Chocolate traybake

Chocolate traybake
This American-style chocolate traybake is super-easy, can be prepared in advance and cuts into even portions. It's perfect for birthday parties or bake sales

  • Preparation and cooking time
    • Prep:15 mins
    • Cook:30 mins
  • Easy
  • Serves 10

Nutrition: per serving
NutrientUnit
kcal330
fat18g
saturates6g
carbs37g
sugars26g
fibre2g
protein4g
salt0.5g

Ingredients

For the chocolate sponge

  • 185ml vegetable oil, plus extra for the tin
  • 250g plain flour
  • 80g cocoa powder
  • 2½ tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 325g light brown soft sugar
  • 250ml buttermilk
  • 125ml strong coffee or espresso, (can be warm, but not hot)
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs

For the icing

  • 150g salted butter, softened
  • 200g icing sugar
  • 4 tbsp cocoa powder
  • 2 tbsp milk
  • sprinkles, sweets, chocolate shavings or nuts, to decorate

Method

  • STEP 1

    Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Oil and line the base and sides of a 33cm x 23cm roasting tin or cake tin with a lip of at least 2½ cm. Combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, bicarb, sugar and a good pinch of salt in a large bowl. Rub any lumps of sugar between your fingers, shaking the bowl a few times to bring them to the surface.

  • STEP 2

    Whisk the oil, buttermilk, coffee, vanilla and eggs in a jug, then pour the wet ingredients into the dry. Use a spatula to stir well, removing any pockets of flour. Pour the mixture into the lined tin and bake for 25-30 mins until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. If any wet cake mixture clings to the skewer, return the cake to the oven for 5 mins, then check again. Once cooked, remove from the oven and leave to cool in the tin for at least 20 mins.

  • STEP 3

    Meanwhile, make the icing. Melt the butter in a saucepan, then remove from the heat and stir in the icing sugar, cocoa powder and milk. The icing will be very runny but will thicken a little as it cools. (If the icing has set too much before the cake has cooled, reheat it slightly to make it easier to pour.)

  • STEP 4

    Pour the icing over the cake and leave to set. Decorate with the sweets, sprinkles, chocolate shavings or nuts, then cut into squares and dig in.

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