Satisfy your dessert cravings with the indulgent Peanut Butter Texas Sheet Cake, a symphony of flavors and textures. Elevate your baking skills by following these straightforward steps, ensuring a sweet experience from start to finish.
To embark on this culinary journey, assemble the essentials for the cake – all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, unsalted butter, cocoa powder, water, buttermilk, eggs, vanilla extract, and the star of the show, creamy peanut butter. The icing, a decadent finale, requires additional butter, buttermilk, cocoa powder, confectioners’ sugar, and a touch of vanilla extract. Begin by preheating your oven to a toasty 350°F and preparing a 9” x 13” baking pan with a light greasing and flouring. In a sizable bowl, whisk together the dry trio of flour, sugar, and baking soda, setting the stage for the ensuing flavor extravaganza.
As you melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat, anticipation builds. A delightful cocoa infusion follows, with the addition of water, buttermilk, and eggs. Keep stirring this velvety concoction until it reaches a gentle boil, a moment of culinary alchemy. Now, unite the wet and dry elements, seamlessly blending the cocoa-infused mixture with the waiting flour medley. The addition of vanilla extract crowns this amalgamation, creating a harmonious batter ready for the spotlight.
Transfer this luscious batter to the awaiting pan, ensuring an even spread. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick emerges clean from the center. While the cake cools, patiently anticipate the final peanut butter layer, a creamy interlude that enhances the cake’s richness. For the icing, sift confectioners’ sugar into a welcoming bowl. In a separate saucepan, orchestrate a symphony of butter, buttermilk, and cocoa. Allow this melange to simmer until it dances to a boil, a prelude to sweetness. The grand finale involves combining this cocoa elixir with the awaiting confectioners’ sugar, stirring until a smooth crescendo emerges. A touch of vanilla adds the final flourish to the icing masterpiece.
Ingredients:
**For the Cake:**
– 2 cups all-purpose flour
– 2 cups granulated sugar
– 1 teaspoon baking soda
– 1 cup unsalted butter
– 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
– 1 cup water
– 1/2 cup buttermilk
– 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
– 16 ounces (about 1 & 1/2 cups) creamy peanut butter
**For the Icing:**
– 1/2 cup unsalted butter
– 1/3 cup buttermilk
– 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
– 16 ounces confectioners’ sugar, sifted
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:
1. **Preheat & Prepare:** Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9” x 13” baking pan.
2. **Dry Ingredients:** In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, and baking soda. Set aside.
3. **Butter Mixture:** Place butter in a medium saucepan and melt over medium heat.
4. **Cocoa Infusion:** Stir in cocoa powder, then add water, buttermilk, and eggs. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture boils.
5. **Combine with Dry Ingredients:** Remove from heat and add to the flour mixture. Stir until smooth. Incorporate vanilla.
6. **Batter & Bake:** Transfer the batter to the prepared pan, spreading it evenly. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
7. **Peanut Butter Layer:** Allow the cake to cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Then, spread the creamy peanut butter evenly over the cake and let it cool completely.
8. **Icing Preparation:** For the icing, place sifted confectioners’ sugar in a large bowl.
9. **Butter & Cocoa Mixture:** In a small saucepan, combine butter, buttermilk, and cocoa. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until it begins to boil.
10. **Combine Icing:** Remove from heat and pour over the confectioners’ sugar. Stir until smooth. Add vanilla.
11. **Icing the Cake:** Spread the icing over the peanut butter layer. The cake can be served immediately or left at room temperature to allow the icing to set.
With bated breath, spread this velvety icing over the peanut butter layer, creating a visual and culinary masterpiece. This Peanut Butter Texas Sheet Cake can be savored immediately, but for those who appreciate anticipation, let it set at room temperature for an even more delightful treat. Indulge in the decadence of this exquisite dessert, where rich cocoa, velvety peanut butter, and sweet icing converge for a symphony of flavors that will leave your taste buds singing.