Tender White Celebration Sheet Cake

1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan

Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare a 13 by 9-inch baking pan by greasing it, lining it with parchment paper, greasing the parchment paper as well, and then lightly flouring the pan to ensure the cake releases easily after baking.

2. Mix Wet Ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk together the whole milk, egg whites, almond extract (if using), and vanilla extract. Set this mixture aside for later.

3. Combine Dry Ingredients and Add Butter

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the cake flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Mix these dry ingredients briefly to distribute them evenly. With the mixer running on low speed, add the softened butter, one piece at a time. Continue mixing until the mixture forms pea-sized pieces, which should take about a minute.

4. Incorporate Wet Ingredients into Dry Mixture

Next, pour in half of the milk mixture and increase the mixer speed to medium-high. Beat the batter for one minute. This step is crucial as it incorporates air into the batter, resulting in a light and fluffy texture. The batter should become light and fluffy during this process. Reduce the mixer speed to medium-low and add the remaining milk mixture. Mix for another 30 seconds, even if the batter looks slightly curdled at this stage, that's perfectly normal.

5. Pour Batter and Bake

Finish mixing by hand to ensure everything is well incorporated. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Tap the pan gently on the counter to release any trapped air bubbles. Bake the cake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached. Rotate the pan halfway through the baking time to ensure even cooking.

6. Cool and Frost

Once done, let the cake cool in the pan for about 2 hours. To remove the cake, run a paring knife around the edges, flip it out onto a wire rack, peel off the parchment paper, and then flip it right side up onto your serving platter. Finally, spread the buttercream frosting evenly over the top and sides of the completely cooled cake. Your tender white celebration sheet cake is now ready to serve and enjoy!