Pie
- Discover more Irresistible Dessert Recipes
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White Sheet Cake Recipe
20 minutes
15 minutes
35 minutes
36 servings
For those times when you crave a delightful departure from chocolate, this magnificent White Sheet Cake recipe is your perfect choice. It’s designed to easily feed a crowd with its moist, tender crumb and classic vanilla-almond flavor. Adapted from Taste of Home.
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
- 1 cup water
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- ½ cup full-fat sour cream
- ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional, but recommended)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
For the Frosting:
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
- ¼ cup milk
- 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly spray a 15 x 10-inch jelly roll pan with nonstick cooking spray. Set the prepared pan aside.
- In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the butter and water. Bring this mixture to a rolling boil over medium heat, ensuring the butter is fully melted.
- Carefully remove the saucepan from the heat. By hand, gradually stir in the flour, sugar, beaten eggs, sour cream, almond extract (if using), vanilla extract, salt, and baking soda. Mix thoroughly by hand until all ingredients are well combined and the batter is smooth. Avoid overmixing.
- Pour the prepared cake batter evenly into the greased jelly roll pan. Bake for 15-22 minutes, or until the cake is lightly golden brown and a wooden toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Begin checking for doneness around 15 minutes to prevent overbaking, as oven temperatures can vary.
- Once baked, remove the cake from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool for exactly 15 minutes before proceeding to frost.
- While the cake is cooling, prepare the frosting. In a separate saucepan, combine the butter and milk. Bring this mixture to a boil over medium heat. Immediately remove it from the heat once boiling. Whisk in the sifted powdered sugar and almond extract until the frosting is smooth and creamy.
- Promptly frost the warm cake with the prepared frosting. Spread it evenly across the entire surface. If you plan to cut out festive shapes for a party theme, allow the cake to cool completely and then chill it in the refrigerator until the frosting is firm enough to cut cleanly.
Notes
I used an older insulated jelly roll pan, and my cake required a little over 20 minutes to bake through. Baking times can vary depending on your specific oven and the type of pan you use. To ensure perfect doneness without overbaking, start checking the cake with a toothpick or a gentle finger tap around the 15-minute mark.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
24
Serving Size:
1 slice
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 293Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 49mgSodium: 242mgCarbohydrates: 43gFiber: 0gSugar: 35gProtein: 2g
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