sheet cake

{{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.

American sheet cake

American 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.{{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}}

They may be made in any flavor, with chocolate and vanilla being the two most common.{{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=}} Commonly made in the home with boxed cake mixes, they can come in a variety of additional flavors, with batter mix-ins such as sprinkles and chocolate chips. By definition, they are made from a single continuous piece of cake. Ingredients such as nuts, chocolate chips, or coconut may 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.

= Purchasing =

In the United States, these cakes are commonly available in supermarkets and bakeries and tend to be inexpensive due to their simple manufacturing process.{{Cite news|date=2016-08-19|title=Cakes for Any Occasion - Walmart.com|language=en-US|work=Walmart.com|url=https://www.walmart.com/ideas/entertaining/cakes-for-any-occasion/43661|access-date=2018-10-20}}{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Sheet Cake Cite|url=https://www.frysfood.com/topic/cakes-2|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}

= Size =

Cake sizes are named after the size of pan that the cake is baked in. A full-size commercial sheet cake pan is {{convert|18|x|24|in|cm|0}} or {{convert|18|x|26|in|cm|0}} in size.{{Cite web|url=https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-size-of-a-full-sheet-cake|title=What is the size of a full sheet cake?}} A half-sheet is half that size, and a quarter-sheet or {{convert|9|x|13|in|cm|0|adj=on}} pan, which usually results in 16 to 24 servings of cake, is one-quarter the size. Sheet cakes, in general, are usually {{convert|2|to|3|in|cm|0}} deep.

= Gallery =

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

German sheet cake

Several kinds of sheet cake are also part of traditional German cuisine. They are typically not iced or decorated for a specific celebration as American sheet cakes are, and may use any kind of dough such as yeast-leavened or sponge.

Examples of German-style sheet cakes ({{lang|de|Blechkuchen}}, {{IPA|de|ˈblɛçˌkuːxn̩|pron}}) include Bienenstich, Donauwelle, Butterkuchen and {{ill|Schmandkuchen|de}}.