Texas Sheet Cake with a little spice take the form of cupcakes for an easy grab an go serving at a get-together. This is a classic staple in Texas kitchens and at events with family and friends. Lady Bird Johnson was even known to serve Texas Sheet cake to guests at the Stonewall Pedernales ranch on a regular basis. Adding cayenne pepper and a little bourbon in the icing give it that punch of taste.

Texas Sheet Cake Cupcakes

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Course Dessert

Servings 36 muffins

Ingredients

  

For the cake:

• 2 sticks unsalted butter
• 2 cups unbleached Texas flour
• 2 cups Imperial Sugar
• 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
• ½ tsp sea salt
• ¼ cup dark cocoa powder
• 1 cup coffee, boiling hot
• ½ cup buttermilk
• 2 whole eggs
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract

For the icing:

• 14 tbsp unsalted butter
• 4 tbsp dark cocoa powder
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
• 4 tbsp whole milk
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp Bourbon
• 1 cup chopped, roasted pecans

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Roast pecans on a baking sheet for 7 minutes.
• If using a 13 x 8 pan, line with parchment paper and butter the top of parchment paper. If making cupcakes, line with cupcake papers.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cinnamon, cayenne and salt and set aside.
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the 2 sticks butter. Add the cocoa powder and stir. Add the boiling hot coffee and stir to combine.
• Pour the mixture over the dry ingredients and stir. Let cool for about 5 minutes.
• In a medium bowl, pour the buttermilk and add beaten eggs, baking soda, and vanilla.
• Stir the buttermilk mixture into the butter/chocolate mixture.
• Pour into a sheet cake pan or cupcake pans (makes 36) and bake art 350 degrees for 20 minutes (sheet cake), or 15 minutes (cupcakes)
• While cake is baking, make the icing. Chop roasted pecans. Melt butter in a saucepan. Add cocoa, and stir. Remove from heat. Add milk, Vanilla, powdered sugar, cayenne pepper, and bourbon. Stir in pecans. Spoon onto cake or cupcakes.
• Indulge!

Notes

I have frozen this cake with great success. It is nice to cut into squares, place on a plate, and freeze. Let thaw for a quick dessert.