Fridge Friend Recipes
Soft Drink Chocolate Traybake recipe
A moist, rich traybake with a tender crumb and a deep chocolate flavour. The soft drink keeps the sponge light and makes it wonderfully easy to mix.
45 min · Easy · British Jump to method
Ingredients
- 200g Plain flour
- 50g Cocoa powder
- 180g Caster sugar
- 2 Eggs
- 100g Butter
- 2 tsp Baking powder
- 250ml Soft drink
- 2 tbsp Icing sugar
| Nutrition | Per servingEstimated |
|---|---|
| Calories | 245 kcal |
| Protein | 4.3 g |
| Carbohydrates | 39.8 g |
| Fat | 8.2 g |
| Saturated fat | 4.8 g |
| Fibre | 2.1 g |
| Sugar | 24.1 g |
| Sodium | 111 mg |
Why this works
A sweet, energy-dense traybake with moderate fat and low fibre, best enjoyed as an occasional treat rather than an everyday choice.
Cocoa provides polyphenols. Cocoa powder contributes plant compounds and a small amount of magnesium and iron, though the overall cake remains high in sugar.
Contains some protein and micronutrients from eggs. Eggs add a modest amount of protein plus vitamin B12 and selenium.
Higher in sugars and saturated fat. Caster sugar, icing sugar and butter make this dessert relatively high in sugar and saturated fat per serving.
Method
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (Fan 160°C, 356°F, Gas Mark 4) and line a square tin with baking paper.
Let the oven come fully up to temperature before the tin goes in, so the sponge starts setting straight away rather than spreading in the corners. Press the baking paper firmly into the base and up the sides to help you lift out the traybake cleanly later.
- Mix the plain flour, cocoa powder, caster sugar and baking powder in a bowl.
Sift or whisk the dry ingredients together if the cocoa is at all lumpy, as this stops dark pockets and gives a more even brown crumb. Break up any little flour clumps with your fingertips before moving on.
- Beat in the eggs, melted butter and soft drink until smooth.
Add the wet ingredients just until the mixture looks uniformly smooth and glossy; overbeating at this stage can make the bake a bit dense. If the soft drink fizzes up, let it settle for a few seconds before mixing further.
- Pour into the tin and bake for 30-35 minutes until springy to the touch.
Spread the batter into the corners with a spatula so the top is level, which helps it bake evenly rather than dome in the centre. Start checking a few minutes early, and look for the edges to pull away very slightly from the tin.
- Cool completely, then dust with icing sugar before slicing.
Wait until the traybake is fully cold before dusting, otherwise the icing sugar will dissolve into blotches. Use a fine sieve for a light snowy finish, then cut with a sharp knife in one clean press rather than sawing.
Other Soft Recipes
Sparkling Citrus Soda Cake
50 min · A light, tender sponge cake made with soft drink for extra lift and sweetness. Finished with a simple glaze for a fun, fizzy dessert.
Soft Drink Poached Pears
40 min · Elegant poached pears with a delicate syrup and gentle sparkle. A simple dessert that looks impressive but is very easy to make.
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