{{Short description|Cake baked in a flat rectangular pan}} {{use dmy dates |date=February 2023}} {{Infobox food | name = Sheet cake | image = Sheet cake.jpg | caption = Iced and decorated American sheet cake for a student graduation | alternate_name = Slab cake | region = | creator = | course = Dessert | type = Cake | served = Cold | main_ingredient = | variations = | other = }}
A '''sheet cake''' or '''slab cake''' is a cake baked in a large, flat, rectangular cake pan. Sheet cakes can be grouped into two broad categories.
Sheet cakes are usually {{convert|2|in|cm|0}} deep, although they are sometimes {{convert|3|in|cm|0}} deep. These single-layer cakes are frequently frosted, with decorations and ornamental frosting along the borders and the flat top surface.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.macmillandictionary.com/us/dictionary/american/sheet-cake_2|title=sheet cake (noun) American English definition and synonyms {{!}} Macmillan Dictionary|website=www.macmillandictionary.com|language=en|access-date=2018-10-20}}</ref>
These cakes are commonly available pre-made in supermarkets and bakeries and tend to be inexpensive due to their simple manufacturing process.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-08-19 |title=Cakes for Any Occasion - Walmart.com |url=https://www.walmart.com/ideas/entertaining/cakes-for-any-occasion/43661 |access-date=2018-10-20 |work=Walmart.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= |title=Sheet Cake Cite |url=https://www.frysfood.com/topic/cakes-2 |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date= |website=}}</ref> There are many brands that sell boxed cake mixes that can be baked as sheet cakes, including Betty Crocker, King Arthur Flour, and Duncan Hines.<ref>{{Cite web |title=We Tried 9 Kinds of Yellow Cake Mix and This Was Our Favorite |url=https://www.allrecipes.com/longform/best-yellow-cake-mix/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Allrecipes |language=en}}</ref>
== Flavors == They may be made in any flavor, with chocolate and vanilla being the two most common.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tribecatreats.com/pulse/data/img/uploads/CakeMenu2011.pdf|title=Popular Cake Flavors|last=|first=|date=|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref> Commonly made in the home with boxed cake mixes, they can come in a variety of additional flavors or with batter mix-ins, such as sprinkles and chocolate chips. Sheet cakes are made from a single continuous piece of cake, or, for very large cakes, several sheets of cake placed side by side so that it looks like a single continuous piece of cake. Nuts, chocolate chips, coconut flakes, or other toppings can be sprinkled over the top.
A layer cake may be made from a sheet cake that has been split, filled with jam or icing, and frosted.
== Size == Cake sizes are named after the size of pan that the cake is baked in. Sheet cakes, in general, are usually {{convert|2|to|3|in|cm|0}} deep, though a some recipes call for a thin sheet cake of 1 inch (2.5 cm) depth.
In American sizing, the full-size sheet pan is {{convert|26|x|18|in|abbr=on|mm}}, which is too large for most home ovens.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last1=Mitchell |first1=Karen |title=The Model Bakery Cookbook: 75 Favorite Recipes from the Beloved Napa Valley Bakery |last2=Hansen |first2=Sarah Mitchell |date=2013-09-17 |publisher=Chronicle Books |isbn=978-1-4521-2991-4 |pages=26 |language=en |chapter=Equipment |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UjFbMjSdhd4C&pg=PA26}}</ref> A half sheet pan is half that size, or about {{convert|18|x|13|in|abbr=on|mm}}.<ref name=":0" /> Quarter sheets are {{convert|9|x|13|in|abbr=on|mm}}.<ref name=":0" /> The half sheet is approximately the same size as the largest mass-market sheet cakes found in supermarkets, and the quarter sheet is a common size for rectangular, single-layer cakes (e.g., the size used for a regular-sized box of cake mix, holding six cups (1.5 L) of batter<ref>{{Cite book |last=Carpenter |first=Autumn |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tWX5AAAAQBAJ&dq=%22quarter+sheet%22+%22cake+mix%22&pg=PA22 |title=Decorate Cakes, Cupcakes, and Cookies with Kids: Techniques, Projects, and Party Plans for Teaching Kids, Teens, and Tots |date=2013-11-01 |publisher=Quarto Publishing Group USA |isbn=978-1-61058-874-4 |pages=22 |language=en}}</ref>).
A quarter-sheet usually results in 16 to 24 servings of cake.
== Gallery == <gallery mode="packed" heights="200"> File:Richard cuts cake MET athon 2017-05 jeh.jpg|A man cuts into a slab cake. File:Inaugural cake (15308061113).jpg|A large sheet cake, served at a political event File:Space Station slab cake.jpg|Edible ink printing can produce a photo-like decoration. File:Donauwelle blech hg.jpg|Donauwelle, a marble cake with cherries File:Sheet cake with chopped nuts.jpg|Chocolate sheet cake topped with nuts File:US Navy 021205-N-1328C-504 pulling out a fresh tray of Pineapple Upside Down Cake.jpg|Sheet cake with pineapples and maraschino cherries File:Halloween 2018 at Courtice Flea Market 20181028 154735 (45575425572).jpg|Decorated sheet cake, partially cut for serving </gallery>
== See also == {{Portal|Food}} * Cake decorating * School cake, a type of sheet cake * Swiss roll * List of desserts
==References== <references />
{{Cakes}}
{{dessert-stub}}
Category:American cakes Category:British cakes Category:German cakes Category:Canadian desserts Category:Australian desserts