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Easy Chocolate Traybake: The Ultimate One-Pan Chocolate Cake Recipe

This chocolate traybake recipe is perfect for feeding a crowd with its moist chocolate sponge and decadent fudgy icing. It's incredibly easy to make using just one pan and delivers delicious results perfect for parties, bake sales, or everyday sweet treats.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 420
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ingredients
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1¾ cups granulated sugar
  • ¾ cup cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • ½ cup butter
  • ¼ cup cocoa powder
  • ⅓ cup milk
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt

Method
 

Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan and line with parchment paper. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until well combined.
  2. In a separate bowl, beat eggs, then add milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Carefully stir in boiling water - the batter will be thin.
  3. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Allow cake to cool completely in pan before adding icing.
  4. Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat. Stir in cocoa powder and milk, then bring to gentle boil. Remove from heat and whisk in powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and salt until smooth. Pour warm icing over cooled cake and spread evenly.

Notes

Don't overmix batter, use room temperature eggs for lighter texture, always cool cake completely before icing, store covered at room temperature for up to 3 days.