
Easter Chocolate Tray Bake – so Easy
A delicious, moist Easter Chocolate Tray Bake Cake, topped with creamy chocolate buttercream! Decoration is a fun Mini Eggs and other Easter treats!. Go wild with the decorations anything goes! Perfect for Chocolate season
It’s so easy and the perfect Easter chocolate dessert and feeds 12-16 easily and for kids I think all most 20!
The sponge is the perfect sponge for any traybake party cake as it’s easy and very moist
Ingredients for your Chocolate Tray Bake Cake
-
Vegetable Oil
I used vegetable oil, any is ok, sunflower etc. Oil gives the sponge the most delicious texture and helps keep it moist. No-one wants a dry party cake……
-
Golden Caster Sugar
Perfect for this cake and many more, finer than granulated and the golden just adds an extra flavour. Although caster sugar is also fine
- Cocoa Powder
Buy a decent cocoa powder, it gives more flavour. Please don’t use drinking chocolate
-
Eggs
3 Medium Eggs for this recipe (I also use free-range – my preference)
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Self Raising Flour & Baking Powder
Helps to lift your sponge to the perfect tray bake cake. This cake has the perfect crumb structure, so soft and very moist
-
Vanilla Bean Paste / Vanilla Extract
I love vanilla bean paste as it’s so natural, you can of course use vanilla extract
-
Milk
I used semi slimmed, but full fat is also ok
How to make your Easter Chocolate Tray Bake
***See full recipe card at the bottom of this post***
Step 1
In a large bowl mix all your dry ingredients together
Step 2
Then add your oil and eggs and then your milk
Keep beating until you have a smooth and pourable batter, you can easily do this by hand
Step 3
Tip into your greased tray (placing greased proof paper or baking parchment across the base and up the sides will help you lift the cake out without breaking, once baked)
The consistency of the batter means it will find it’s own level – it’s pourable
Bake in your preheated oven for 40-45 Minutes (check after 35 minutes as all ovens vary)
Step 4
Once baked remove from the oven, leave to cool in the tin for 15 minutes
Then take a cooling rack and put it on top of the tin
Invert (carefully) and remove baking parchment and ta-dah!
Leave to cool COMPLETELY before decorating – you don’t want melted buttercream all over the place!
Step 5 – Buttercream for your Chocolate Tray Bake
Make your buttercream by creaming your softened butter, icing sugar, cocoa powder and milk together – beat until really smooth
Cover the top of your cooled sponge with buttercream
Smooth with a knife and get ready to decorate
Decorate your Easter Chocolate Tray Bake
Decorate completely as you fancy?
I used Mini Eggs, Mini Creme Eggs, Malteaser bunnies and Galaxy Minstrel Eggs
Serving suggestions for your Easter Party Cake
This cake has a nice moist texture, perfect for any event
Slice and go!
How to store your Chocolate Tray Bake Cake
You can make the day before you need it and store it in the fridge (buttercream)
Any leftovers, store in an airtight container for a couple of days in the fridge
Can I freeze my Easter Chocolate Cake
Yes you can.
I would freeze the sponge only, wrap in cling film or foil and freeze – good for a couple of months
Then when you want it – defrost at room temperature and decorate
Other Easter bakes
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Big Love Clare
Easy Easter Chocolate Traybake
Equipment
- 1 Tray Bake tin Size - 8 x 12 inches
- 1 Cooling rack
Ingredients
- 250 g Self Rising Flour
- 80 g Cocoa Powder
- 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
- 300 g Golden caster sugar
- 3 Medium Eggs Free-Range
- 180 ml Vegetable Oil
- 300 ml Milk
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract Optional
- 150 g Butter - softened Salted or unsalted
- 300 g Icing Sugar Sieved
- 50 g Cocoa Powder Sieved
- 2 Tablespoon Milk
- Mini Eggs, Mini Creme Eggs, Malteaser Bunnies
Instructions
- CAKE
- Pre-heat your oven to 180C /160C fan) / 350F / Gas 4
- Grease and line your 8 x 12 inch / 32cm x 22cm tin. Please place your baking parchment over the edges. This will help after baking to lift your cake out the tin
- In a large bowl add your dry ingredients, self-raising flour, baking powder, cocoa powder & golden caster sugar and mix well
- Add your vegetable oil, 3 eggs, milk & vanilla extract. Using a large whisk beat until smooth, no lumps. It will be a pouring consistency
- Bake in thee centre of your preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, until firm to the touch. Please remember all ovens vary
- Once baked remove from the oven and leave to cool for 15 minutes in the tin
- After 15 minutes pop a cooling rack on top of the tin and invert, removing the baking paper.Leave to cool completely
- BUTTERCREAM
- Cream your butter, icing sugar and cocoa powder until completely smooth, adding your milk one tablespoon at a time. You will have a lovely chocolatey flavoured smooth buttercream
- DECORATE
- Add your butter cream to the top of your sponge, using a palate knife to spread to the sides
- Next go wild with your chocolate eggs to decorate anyway you like!!!
Kate Howarth
So easy to make and delicious- it was a big hit with the family
Clare x
Oh so good to hear x