Ultimate Chocolate Fudge Tray Cake

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Ultimate Chocolate Fudge Tray Cake

A soft, deep chocolate cake topped with a thick glossy fudge frosting and lots of chocolate sprinkles 🤎

🛒 Ingredients

🎂 For the chocolate cake:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour 🌾
  • 2 cups granulated sugar 🍚
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 🍫
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt 🧂
  • 2 large eggs 🥚🥚
  • 1 cup whole milk 🥛
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract 🌼
  • 1 cup hot coffee or hot water ☕
    • Coffee makes the chocolate flavor deeper, but water works too

🍫 For the fudge frosting:

  • 1/2 cup butter 🧈
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream or whole milk 🥛
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 🍫
  • 2 1/2 to 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 100 g dark or semi-sweet chocolate, chopped 🍫
  • Pinch of salt

✨ For topping:

  • 1/2 to 3/4 cup chocolate sprinkles 🍫
  • Optional chocolate curls for garnish 🎀
  • Optional mini chocolate chips 🍪

🍽️ Equipment

  • 9×13 inch baking pan
  • Mixing bowls 🥣
  • Whisk or hand mixer
  • Saucepan
  • Spatula
  • Cooling rack

👩‍🍳 Step-by-step recipe

1. Prep the oven and pan 🔥

  • Preheat your oven to 175°C / 350°F.
  • Grease a 9×13 inch pan well.
  • You can also line the bottom with parchment paper for easier removal.

2. Mix the dry ingredients 🥣

In a large bowl, add:

  • flour
  • sugar
  • cocoa powder
  • baking powder
  • baking soda
  • salt

Whisk everything together until evenly combined 🤎

3. Add the wet ingredients 🥚🥛

Add to the same bowl:

  • eggs
  • milk
  • oil
  • vanilla

Whisk until smooth.

The batter will look thick at first — that’s normal 😊

4. Pour in hot coffee or water ☕

  • Slowly add the hot coffee while mixing.
  • Stir until the batter is smooth and fairly thin.

This thin batter gives you that moist, soft, fluffy crumb you see in the image 😍

5. Bake the cake 🎂

  • Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
  • Tap the pan gently on the counter to remove air bubbles.
  • Bake for 30 to 38 minutes, or until:
    • a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs
    • the top springs back lightly when touched

⏰ Do not overbake, or the cake may dry out.

6. Cool slightly 🌬️

  • Let the cake cool in the pan for about 15–20 minutes.
  • You want it warm, not hot, when frosting it.

This helps the frosting spread beautifully and slightly melt over the top like in your photo 🤤

🍫 Make the fudge frosting

7. Heat the base 🧈

In a saucepan over low-medium heat, add:

  • butter
  • cream or milk
  • cocoa powder
  • chopped chocolate
  • pinch of salt

Stir until melted, glossy, and smooth ✨

8. Add sugar and vanilla 🍚

  • Remove from heat.
  • Stir in vanilla.
  • Gradually whisk in powdered sugar until thick, smooth, and spreadable.

Texture tip 💡

You want it:

  • thicker than glaze
  • softer than stiff buttercream

It should slowly drip off a spoon but still hold on the cake.

If too thick:

  • add 1–2 tbsp warm milk 🥛

If too thin:

  • add a little more powdered sugar

🍰 Frost and decorate

9. Spread the frosting

  • Pour or spoon the warm fudge frosting over the slightly warm cake.
  • Use a spatula to spread it evenly.
  • Let some areas stay a little thicker for that luscious bakery-style look 😍

10. Add sprinkles immediately 🍫

  • Scatter chocolate sprinkles generously over the frosting.
  • Add chocolate curls on top if you want the same dramatic finish as the plated slice 🎀

Because the frosting is still soft, the sprinkles will stick perfectly ✨

❄️ Let it set

  • Leave the cake at room temperature for 30–60 minutes so the frosting settles.
  • The top will become glossy, fudgy, and slightly firm while staying soft inside 🤎

🔪 Slice and serve

Cut into squares and serve just like the photo 🍽️

For extra indulgence:

  • warm each slice for 10 seconds in the microwave 🔥
  • serve with vanilla ice cream 🍨
  • drizzle extra melted chocolate on top 🍫

⏱️ Time

  • Prep time: 20 minutes
  • Bake time: 30–38 minutes
  • Cooling/frosting time: 30 minutes
  • Total: about 1 hour 20 minutes

😋 What this cake tastes like

This cake is:

  • super moist 💧
  • deeply chocolatey 🍫
  • soft and fluffy inside ☁️
  • topped with thick fudge frosting 🤎
  • slightly gooey and rich, like a cross between chocolate cake and brownie 🎂✨

💡 Tips for best results

✅ For extra moist cake

  • Use oil instead of butter
  • Don’t skip the hot coffee
  • Don’t overbake

✅ For glossy frosting

  • Frost while the cake is still a little warm
  • Use chopped real chocolate in the frosting
  • Stir until fully smooth

✅ For the exact look in your image

  • Bake in a metal tray
  • Cut into large squares
  • Use lots of chocolate sprinkles
  • Let the frosting drip a little over the sides 🤤

🍫 Optional upgrades

Add-ins for the cake:

  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips 🍪
  • 1 tsp espresso powder ☕
  • 1/2 cup sour cream for extra richness 🥛

Toppings:

  • crushed chocolate cookies 🍪
  • toasted nuts 🌰
  • caramel drizzle 🍯
  • ganache layer under the sprinkles 🍫

📦 Storage

  • Keep covered at room temperature for 2 days
  • Refrigerate for up to 5 days
  • Microwave a slice for 10–15 seconds before serving for that melty top again 🔥

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