Birthday Sheet Cake

 

• Level: Intermediate

• Total: 45 min

• Prep: 15 min

• Cook: 30 min

• Yield: 1 (12x18-inch) cake

 

 

Ingredients

 

For the cake:

 

18 tablespoons (2 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature

 

3 cups sugar

 

6 extra-large eggs, at room temperature

 

8 ounces (about 1 cup) of sour cream, at room temperature

 

1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

 

1 lemon, zested

 

3 cups all-purpose flour

 

1/3 cup cornstarch

 

1 teaspoon kosher salt

 

1 teaspoon baking soda

For the frosting:

 

24 ounces semisweet chocolate chips

 

1 1/2 cups heavy cream

 

2 tablespoons light corn syrup

 

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

 

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature

 

Chocolate candies for decorating (recommended: M&M's)

 

 

Directions

 

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour a 12 by 18 by 1 1/2-inch sheet pan.

2. To make the cake, cream the butter and sugar on medium-high speed in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. On medium speed, add the eggs, 2 at a time, then the sour cream, vanilla, and lemon zest, scraping down the bowl as needed. Mix well. Sift together the flour, cornstarch, salt, and baking soda. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and stir just until smooth. Finish mixing by hand to be sure the batter is well mixed. Pour evenly into the pan, smooth the top with a spatula, and bake in the centre of the oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

 

Let the pan cool down to room temperature.

 

3. To make the frosting, put the chocolate chips and heavy cream in a basin over a saucepan of simmering water. Stir the chips every so often until they melt fully. Turn off the heat and stir in the vanilla and corn syrup. Let the chocolate mixture cool until it reaches room temperature.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk the chocolate mixture and softened butter on medium speed for a few minutes, until it's thickened.

4. Spread the frosting evenly on the cake. Have the children decorate the cake with chocolate candies.

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