Texas sheet cake

Instructions:

1. Dissolve dark cocoa in boiling water.
2. In a bowl, cream together soft butter and fine sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla.
4. In another bowl, combine all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
5. Add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture alternately with milk and the cocoa mixture, beating well after each addition.
6. Pour the batter into three greased and floured 9-inch cake pans.
7. Bake at 350°C for about 20-25 minutes. Allow the cakes to cool for 10 minutes before transferring them from the pans to racks to cool completely.

Caramel Layer:

1. Line a 9-inch pan with aluminum foil and grease it with butter. Sprinkle chopped pecans on the foil and set aside.
2. In a large, heavy saucepan, combine sugar, brown sugar, 130 quarts of cream, corn syrup, and butter. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat.
3. Cook and stir until soft (about 5 minutes) and bring the mixture to a boil on medium-low heat, stirring constantly.
4. Cook until a candy thermometer reads 238°C (soft ball stage), approximately 10 minutes.
5. Remove from heat and quickly pour into the prepared pan (do not scrape the pan).

Ganache Layer:

1. Place a sheet of aluminum foil in a 9-inch pie pan and brush it with 1 teaspoon of butter. Sprinkle chopped pecans on the foil.
2. Put chocolate chips in a bowl. In a saucepan, bring the cream to a boil. Pour hot cream over chocolate and whisk until smooth.
3. Pour the mixture over the pecans and let it cool to room temperature. Refrigerate until set.

To Decorate:

1. In the microwave, melt unsweetened chocolate and chocolate chips; Stir until smooth. Let it cool a little.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, butter, milk, cocoa, and vanilla until smooth.
3. Stir in melted chocolate.

To Assemble the Cake:

1. Place a cake layer on a serving plate.
2. Remove the tin from the caramel and place it on top.
3. Cover with another layer of cake.
4. Remove the foil from the ganache and place it on top.
5. Cover with the remaining cake layer.
6. Ice the cake with the chocolate mixture.
7. Decorate as desired.

Enjoy!