Few desserts conjure fond memories and take you back to childhood like Chocolate School Cake. A traditional British traybake, it features a soft, fluffy chocolate sponge topped with rich, velvety, glossy icing and rainbow sprinkles. It was once the darling of school lunchrooms, but now it’s a popular homemade sweet that can be shared with family and friends.
The best part about Chocolate School Cake is that it is super easy to prepare. This is a moist chocolate cake with common pantry ingredients that can be made for birthdays, afternoon tea, bake sales, or an easy dessert idea on the weekend. Whether you are reminiscing on a childhood classic or trying it out for the first time, this recipe is one to wow!
Make your best Chocolate School Cake from scratch with pro baking tips, storage instructions and variations! Follow the easy steps below, and you will be left with a soft, yummy chocolate traybake perfect for everyone.
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Chocolate School Cake
Ingredients
- For the Cake
- 225 g 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 225 g 1 cup + 2 tbsp caster sugar
- 4 large eggs room temperature
- 200 g 1⅔ cups self-rising flour
- 25 g ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 2 tbsp whole milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- For the Chocolate Icing
- 200 g 1⅔ cups powdered sugar (icing sugar)
- 25 g ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 50 g ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 3 –4 tbsp whole milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- For the Topping
- 2 –3 tbsp rainbow sprinkles
Equipment
- 9×13-inch (23×33 cm) baking tray
- Parchment paper
- Large mixing bowl
- Medium mixing bowl
- Electric hand mixer or stand mixer
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Kitchen scale (optional)
- Fine sieve
- Rubber spatula
- Cooling rack
- Offset spatula or butter knife
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease and line a 9×13-inch baking tray with parchment paper.
- Beat the butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy.
- Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Sift in the self-rising flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder. Fold gently until combined.
- Stir in the milk and vanilla extract until the batter is smooth.
- Pour the batter into the prepared tray and spread it evenly.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool completely in the tray.
- In a bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, cocoa powder, melted butter, vanilla extract, and milk until smooth.
- Spread the icing evenly over the cooled cake and immediately sprinkle with rainbow sprinkles.
- Allow the icing to set for 20–30 minutes before cutting into squares and serving.
Nutrition
Notes
- Use room-temperature ingredients for the lightest sponge.
- Sift the cocoa powder to avoid lumps in the batter and icing.
- Let the cake cool completely before frosting to prevent the icing from melting.
- Decorate with sprinkles while the icing is still wet.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
- Freeze the unfrosted cake for up to 3 months and add the icing after thawing.
- For a richer chocolate flavor, use high-quality Dutch-process cocoa powder if available.
Private Notes
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Let us know how it was!Give This Recipe a Try
With that one minor exception, Chocolate School Cake is the easiest dessert recipe you will ever make. Its light, fluffy chocolate sponge is sandwiched with a rich chocolate icing and its colourful sprinkles, meaning every mouthful takes you back to the nostalgia of classic school dinners. This one is a fail-safe dawdle & should be a family dinner staple.
It is the perfect cake to make for birthdays, a bake sale, afternoon tea or basically any time you are in need of chocolate but want people who will love it. Eat plain, or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on it (the ultimate combination). Tea or coffee?? You can not ask for a better homemade dessert.
We would love to hear how it turned out if you make this Chocolate School Cake! Comment below, score the recipe, and share your favorite toppings or baking hacks! Please also share this recipe with your family and friends so they can enjoy this classic chocolate favorite as well!
