Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 cup water
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 cups white sugar
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
  • Icing:
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 5 tablespoons milk
  • 1 (16 ounce) package confectioners' sugar, sifted
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C), and grease and flour a 10x15 inch sheet pan.
  • Stir together the flour and salt in a large mixing bowl.
  • Place 1 cup butter with the water in a saucepan, and bring to a boil over medium heat. Remove from the heat, and set aside to cool.
  • Beat eggs in a separate mixing bowl, and stir in the sugar, buttermilk, boiled butter mixture, baking soda, baking powder, vanilla extract, and almond extract until well combined.
  • Pour the egg mixture into the flour mixture, and stir until the batter is well mixed. Pour the batter into the prepared baking sheet.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, about 15 minutes. Let the cake cool before icing.
  • To make icing, place 1/2 cup of butter and the milk into a saucepan, and bring to a boil over medium-low heat. Remove from the heat, and beat in the confectioners' sugar, chopped pecans, and vanilla extract. Ice the cooled cake with the warm frosting.