Texas Sheet Cake-- A Love Story

Some years back I asked my then brand-spankin'-new boyfriend what kind of cake he'd like for his birthday. I figured I'd made or at least tasted just about every type of cake out there, and I was going to impress him with my culinary skills. He didn't even have to think before saying he wanted the same cake his Grandma Esther used to make him: a Texas sheet cake. Uh-oh! I had never even heard of a Texas Sheet Cake, much less tasted or made one. And all the boyfriend could tell me was that it was chocolate and made in a jelly roll pan.

Thanks to Google and the baking gene I inherited from Grandma Jinx, I was able to come up with something that got his seal of approval. In fact, he liked it so much that he's asked for it on every one of the five birthdays he's had since then. Even this year when both of our baby boys had ear infections and I had strep throat, and the cat had been in a fight, Texas Sheet Cake was here to help us celebrate his birthday.

I don't know if it was the cake, or the baking gene, or some other mysterious force that made him fall in love with me, but I sure am lucky to have someone like him to bake for.

Now, more about the cake: Oh, she might not look like much, but the cake itself is so tender and moist and light and fluffy and the icing is chocolaty and smooth (well, save for the walnuts). It's so decadent that you've got to top it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream to cut the sweetness. You'll hate yourself for eating it and then you'll find yourself putting another piece on your plate.