When your house is filled with coffee, sometimes it doesn't all get consumed and there is a leftover cup. Or sometimes you just need and excuse to make another pot. Either way, cooking with coffee is a great way to deal with these issues. Thankfully there are lots of recipes out there using coffee in some way.
One of my favorites is for Texan Sheet Cake. Not being from Texas, I have no idea whether this is a traditional dish or if adding coffee to this cake is the "right" way to make it (like the age old debate about adding beans to chili). My first encounter with sheet cake was at a church dinner and it was amazing. Like where has this been my whole life mind blowing! I was given the recipe and was amazed at how simple it is. Again, wondering why people don't make this all the time because it's easy and always a crowd pleaser.
The coffee in this sheet cake isn't noticeable but does make the other flavors pop. Enjoy it!
Texas Sheet Cake
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup shortening
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup strong coffee
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla
Frosting:
1/2 cup butter
2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
Grease 17x11 inch pan with butter.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
In a large mixing bowl, combine flour and sugar. In heavy saucepan, combine butter, shortening, coffee and cocoa. Stir and heat to boiling. Pour mixture over flour and sugar mixture. Add buttermilk, eggs, baking soda, and vanilla. Mix well. Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 20 minutes or until cake tests done in center.
When cake has been in the oven about 10-15 minutes, begin frosting. Combine butter, cocoa, and milk in saucepan and heat to boiling stirring constantly. Mix in powdered sugar, stirring until smooth. Add vanilla. Pour over sheet cake as soon as it comes out of the oven. Cool and cut into bars.