Monday 22 September 2014

Triple chocolate and cherry traybake

I made this at the end of term in July for my daughter to take to school as presents for her teachers. When I asked my daughter if her teachers liked it she said she had seen them eating them at breaktime in the staff room. What more of an endorsement do you need? Now in the mad rush of making them, wrapping them in cellophane and then tying fancy ribbons on them which needed to be curled I never got the chance to photograph them. So last Sunday when we found we were without cake or pudding in the house I decided to make it again. It's a great bake to make for such purposes as it doesn't take long to put together and being a traybake it has a relatively short cooking time.


A note on the chocolate used – when cooking I use the supermarket value stuff at 30p a bar. Usually when small chunks of chocolate are required to be used in baking the recipe states chocolate chips. These are about three times the price for about the same quality of chocolate and they are in measly sized pieces. So spare your cash and just break up some chocolate yourself.


Equipment: Baking tray 11"x7" (28cm x 18cm) lined with baking paper, electric whisk/beaters, small saucepan and glass bowl to fit over it, wooden spoon.

Ingredients

5oz (140g) Self raising flour
1oz (28g) Cocoa powder
5oz (140g) Unsalted butter softened or baking spread
5oz (140g) Caster sugar
3 Large eggs
2oz (50g) Glacé cherries
2oz (50g) Dark chocolate, broken up into chunks
1tbsp (15ml) Milk
2oz (50g) White chocolate

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 170°C/Gas mark 3.
2. In a small bowl sift together the flour and the cocoa powder and put to one side.
3. In a large bowl cream together the butter and caster until light and fluffy.
4. Beat in the eggs one at a time adding a little of the flour each time.
5. Wash the glacé cherries and then pat them dry. Cut in half and toss in the flour. Add the dark chocolate chunks and cover them in flour.
6. Fold in the milk and the flour with the cherries and chocolate in using a metal spoon.
7. Spoon the mixture into the prepared tray and bake for about 30-35 minutes until firm.
8. Take out of the tray to cool on a wire rack.
9. When cooled melt the white chocolate. Break it into small chunks and put it in the glass bowl. Put this on top of a pan of hot water making sure the water doesn't touch the bottom of the bowl.
10. Keep stirring with a wooden spoon until it has all melted and then drizzle over the top of the traybake.
11. Leave to set before cutting into slices.

Linking to Emily at A Mummy Too for Recipe of the Week and Lucy at Supergolden Bakes for #CookBlogShare.

 




33 comments:

  1. That looks fabulous, thanks for sharing x

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    1. It was enjoyed by all her and my daugther's teachers!

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  2. Great, thanks for this, always good to have a good traybake recipe to hand, and looks yummy!

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    1. I find them so handy to have as they are quick to make and bake.

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  3. Oh my goodness!! I need some of this in my life!! Thanks for sharing the recipe! xx

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    1. I could do with some now but sadly we've eaten it all!

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  4. This looks delicious. I'd personally leave out the cherries but happily scoff the rest!

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    1. We're all cherry fans here so for us they are a nice juicy addition.

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  5. Chocolate and Cherries a classic combo - loved by us all, yum!

    Angela - Garden Tea Cakes and Me

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    1. You can't go wrong with some cherries and chocolate!

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  6. Oh my word give me some now please .x

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    1. All gone! I think I'm going to have make another batch to share round!

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  7. Haha I love the idea of teachers huddled over this at breaktime! I hope it was morning breaktime, too. Anything that has 'triple chocolate' in the name is a winner in my book....

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    1. My daughter only has a morning break so after maths they were desperate for cake!

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  8. Perfect timing, my boys and I were talking on the way home about finding a chic/cherry recipe to try as they'd had something similar in their school lunches and loved it. Thanks

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    Replies
    1. I'm sure your boys would love this recipe. My daughter alays likes to help by cracking the eggs.

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  9. Ooo this looks scrummy! I had a Black Forest gateaux the other day and the cherry and chocolate flavours were delicious. So I would love to try some of your cake please! #CookBlogShare

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    1. I love Black Forest gateau! You could make two of these and layer them with whipped cream and top with black cherries.

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  10. OMG this looks amazing - no good for the diet though

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    1. While it's baking run on the stop and do a few star jumps!

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  11. Why have you done this to me.....My diet started on Monday and now I am going to have to make these.....I will put it down to research and nothing else......I probably wont even enjoy them........Ok, ok, I will xxx

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    1. If you bake cake yourself if contains no calories *not scientifically proven.

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  12. yum yum! this sounds delicious

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    Replies
    1. We all loved it and I'll be making it again for sure.

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  13. Lovely moist looking cake! I can see why the teachers gobbled it up quick (and why you made it again)!

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    Replies
    1. It's the addition of the milk that keeps its moist. I always add milk if I'm baking with cocoa powder.

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  14. I wish I could as well. It must be afternoon tea time...

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  15. Oh my word, this looks amazing! Adding to my recipe to-do list :)

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  16. Oh wow, I can see why the teachers got stuck in! Fab recipe

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  17. I always use the value chocolate in cakes. The kids love it and I love the price!

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  18. Mmmm this looks so good! Perfect for an afternoon treat x #CookBlogShare

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  19. This tray bake looks really delicious and very tasty.

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  20. Oh my goodness, this looks delicious - I could eat a slice of this right now!!

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