Everyday Sheet Cakes

A collection of mix-and-bake sheet cakes to satisfy weeknight dessert cravings.

- Mark Boughton/ styling: Teresa Blackburn

My mother never needed a special occasion to bake a cake. Birthdays and celebratory events were no-brainers, but so were A's on report cards and completely unremarkable, just-because Wednesday nights. In our home, single layer sheet cakes are still served in lieu of boxed brownie mixes and weeknight cookies. And why shouldn’t they be? Sheet cakes are simple to make and can be dressed up (or down) to your heart’s desire.

For a super casual sheet cake fit for a small family, serve your cake straight from the baking pan so you can cover and store leftovers. If you want to be a little fancier, present on a platter—but be sure to liberally grease and flour the pan before pouring in your batter so you can turn out the cake easily once baked.

—By Emily Arno