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Prep time
40 minutes
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Cook time
35 minutes
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makes
1 (9x13-inch) cake
Author Notes
This classic cake combo is one of two sheet cakes I made inspired by my parents. They would call this “wedding cake”—aka a light and fluffy white cake with a hint of almond extract to add that little bit of bonus creaminess. If you’re not a fan of almond, you can just double up on the vanilla instead. This cake is simple at its core, but it’s also easy to dress it up. Check out the episode of Bake It Up a Notch where I make this cake—I use piping tips to create a decorative border, and even add homemade vanilla bean sprinkles to take it really over the top! —Erin Jeanne McDowell
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White Sheet Cake
Ingredients
- White Cake
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3 3/4 cups
(450 grams) all-purpose flour
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2 ¼ teaspoons
(9 grams) baking powder
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1 teaspoon
(4 grams) fine sea salt
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10 ounces
(285 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature
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1 ½ cups
(454 grams) granulated sugar
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7
large (245 grams) egg whites, at room temperature
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1 ½ teaspoons
(7 grams) vanilla extract
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1/2 teaspoon
(2 grams) almond extract
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1 1/3 cups
(305 grams) whole milk, at room temperature
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1/4 cup
(60 grams) vegetable oil
- Vanilla Almond Frosting
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2 cups
(454 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature
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1 1/2 teaspoons
(5 grams) vanilla extract
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1/2 teaspoon
(2 grams) almond extract
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3/4 teaspoon
(2 grams) fine sea salt
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2
(14-ounce) cans sweetened condensed milk
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white sprinkles or homemade vanilla bean sprinkles (https://food52.com/recipes...)
Directions
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Make the cake: Lightly grease a 9x13-inch pan with nonstick spray. Heat the oven to 325°F with the oven rack in the center.
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In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder and salt to combine. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 4-5 minutes.
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Add the egg whites gradually in 4-5 additions, allowing each addition to incorporate fully on medium speed, then scraping the bowl well before adding the next.
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Add the vanilla and almond extracts, and mix well to combine. Scrape the bowl well. In a medium bowl, whisk the milk and oil to combine.
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Add about ⅓ of the flour mixture and mix on low speed to combine. Add ⅓ of the milk mixture and mix on low speed to incorporate. Repeat this process, alternating the dry and wet ingredients until everything is incorporated and the batter is smooth. Scrape the bowl well a few times as you mix.
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Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread into an even layer. Bake until the cake rises and the surface is golden brown, and a toothpick or skewer inserted into the center comes out clean, or with a few moist crumbs, 30-35 minutes.
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Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. While the cake cools, you can prepare the frosting.
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In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whip attachment, whip the butter on high speed until light, fluffy, and very aerated, 5-6 minutes. Scrape the bowl well, add the salt and vanilla, and whip for 1 minute more.
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With the mixer running on medium speed, add the sweetened condensed milk gradually in about 6 additions. Scrape the bowl several times as you incorporate the sweetened condensed milk.
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Continue to whip the frosting on medium-high speed until it’s thick and smooth, 1-4 minutes more. If desired, transfer about ½ of the frosting to a pastry bag fitted with a tip to decorate the outer border of the cake.
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Frost the surface of the cooled cake with the remaining icing in an even layer. Pipe decorative borders around the outside edge, and garnish with sprinkles.
I always have three kinds of hot sauce in my purse. I have a soft spot for making people their favorite dessert, especially if it's wrapped in a pastry crust. My newest cookbook, Savory Baking, came out in Fall of 2022 - is full of recipes to translate a love of baking into recipes for breakfast, dinner, and everything in between!
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