traybakes & more

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Neapolitan Squares

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 / 2 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.

Tea Loaf

April 5, 2017 / CJ / 1 Comment

I drink a lot of tea. I consider it to be a normal amount, but it’s probably well above average for my little corner of suburban Massachusetts. Perfectly normal for Northern Ireland though. And tea features in my baking this week. This is a recipe for Tea Loaf. A simple, straightforward bake that requires very little hands-on time.

German Biscuits

March 22, 2017 / CJ / 0 Comments

German Biscuits, also known as Empire Biscuits, Belgian Biscuits and, originally (according to Wikipedia) Linzer Biscuits or Deutsch Biscuits.

In the brief history of the German Biscuit that I gleaned from my internet research, it turns out that around the time of WWI, many people started to call these Empire Biscuits instead (remind anyone of Freedom Fries?!) but in Northern Ireland, they continued to be the German Biscuit.

Fudge Squares

March 8, 2017 / CJ / 2 Comments

This is not a recipe for traditional fudge. There is no need for a thermometer or trying to reach the ‘soft ball’ stage with your sugar mix. These Fudge Squares are an easy, no-bake traybake where you mix a caramel syrup with crushed biscuits and top it all with chocolate. Yum!

retro recipes for the modern baker