Metz Cake Recipes

TEXAS SHEET CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F; butter the bottom and sides of a 15 1/2-by-10 1/2-inch jelly roll pan.
• Whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a large bowl until combined. Whisk the sour cream, vanilla and eggs in a medium bowl or large liquid measuring cup until smooth. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, add the butter, cocoa powder and 1 cup water to a medium saucepan and set over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the butter is completely melted, about 5 minutes.
• Pour the melted butter mixture into the flour mixture and stir until combined. Stir in the sour cream mixture in 2 additions until combined. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it into an even layer.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool slightly in the pan.
• For the frosting: Combine the pecans, butter and salt in a medium saucepan and place over medium heat. Cook until the butter is melted and the pecans are lightly toasted, about 5 minutes. Stir in the cocoa powder and vanilla and remove from the heat. Whisk in the confectioners' sugar in 2 batches, alternating with the milk and mixing well after each addition.
• Immediately pour the warm frosting over the warm cake and gently spread to cover. Let the cake cool completely before slicing.

PEPPERMINT CANDY CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and coat two 9-inch-round cake pans with cooking spray; line with parchment paper. Prepare the cake mix as directed; transfer the batter to the pans. Bake and cool as directed.
• Combine half of the frosting with the crushed candy. Place 1 cake on a small cardboard circle, domed-side down; spread with the candy frosting. Place the other cake on top, domed-side up.
• Round the bottom and top edges of the layer cake with a small serrated knife as shown. Cover the whole cake with a thin layer of the remaining plain frosting.
• Microwave the marshmallows with 1/4 cup water in a large bowl until melted. Add the peppermint extract; gradually beat in all but 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar with a mixer until thick and stiff. Beat in the butter.
• Remove half of the frosting mixture; knead in a little more confectioners' sugar until smooth. Roll out into a 13-inch circle on a piece of parchment dusted with confectioners' sugar.
• Carefully invert the rolled-out frosting onto the cake; peel off the parchment, brushing off the excess sugar. Tuck around the bottom edge of the cake, pressing gently to adhere; trim the excess.
• Beat enough gel food coloring into the remaining frosting mixture until bright red. Knead in the remaining confectioners' sugar until smooth.
• Roll out the red frosting until 1/4 inch thick. Cut a 7-by-1 3/4-inch wavy stripe with a pointed tip out of paper (for a template, go to foodnetwork.com/caketemplate). Using the template, cut out 7 red stripes of frosting.
• Carefully arrange the red stripes around the cake with the tips meeting at the center; press gently to adhere and tuck around the bottom of the cake, then trim any excess. Wrap the cake in cellophane.