traybakes & more

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Date Slices

Dates are a firm favourite in the Traybakes’ household and there is usually a packet of Medjool dates in the fridge for on-the-go sweet snacking. I’ve already got one date traybake recipe in the archives and there are several more recipes for traybakes and breads/cakes still to come. And now we have this recipe for Date Slices. We like dates!

This latest traybake is another simple recipe. Dates, oats, flour, sugar, butter. Then you have a tin full of Date Slices! These make a perfect teatime or even lunchbox treat – chewy, sticky, sweet and oaty. Yum!

Mallow Squares

September 16, 2017 / CJ / 3 Comments

Chocolate! Marshmallow! Weetabix?! Yes, you did read that correctly. These Mallow Squares have Weetabix in the base. Mixed with some sugar and coconut, of course, I’m not going to try to pretend that these are some sort of breakfast food!

I guess it shouldn’t be all that surprising that there are traybakes out there with Weetabix in them, I have used Cornflakes (here) and Rice Krispies (here) before and I’m sure I’ve got a few recipes somewhere that use All-Bran. Breakfast cereals are a staple ingredient in the traditional traybake world!

Chocolate Orange Slice

September 6, 2017 / CJ / 0 Comments

Chocolate Orange Slice. Another one of those classic combinations. Often found together in cakes and biscuits (I’m not going to start a debate on whether a Jaffa Cake is a cake or a biscuit, so let’s just leave it there…) and also in that traditional Christmas treat – the Chocolate Orange!

This no-bake traybake brings together a classic chocolate fridge cake or tiffin (or whatever you choose to call it) with a smooth orange buttercream. Using cocoa powder makes the biscuit layer dark and chocolatey, but then the orange buttercream balances it out nicely. And then you’re left with, well…a few crumbs, considering the speed at which these disappeared in our house!

Neapolitan Squares

August 16, 2017 / CJ / 0 Comments

Although not exactly the same as Neapolitan ice cream, the three layers on this Neapolitan Squares traybake look similar enough to earn the name!

It turns out that Neapolitan ice cream was originally available in a variety of flavours and then the chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry combination took over as these were most popular in the USA at the time.

While there isn’t chocolate or vanilla in this Neapolitan Squares traybake, it has a digestive/graham cracker base, a sticky coconut middle and a pink-hued strawberry buttercream topping!

No-Bake Lemon Cheesecake Bars

July 19, 2017 / CJ / 4 Comments

No-bake lemon cheesecake bars. This is a proper, old-school, retro recipe, made with cream cheese, evaporated milk and lemon jelly (or jello, for my US readers). See, I told you it was properly retro!

But, you know what, it still tastes good. And it’s quick and easy to make. So it’s perfect for a simple summer dessert.

Flakemeal Biscuits

June 21, 2017 / CJ / 0 Comments

Flakemeal Biscuits, Oatmeal Cookies – whatever you choose to call these – they are a simple, crunchy, tasty biscuit.

While their traditional name in Northern Ireland is Flakemeal Biscuits, I ended up calling them Oatmeal Cookies when Little Miss Traybakes asked what they were, as she looked at me blankly when I said flakemeal. I guess I had better get used to the language differences that will spring up over the years, but I will still try to keep her educated on the ‘proper’ words! My little US citizen shall be a bilingual baker!

Alice Cakes

June 7, 2017 / CJ / 4 Comments

I have multiple recipes for Alice Cakes, but I don’t remember eating these growing up. But there are many recipes I have encountered that are unfamiliar to me, that’s one of the pleasures of baking for this blog, I get to discover all sorts of new treats.

Date and Ginger Crunchies

May 24, 2017 / CJ / 3 Comments

I already posted one of my favorite childhood traybake recipes using Rice Krispies here (other puffed rice cereals are available!) and, of course, there is always the Mars Bar Traybake. And now this Date and Ginger Crunchies recipe is another option for the ‘Baking with Breakfast Cereal’ series. Or should that be serial?!

Fruit Soda Bread

May 9, 2017 / CJ / 0 Comments

Soda bread is remarkably quick and easy to make. There is no yeast involved, no proving or kneading, you just mix everything together, shape it and bake it! All the rising comes from the reaction of the baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) and buttermilk.

This Fruit Soda Bread is a firm favorite in the Traybakes’ household. While best eaten on the day it’s made (especially with a generous slathering of butter) it’s also good toasted, if you have any left after a day or two!

Chocolate Custard Slices

April 26, 2017 / CJ / 0 Comments

Chocolate Custard Slices. These were a big hit in the Traybakes’ household. They are no-bake. They are easy to make. They freeze well. And they are really rather yummy.

In my exploration of all things baking, I discovered that these Chocolate Custard Slices are incredibly similar to a Canadian traybake called Nanaimo Bars. The main difference seems to be the inclusion of almonds in the base of the Canadian version. Although, just like with many Northern Irish traybakes, there do appear to be multiple recipe variations. But I’m going to stick with calling them Chocolate Custard Slices.

retro recipes for the modern baker