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Chocolate Traybakes And Easy Cakes

Everyone loves a delicious but easy-to-make cake. This collection of homemade chocolate traybakes and easy cakes gives plenty of scope for creativity and interest, whilst remaining doable. Although the bakes are simple, they’re full of rich, indulgent flavour and are perfect for both beginners and experienced bakers alike. From indulgent slices to fudgy bakes to healthy cakes, there’s a recipe here to suit any chocolate lover.

Collage of six chocolate traybakes and simple cakes.

Post Updated February 2025

The original collection of chocolate recipes here was the result of an old We Should Cocoa challenge. However, I’ve now updated the post to make it more useful. I’ve amalgamated it with a few other posts, removed dead recipes, improved images, added titles, more information and some new recipes.

The original bakes were all heavily influenced by an episode of the much loved Great British Bake Off. How sad I was that the production company sold out and the BBC that nurtured and developed the programme for so many years was cold shouldered.

But I digress; lets get going with the recipes for chocolate traybakes and easy cakes. All photos are pinned to the We Should Cocoa Pinterest Board, so do hop on over to see what other chocolatey delights await.

Chocolate Traybakes

Chocolate traybakes are a neat balance of ease and indulgence. They’re simple to make, yet always satisfying. Whether you prefer rich, fudgy slices or light spongy bakes, these recipes are designed for minimal effort with maximum flavour.

Coconut Chocolate Crunch

Cinnamon Coconut Chocolate Crunch Traybake

I used cornflakes to make this cinnamon coconut chocolate crunch extra crunchy. They worked well, but were way too tempting.

Millionaire’s Shortbread

Stack of millionaire's shortbread.

Whoa! Who can resist millionaire’s shortbread? Certainly not the kids over at Apply to Face Blog.

Peanut Butter Millionaire’s Shortbread

Peanut millionaire's shortbread squares with marbled tops.

In fact we have three lots. These smart salted peanuts & peanut butter millionaire’s shortbread from Jo’s Kitchen Larder sound equally good. Now I’m stuck as to which one to try first.

Sloth Slice

Sloth slice on baking tray.

Even though it’s not summer in Melbourne, this sloth slice (brilliant name) is super easy to make and won’t keep you chained to the kitchen for very long at all. This easy choc chip slice from Green Gourmet Giraffe is made from condensed milk, chocolate and coconut. It sounds scrumptious and just the sort of thing I’d be tempted to eat far too much of.

Peach And White Chocolate Traybake

A square of peach and white chocolate cake.

Chocolate doesn’t always have to be dark or milk when it comes to baking. White chocolate works really well too. It’s especially good with fruit. This peach and white chocolate cake is soft, sweet and fruity. It’s a real crowd pleaser.

 Fudgy Chocolate Pistachio Slice

Chocolate pistachio slice.

Decadent fudgy chocolate and pistachio slice from Suelle at Mainly Baking made with condensed milk and a biscuit base.

Chocolate Lavender Cake

Chocolate lavender cake traybake with one slice removed.

If you go lightly with lavender, it adds a lovely floral tone to chocolate. Too much and the flavour becomes soapy. This chocolate lavender cake is a great one for feeding a crowd and it’s useful if you need a talking point too.

Chocolate Chunk Cookie Dough Traybake 

Chocolate chunk cookie dough traybake in tin.

Chocolate chunk cookie dough traybake from Caroline Makes – now those are what I call chocolate chunks.

Mayonnaise Chocolate Cake (vegan)

Vegan Mayonnaise Chocolate Cake.

Have you ever tried a mayonnaise chocolate cake? It’s not as strange as you might think. Johanna over at Green Gourmet Giraffe has made this vegan version and it sounds gorgeous.

I too have a recipe for chocolate mayonnaise cake. You can use ordinary mayonnaise or vegan mayonnaise if you’re after a vegan cake. Both work well.

Easy Chocolate Cakes

Chocolate cakes are a classic for a reason. They’re rich, comforting and endlessly versatile. Whether you’re after a simple one-bowl recipe or something a little more indulgent, these bakes are easy to make and guaranteed to satisfy.

Coffee Cardamom Chocolate Mousse Cake

Coffee Cardamom Chocolate Mousse Cake

I made one of the best cakes ever, though I do say so myself. Darkly divine this coffee cardamom chocolate mousse cake is best served in small slices and works well as a dinner party dessert with crème fraîche if liked.

 Polenta Chocolate Cake

Chocolate polenta cake dusted with icing sugar.

When you fancy a chocolate cake, why not make a polenta chocolate cake? That’s what Galina did after googling for a recipe. And guess what? She only came up with an ancient one of mine. Hers looks a lot better and is more sophisticated with an addition of whisky. It’s been too long since I made that cake. Here’s my recipe for chocolate polenta cake, if you’re interested.

Chocolate Rum Raisin Coconut Lime Cake

Double Delight Bundt Cake - two cakes in one: chocolate rum & raisin and coconut & lime. Drizzled with a lime icing. Delicious and easy to make too. #bundt #cake #recipe

My double delight bundt cake made with chocolate rum & raisin and coconut lime batters swirled together requires the oven to be on. But even the hottest summers have birthdays and other celebrations in need of cake, so I’m making no apology for my contribution to these 7 easy summer chocolate recipes.

Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake

 Chocolate and peanut butter are a match made in heaven. I think I’d like this vegan chocolate peanut butter cake from Caroline Makes for my birthday please.

Chocolate Almond Cake

Slice of gluten-free chocolate almond cake on a Cornishware plate.

With only five ingredients, this chocolate almond cake is a really simple bake, But my goodness it sure makes up for it in both flavour and texture. It remains one of my favourite chocolate cakes ever.

 Vegan Cocoa Bean Cake

Vegan cocoa bean cake with slice removed.

This vegan cocoa bean cake from Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy has some surprising ingredients in it. It’s not only vegan, but healthy too.

Chocolate Banana Cashew Cake (vegan)

Iced banashew cake with grated chocolate on top.

My healthy vegan bake for Veganuary was this chocolate banana cashew cake. It’s one of the best chocolate cakes I’ve made.

 Sticky Chocolate Birthday Cake

Harry Potter's Birthday Cake

Not only is it CT’s birthday today, but it’s also Harry Potter’s. To celebrate this and the publication of the latest Harry Potter tale, Ness over at JibberJabberUK has made this sticky chocolate birthday cake – any schoolboy’s dream.

Chilli Chocolate Chip Friands

Chilli chocolate chip mini rectangular friands.

I’ve made a lot of friands over the years and these gluten free chilli chocolate chip friands are possibly my favourite.

Agave Nectar Chocolate Cake

Slice of agave nectar chocolate cake.

There is something about the word nectar which just conjures up something completely sublime. Linzi from Lancashire Food had my mouth watering straight away just from the title of her agave nectar chocolate cake.

Keep In Touch

And hear ends our recipe collection of chocolate traybakes and easy cakes for whenever the need arises. We do hope you’ve found something you really want to make.

Thank you for visiting Tin and Thyme. If you make any of these chocolate bakes, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below. Do you have a favourite chocolate recipe?

For more delicious and nutritious recipes follow me on TwitterFacebook, Instagram, Flipboard or Pinterest. And don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to my weekly newsletter. Or why not join the conversation in our Healthy Vegetarian Whole Food Recipes Facebook Group?

For more easy-to-make chocolate recipes, try this collection for all the brownie recipes you will ever need, this one for thrifty homemade chocolate cakes or this one for chocolate cupcakes and muffins.

Choclette x

Chocolate Traybakes. PIN IT.

Collage of easy chocolate traybakes and simple cakes.

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30 Comments

  1. Mmm what a marvellous roundup of some wonderful chocolatey recipes! I would definitely like to try out a lot of these recipes. If only I could have a virtual slice! Thanks for including my challah.

    1. Oh, how I wish our freezer was better stocked. It’s full of very worthy stuff, but it would be so good to be able to pull out a relatively healthy treat when I need one, rather than dashing down to the shops and buying a very unhealthy one.