Dessert · The Big Eats Kitchen · 28 Aug 2026

Midnight chocolate sheet cake

Name: Midnight chocolate sheet cake
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 12 squares
Ingredients: 250 g plain flour; 400 g caster sugar; 75 g cocoa powder; 2 tsp bicarbonate of soda; 250 ml buttermilk; 2 eggs; 120 ml neutral oil; 250 ml hot coffee; 100 g butter; 40 g cocoa powder; 60 ml milk; 250 g icing sugar

A dark, damp cocoa cake baked in a tray and flooded with warm chocolate icing so you can cut squares at the table.

Prep20 min

Cook30 min

Total50 min

Yield12 squares

Ingredients

Cake

250 g plain flour
400 g caster sugar
75 g cocoa powder
2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
250 ml buttermilk
2 eggs
120 ml neutral oil
250 ml hot coffee

Icing

100 g butter
40 g cocoa powder
60 ml milk
250 g icing sugar

Method

Step 1

Heat the oven to 180°C. Line a 23×33cm tray.

Step 2

Whisk dry ingredients. Whisk buttermilk, eggs, and oil. Combine, then beat in the hot coffee. The batter will be thin.

Step 3

Bake 28–32 minutes until a skewer comes out with a few crumbs.

Step 4

Melt butter with cocoa and milk. Beat in icing sugar. Pour over the warm cake and leave to set.

Why this plate

Dessert here is not a garnish. It is another course with a job: chocolate, a wet crumb, and enough cake for whoever is still in the room.