Swans Down Sheet Cake

Ingredients

• Butter and flour for the pan
• 3 cups sifted Swans Down® Cake Flour
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup milk (whole or low fat)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• Frosting and toppings, as desired

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F, then grease a 9×13-inch rectangular baking pan with butter and lightly dust with flour.(For a larger, flatter sheet cake, use a 13×18-inch baker’s half-sheet pan, and expect a faster baking time.)
2. Add the already sifted flour, the baking powder and the salt into the sifter and sift the mixture into a bowl; set aside.
3. Place the butter in a bowl (or stand mixer if you have one) and mix until creamy. Gradually add sugar, mixing until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add sifted flour mixture alternately with milk and extracts, blending after each addition until smooth. (Do not overbeat!)
4. Spread batter evenly in pan and bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until tester inserted into cake comes out clean. (If using the larger 13×18-inch sheet pan, baking time will be faster; begin to check for doneness starting at 18 minutes.) Remove from oven and cool; after 10 minutes you can remove cake from pan, if desired.
5. Frost and decorate however you want, with homemade frosting, flavored whipped cream, sprinkles and candy.

Kitchen Tips:

• To make it chocolate: Add 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder to dry ingredients.
• To make it strawberry: Add a box of strawberry Jell-O® to dry ingredients + 1 cup mashed strawberries to eggs.