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Chocolate sheet cake with coconut and lime — cranberries. Prepare the ingredients before mixing, then use the method below to keep the texture tender and the flavors evenly distributed. The cut face shows the texture to look for when the cake has cooled.
Before you start
Weigh ingredients rather than packing flour into a cup. Keep flour, fat and liquid quantities unchanged on the first attempt: extra fruit or flour changes the texture. Prepare the listed pan; a much smaller tin can overflow and a wider one changes baking time. Keep the flavor additions separate until the instructed stage.
Preparation: 20 min. Cooking: about 30 min.
The displayed preparation and cooking times exclude rising, cooling and refrigeration. Allow the full waiting times in the instructions before serving.
Ingredients
Cake batter
- 200 g all-purpose wheat flour
- 45 g unsweetened cocoa powder
- 200 g granulated sugar
- 8 g baking powder
- 2 g fine salt
- 2 large eggs
- 180 ml whole milk
- 80 ml neutral sunflower oil
Flavor ingredients
- 30 g unsweetened desiccated coconut
- 2 tsp finely grated lime zest, green part only
- 50 g dried cranberries
Method
- Heat the oven to 175°C (345°F), conventional heat. Line the base of 20 × 30 cm rectangular tin with baking parchment and lightly grease the sides.
- Measure the flavor ingredients separately. Chop nuts and dried fruit into small pieces. Dice apple or pear to 5 mm. Wash citrus before grating only the colored zest. Dissolve any instant coffee in 10 ml hot water and let it cool.
- Whisk flour, cocoa, sugar, baking powder and salt together. In another bowl whisk eggs, milk and oil. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir gently until evenly combined; scrape the bottom of the bowl.
- Fold in all prepared flavor ingredients with a spatula. Transfer to the prepared tin and level gently, keeping the batter below two-thirds of the tin height.
- Bake on the middle rack for 25–38 minutes. Check the cake, not a piece of fruit, with a skewer: it should come out without wet batter. The center should feel set. If the top darkens early, cover loosely with foil and continue baking.
- Let the cake rest in its tin for 15 minutes, then carefully remove it and cool on a rack for at least 60 minutes before slicing. A warm cake tears more easily. Do not cover until completely cool.
Serving and slicing
Cut into 12 portions after the required cooling or chilling. A clean knife gives a clearer cut; wipe it between portions. Serve as it is so the listed flavors remain distinct. Extra sauces, decorations and substitutions are not included in the measured recipe.
Storage
Once cool, store covered in the refrigerator at 4°C or below and use within 3 days. Refrigerate cream, cheesecake and fruit cakes promptly; do not leave them at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Do not cover hot cake, which traps condensation. Cream cakes should remain chilled until serving.
Summary
Cut into 12 portions after the required cooling or chilling. A clean knife gives a clearer cut; wipe it between portions. Serve as it is so the listed flavors remain distinct. Extra sauces, decorations and substitutions are not included in the measured recipe.
FAQs
- Which pan should I use?
20 × 30 cm rectangular tin
Weigh ingredients rather than packing flour into a cup. Keep flour, fat and liquid quantities unchanged on the first attempt: extra fruit or flour changes the texture. Prepare the listed pan; a much smaller tin can overflow and a wider one changes baking time. Keep the flavor additions separate until the instructed stage.
- Does the timing include cooling?
Preparation: 20 min. Cooking: about 30 min.
The displayed preparation and cooking times exclude rising, cooling and refrigeration. Allow the full waiting times in the instructions before serving.
- How should I store the cake?
Once cool, store covered in the refrigerator at 4°C or below and use within 3 days. Refrigerate cream, cheesecake and fruit cakes promptly; do not leave them at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Do not cover hot cake, which traps condensation. Cream cakes should remain chilled until serving.
