Description
Grandma’s classic chocolate traybake cake delivers pure nostalgia with rich cocoa and tender crumb. Simple ingredients merge into a comforting dessert perfect for family gatherings and weekend treats you’ll cherish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (2 sticks/226 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- 4 large eggs
- 1 ¾ cups (220 grams) self-rising flour
- 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (120 ml/4 fl oz) milk (whole or semi-skimmed)
- ¼ cup (25 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups (240 grams) powdered sugar
- ¼ cup (25 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3 tbsps (42 grams) unsalted butter, melted
- 4 tbsps (60 ml/2 fl oz) hot water (adjust for consistency)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Colorful sprinkles (hundreds and thousands)
Instructions
- Preheating Preparation: Position oven rack to center and warm to 350F (175C) while lining a 9×13-inch tray with parchment paper, covering bottom and sides completely.
- Butter Mixture Creation: Cream butter and sugar in a spacious mixing bowl until the blend transforms into a pale, fluffy, and voluminous texture that appears light and aerated.
- Egg Integration: Gently introduce eggs one at a time into the creamed mixture, ensuring thorough blending and maintaining a smooth, consistent batter without lumps.
- Dry Ingredient Incorporation: Sift self-rising flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder directly over the wet ingredients, using delicate folding techniques to preserve the mixture’s airiness.
- Liquid Harmonization: Introduce milk and vanilla extract, stirring with precision until the batter achieves a silky, uniform consistency with no visible dry ingredients remaining.
- Baking Process: Carefully transfer the batter to the prepared tray, spreading evenly with a spatula to create a perfectly level surface, then slide into the preheated oven.
- Cooling and Finishing: Bake for 25-30 minutes, verifying doneness with a toothpick test, then remove and allow the cake to cool completely on a wire rack before applying icing.
Notes
- Measure Accurately: Use precise measuring tools for flour, cocoa, and other ingredients to maintain the cake’s light, fluffy texture and prevent dense results.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Allow butter and eggs to reach room temperature before mixing, ensuring smoother blending and better cake structure.
- Gentle Folding Technique: Mix dry ingredients with a light hand to preserve air bubbles, creating a softer, more delicate cake crumb.
- Oven Positioning: Place the tray in the center of the oven for even heat distribution, preventing burnt edges or undercooked centers.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 32 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg