01 -
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.
02 -
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.
03 -
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.
04 -
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.
05 -
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.
06 -
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.