Sheet cake
 |
 Iced and decorated American sheet cake for a student graduation | |
| Alternative names | Slab cake |
|---|---|
| Type | Cake |
| Course | Dessert |
| Serving temperature | Cold |
A sheet cake or slab cake is a cake baked in a large, flat, rectangular cake pan. Sheet cakes can be grouped into two broad categories.
American sheet cake
[edit]American sheet cakes are usually 2 inches (5 cm) deep, although they are sometimes 3 inches (8 cm) deep. These single-layer cakes are frequently frosted, with decorations and ornamental frosting along the borders and the flat top surface.[1]
They are commonly sold as boxed cake mixes, which can then be baked in the home. They come in a variety of flavors, with chocolate and vanilla being the two most common.[2] They also often include batter mix-ins, such as sprinkles and chocolate chips. By definition, American sheet cakes they are made from a single continuous piece of cake. Nuts, chocolate chips, coconut flakes, or other toppings can be sprinkled over the top.
To create a layer cake, one can slice through a sheet cake to create layers, then divide each layer with jam or icing, then frost the top.
Purchasing
[edit]In the United States, these cakes are commonly available in supermarkets and bakeries and tend to be inexpensive due to their simple manufacturing process.[3][4] There are many brands that sell boxed sheet cake, including Betty Crocker, King Arther Flour, and Duncan Hines.[5]
Size
[edit]Cake sizes are named after the size of pan that the cake is baked in. A full-size commercial sheet cake pan is 18 by 24 inches (46 cm × 61 cm) or 18 by 26 inches (46 cm × 66 cm) in size.[6] A half-sheet is half that size, and a quarter-sheet or 9-by-13-inch (23 cm × 33 cm) pan, which usually results in 16 to 24 servings of cake, is one-quarter the size. Sheet cakes, in general, are usually 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 cm) deep.
Gallery
[edit]-
A man cuts into a slab cake. -
A large sheet cake, served at a political event -
Edible ink printing can produce a photo-like decoration. -
Donauwelle, a marble cake with cherries -
Chocolate sheet cake topped with nuts -
Sheet cake with pineapples and maraschino cherries -
Decorated sheet cake, partially cut for serving
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German sheet cake
[edit]Several kinds of sheet cake are also part of traditional German cuisine. They are typically not iced or decorated for a specific celebration as American sheet cakes are, and may use any kind of dough such as yeast-leavened or sponge.
Examples of German-style sheet cakes (Blechkuchen, pronounced [ˈblɛçˌkuːxn̩]) include Bienenstich, Donauwelle, Butterkuchen and Schmandkuchen.
Gallery
[edit]-
Bienenstich -
Donauwelle, cross-section -
A slice of Butterkuchen, showing a yeasted dough base and almond topping -
Schmandkuchen -
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A slice of apple sheet cake
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ "sheet cake (noun) American English definition and synonyms | Macmillan Dictionary". www.macmillandictionary.com. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
- ^ "Popular Cake Flavors" (PDF).
- ^ "Cakes for Any Occasion - Walmart.com". Walmart.com. 19 August 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
- ^ "Sheet Cake Cite".
- ^ "We Tried 9 Kinds of Yellow Cake Mix and This Was Our Favorite". Allrecipes. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
- ^ "What is the size of a full sheet cake?".
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