Emily's Incredible Chocolate Sheet Cake

Okay, I am not exaggerating a bit when I tell you this is the best homemade chocolate dessert I have ever had. My neighbor and friend Emily brought over a plate with three big pieces on it and it looked so amazing I immediately tried one. Then, it was so freaking good that I ate another piece. And then I wanted to leave the last piece for Dalin because, frankly I'd already eaten 2/3 of the plate and it was like 10pm, but he said he wasn't hungry right then and well...my total lack of self-control (either due to pregnancy or just my being hungry for more) took over and I ate the third piece. Yes, it is kind of embarrassing to admit this, but do I regret it? Not really, except that Dalin told me he was ready to try it the next morning (though he may have been joking with me--I can never tell) and I had to tell him it was far too late for that.

So then I obviously had to get the recipe because the dessert was so incredible and Dalin was never going to know it unless I made it myself. Fortunately, Emily was a saint and sent it to me right away and now I am here to share it with you. Because that much goodness has to be shared.

Cake Ingredients: 
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1/4 tsp salt
4 heaping Tbsp cocoa
2 sticks butter
1 cup boiling water
1/2 cup buttermilk (or substitute with milk or almond milk and a little bit of vinegar)
2 beaten eggs
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla

Icing:
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans OR almonds
3/4 to 1 stick of butter
4 heaping Tbsp cocoa
6 Tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 lb. minus 1/2 cup (or about 4 cups) of powdered sugar

Instructions: 
1. Combine flour, sugar, and salt in a mixing bowl
2. Melt butter in a saucepan. Stir in cocoa. Add boiling water and let boil for 30 seconds, then turn heat off. Add to flour mixture and stir.
3. Add buttermilk, eggs, baking soda, and vanilla to mixture.
4. Pour completed mixture into about a 18x13" baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

5. Make the icing by melting butter in a saucepan and adding cocoa. Once stirred in, turn heat off.
6. Stir in the milk, vanilla, and powdered sugar. Then add the chopped nuts. Pour over warm cake.
7. Enjoy and thank me later for this incredibly delectable chocolately dessert (so I can in turn thank Emily for you:)

It may sound like a lot of ingredients to work with, but I can't tell you how worth it it is!

I'd love to hear if you try this dessert and how it turned out for you!

Happy baking:)