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Easy Crowd-Pleasing Sheet Cake Recipe with School Colors Frosting for Parties

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A simple, moist, and tender sheet cake topped with customizable vibrant school colors frosting, perfect for parties and gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups (315 g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups (400 g) granulated sugar
  • 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup (170 g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • 1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk, room temperature (can substitute with milk plus 1 tsp vinegar)
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (240 ml) hot water or brewed coffee
  • 1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter, softened (for frosting)
  • 4 cups (480 g) powdered sugar, sifted (for frosting)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (for frosting)
  • 2–4 tablespoons (30–60 ml) milk or heavy cream (for frosting)
  • Gel food coloring in chosen school colors

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13 inch sheet pan or line it with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until evenly combined.
  3. In another bowl, whisk melted butter, buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla extract until smooth.
  4. Slowly add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients and stir gently with a spatula until just combined; do not overmix.
  5. Gradually pour in hot water or brewed coffee while stirring to thin the batter and keep it moist.
  6. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Tap the pan gently to release air bubbles.
  7. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
  8. Cool the cake in the pan on a wire rack for at least 20 minutes before frosting.
  9. To prepare frosting, beat softened butter with powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Add milk or cream to reach desired consistency.
  10. Divide frosting into bowls and add gel food coloring to each to match school colors. Mix until colors are vibrant and uniform.
  11. Spread a thin base layer of white or neutral frosting on the cake using an offset spatula.
  12. Apply colored frosting in stripes, blocks, or patterns representing the school colors using a knife or piping bag.
  13. Chill the frosted cake for 15 minutes to set the frosting and make cutting easier.

Notes

Do not overmix the batter to avoid a tough cake. Use room temperature ingredients for better texture. Gel food coloring is recommended for vibrant, non-runny frosting. Chill the cake between frosting layers for clean color lines. Cool the cake completely before frosting to prevent melting.

Nutrition

Keywords: sheet cake, school colors frosting, party cake, easy cake recipe, crowd-pleaser, colorful frosting, moist cake

Find it online: https://tastytuck.com/easy-crowd-pleasing-sheet-cake-recipe-with-school-colors-frosting-for-parties/