Ina Garten's Signature Birthday Sheet Cake with Chocolate Frosting Only Takes 45 Minutes to Make

Ina Garten is a master of at-home entertaining, and if we've learned anything over the years, it's that she loves a no-fuss way to celebrate. So it comes as no surprise that one of her many suggestions for a birthday cake falls under that very category.

As we learned from CheatSheet.com, there's a certain birthday sheet cake that's our top contender for easy birthday cake recipes from the Barefoot Contessa's portfolio. Behold Ina Garten's Birthday Sheet Cake, a lovely combination with a vanilla cake base and a chocolate icing, that's the perfect birthday cake go-to recipe.

Best of all, the recipe comes together in a total of only 45 minutes, making it an ideal recipe to turn to if you found yourself in a Sweet Magnolias streaming vortex, and you forgot you had to get a cake on the table pronto. Made with common kitchen staples like sugar, vanilla extract, all-purpose flour, baking soda, semisweet chocolate chips, butter, and more, Garten recommends topping this cake off with chocolate candies like M&M's, but we think extra chocolate chips or sprinkles on top would be excellent pinch hitters. Or, for the upcoming Valentine's Day holiday, jazz it up with conversation hearts. However you decorate it, you can get the full recipe here on FoodNetwork.com. If you love chocolate, we're also big fans of Garten's Mocha Chocolate Icebox Cake and Boston Cream Pie with Grand Marnier Pastry Cream.

Garten's birthday is February 2. We'll be now be baking up this cake each year in your honor.