Dear Arizona,
I missed your birthday – what can I say? I’m sorry.
And such a big one -100 years- that’s impressive. You still look great. Are you using StriVectin?
Would you consider forgiving me if I bake you a cake? A big, fat, frosted cake? I’m getting out my whisk and hoping for the best…
I think that I remember you telling me that you LOVE canela, just like I do. So I’m making your cake with fresh canela!
I toasted the whole sticks and ground them to a fine powder in my spice grinder. The flavor is going to blow ya mind.
Look at that batter – perfect! Golden and fragrant! Spicy and sweet!
We’re getting it done.
And did you really think that I would skimp on the frosting? For your 100th birthday? Get real. I’m a lover, not a fighter.
I has a sheet cake in the oven.
I has a 7-minute frosting on my whisk.
I has a boo boo.
I’m wounding myself on your behalf, Arizona. I’m really putting my back into this. You just have to forgive me.
And there you have it. May I please have a piece?
Let’s take the final steps towards forgiveness by sharing some cake.
Sheet cakes are best shared with friends, don’t you think? I do.
And now you can blow out your candles. All 100 of them!
Don’t worry, they aren’t those trick re-lighting ones. I didn’t want you to pass out. After all, it’s your special day! Or at least it was on the 14th. But you’ve forgiven me already and there are no backsies in birthday baking.
Happy 100th Birthday, Arizona! Love, Meagan
Canela Sheet Cake
Please note that while I made both my cake and my frosting with fresh ground canela, pre-ground cinnamon may be substituted in both.
For the cake:
2 c. all-purpose flour
1 1/3 c. dark brown sugar, packed
1 c. white sugar, granulated
3/4 c. unsalted butter, softened
3/4 c. buttermilk
2 large eggs
1 tbsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. canela, ground (As I mentioned above, I toasted 2 sticks of whole canela on for several minutes over low heat on my comal. I then ground the sticks in my spice grinder to a fine powder. You can opt to proceed this same way and use whole canela here, or you could toast and grind whole cinnamon, or simply use pre-ground cinnamon. If you do grind whole canela, 2 sticks will yield approximately 3 tablespoons of ground spice.)
cooking spray
For the frosting:
2 c. sugar
3/4 c. water
4 egg whites
2 tsp. canela, ground (Again, ground cinnamon may be substituted.)
1/2 tsp. cream of tartar
1/2 tsp. salt
Preheat oven to 350°.
Prepare a 12″ x 16″ rimmed baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper and greasing the papered bottom and sides. Set the prepared pan aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, canela/cinnamon and salt and set aside.
In a large bowl, cream the sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time until mixed through. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture alternating with the buttermilk and scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Beat until just blended.
Spread the mixture out over the prepared pan, using a rubber scraper to smooth the batter as evenly as possible across the pan. Bake the cake for 25-27 minutes or until a cake tester inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean. The finished cake will be a deep golden brown with crusty edges. Set the baked cake aside to cool slightly before frosting.
Meanwhile, bring the water and sugar to a boil in a small saucepan with a candy thermometer affixed to its side. Boil until the mixture reaches 242°. Meanwhile, beat the egg whites, salt, cream of tartar and canela/cinnamon until frothy. Once the sugar mixture has reached temperature, immediately remove it from heat and, with your mixer running on high speed, slowly pour it into the egg mixture. Continue beating on high for 7 minutes or until the frosting becomes opaque, stiff and glossy. Once the frosting has cooled completely, spread it generously over the top of the cake and serve.
YIELD: one 12″ x 16″ cake, approximately 14-16 servings
I attempted this cake twice and both times had it overflow the pan into my oven. I am wondering if the 1 TBSP of baking soda is a typo, and should have been listed as 1 tsp.
If not do you have any ideas what went wrong?
It did smell great burning on the oven floor though:)
Oh no, Nanci! I’m so sorry to hear this! I have a few thoughts:
First, the rimmed baking sheets that I use are at least 1” deep – a slightly shallower rimmed sheet might not be able to accommodate this cake, which would result in the overflow.
Second, are you baking in a high altitude area? If so, you might need to reduce the amount of baking soda that you use in this recipe. I did use one tablespoon, but high altitude baking rules would dictate that you reduce the baking soda by 3/8 – 1 teaspoon, depending on how high you are.
These things aside, I want you to have the opportunity to try this cake without having to clean your oven again! I have baked this same recipe in 2- 9” round pans and it turned out really well. You may just need to reduce the baking time – I would start checking for doneness after 20 minutes and remove the cakes when a tester inserted in the center of one comes out clean.
I really hope this helps, Nanci! And I hope you’ll give this cake one last try!!
Thanks for the tips. I will give it another try, we were so excited to try it. I will let you know what works. Thanks again.
This might be the most darling birthday post I’ve ever seen. And the cake looks divine – I’ve never toasted and ground my own cinnamon before. Brilliant. Happening in the dusty kitchen soon. Brava.
I love cinnamon like a crazy person. Now I want this cake like a crazy person.
Such a delicious and decadent looking cake! This would be gone dangerously quickly in my house, I think. Great job on it, and beautiful photos to accompany.
Congrats on being top on foodbuzz! Arizona will be proud! Mmmmm!
What a gorgeous cake Meagan! I love an Old Fashioned Sheet cake, and anything and everything with Cinnamon is my weakness. Love!
Nom nom nom… this looks perfect. Cute Hello Kitty bandaid by the way. Keeper!
xo
http://allykayler.blogspot.com/
Congratulations on Top 9!! This sheet cake looks so moist and delicious! I’m sorry about your boo-boo, but you sealed it with a Hello Kitty bandage and that makes me love you even more Meagan lol Have a fab day love! <3
Happy Birthday Arizona
and i’m sure she’ll forgive you ~ This sheet cake looks fabulous ~ yummy! Thanks for sharing!
Whoa, this looks scrumptious. I’ll think of Arizona while I’m making it, but I’ll be thinking of my own self and how lucky I am while I’m eating it. Yeah, and maybe sharing it. Maybe.
Is it weird that I have a special fondness for sheet cake because they get served in the pan? I’m loving all over this.
HELLO KITTY SOLVES ALL!
WORD.
oooooh that freshly toasted and ground canela… in the creamy frosting too…
can I get one for my birthday? I don’t mind if it is late…
This is so mouthwatering. I Love the frosting so much.
I wouldnt let the weekend pass without me trying this…Cinnamon, I so miss you! Thanks for sharing!
Cinnamon cake! I love cinnamon everything, will you ship some for my birthday?!
It’s in a month! Wow, seriously, can’t stop thinking about cinnamon cake now. Yum!
Mmmmm, now that’s what I’m talking about! I am addicted to cinnamon, and this would be my cloud nine
Looks delicious! I’m sorry you got a boo-boo but I love the picture with your Hello Kitty band aide.
Yup, I love this cake! Especially the frosting! Just hand me a spoon!
I love cinnamon so this sheet cake sounds lovely, I would probably eat the whole thing
I love this cake and I love your hello kitty bandage. No more sacrificing yourself for your art girl! We like you with digits.
haha I would forgive anyone that baked me a cake! This looks sooooo yummy! I love love love the cinnamon cake
That frosting looks incredible! We love cinnamon, I just want to lick that whisk!
Beautiful!
I can taste it already. This sounds like a marvelous cake. Happy Birthday Arizona!
Hm..I would prefer 100 cakes and 1 candle..
That icing looks so creamy and delicious. Love the simplicity of a good sheet cake.
That’s funny! Hope your boo boo is better soon! I’m thinking the Hello Kitty band-aid might help…
Hello Kitty ALWAYS heals me right up.
Wow – that’s incredible! I’m allergic to cinnamon, so I can’t indulge, but Happy Birthday, Arizona and I hope your boo-boo heals quickly!
this sounds amazing, I love canela. I love sheet cake. I even love Arizona!
I’ve never heard of canela before…but I’d love to get my hands on some! What a tasty bday cake. So glad you didn’t attempt to light all 100 candles
Happy birthday to Arizona!
This cake looks really good, I love canela.
Can I have a slice of it pretty please? haha
This sheet cake looks amazing! I have never made a sheet cake, but def will have to try your recipe. Thanks for sharing
I am all about this. The flavors, the one big pan of it (much easier than making individual cookies IMO)…YUM! Can I have extra frosting on my slice? Thanks!
YES to extra frosting!
Wow! This looks amazing, especially that icing!!!
I want to dip my finger right into that fluffy icing! So fabulous!
I really need to make more sheet cake. I always forget about how easy it is!
This is stinking beautiful and I want to eat the WHOLE thing!
Oh how I love this post. No relighting candles? Probably a good idea, 100 IS super old. It’s a wonder Arizona hasn’t broken it’s hip yet!!