Mary Berry​ Dorset Apple Traybake Recipe

This easy Mary Berry Dorset Apple Traybake is made with Bramley apples, self-raising flour, light muscovado sugar, cinnamon, and butter. This recipe creates a wonderfully moist, soft, and fragrant cake, layered with tender apple slices. Perfect for a cozy afternoon tea, this delightful autumn bake is great for sharing with family and friends, yielding about 12 generous portions.

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Mary Berry Dorset Apple Traybake Ingredients

• 225g butter, softened, plus extra for greasing
• 550g Bramley cooking apples
• Juice of ½ lemon
• 225g light muscovado sugar
• 300g self-raising flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 4 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 tbsp milk
• Icing sugar, for dusting

How To Make Mary Berry Dorset Apple Traybake

1. Preheat and prepare your tin: Set your oven to 180°C (160°C Fan/Gas 4). Grease a 30cm x 23cm traybake tin with butter and line it with baking parchment.
2. Prepare the apples: Peel, core, and thinly slice the Bramley apples. Place them in a bowl and toss with the lemon juice to prevent them from browning.
3. Mix the cake batter: In a large bowl, combine the softened butter, light muscovado sugar, self-raising flour, baking powder, ½ teaspoon of the ground cinnamon, eggs, and milk. Use an electric hand whisk to beat everything together for about 2 minutes until the mixture is smooth and light.
4. Layer the cake: Spread half of the cake batter evenly into the bottom of the prepared tin. Arrange half of the apple slices over the batter and sprinkle with the remaining ½ teaspoon of cinnamon.
5. Add the final layers: Spoon the rest of the cake batter on top and spread it out carefully to cover the apples. Arrange the remaining apple slices over the surface, pressing them gently into the batter.
6. Bake the traybake: Place the tin in the preheated oven and bake for 40-50 minutes. The cake should be golden brown, well-risen, and firm to the touch. A skewer inserted into the center should come out clean.
7. Cool and finish: Let the traybake cool in the tin for 10 minutes before turning it out onto a wire rack. Peel off the baking parchment and allow it to cool completely. Dust with icing sugar before slicing and serving.

Recipe Tips

• Use Bramley Apples: For the best texture, use Bramley apples. They cook down to a soft, fluffy consistency that is perfect for this cake, and their natural tartness balances the sweetness of the batter.
• Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure your butter and eggs are at room temperature. This helps them combine more easily and creates a lighter, more even-textured cake.
• Don’t Overmix: When combining the batter, mix only until the ingredients are smooth. Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour, resulting in a tough cake.
• Test for Doneness: To check if the cake is cooked, insert a skewer or toothpick into the center. If it comes out clean, it’s ready. If there is wet batter on it, bake for another 5-10 minutes and test again.

What To Serve Mary Berry Dorset Apple Traybake With

This Dorset apple traybake is delicious on its own with a cup of tea or coffee. For a comforting dessert, serve warm slices with a generous helping of hot custard, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or a dollop of clotted cream or crème fraîche to cut through the sweetness.

How To Store Mary Berry Dorset Apple Traybake Leftovers

• Refrigerate: Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you prefer, you can refrigerate it to extend its freshness for up to 5 days.
• Freeze: This traybake freezes beautifully. Cut the cooled cake into individual portions, wrap each piece tightly in plastic wrap, and then in foil. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.

Mary Berry Dorset Apple Traybake Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 380 kcal
• Total Fat: 18g
• Saturated Fat: 11g
• Cholesterol: 105mg
• Sodium: 350mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 50g
• Dietary Fiber: 2g
• Sugars: 28g
• Protein: 6g

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can I use different apples? Yes, while Bramley apples are recommended for their texture, you can use other cooking apples. Tart eating apples like Granny Smith also work well, but they will hold their shape more and be less fluffy.
• Can I add other spices? Certainly. A pinch of ground nutmeg or allspice would be a lovely addition to the cinnamon and would enhance the warm, autumnal flavors of the cake.
• Is it possible to make this recipe ahead of time? Yes, this is a great cake to make a day in advance. It stores well in an airtight container and the flavors can even improve overnight.
• How do I prevent the apples on top from burning? If you notice the apples on top are browning too quickly before the cake is fully cooked, you can loosely cover the tin with a piece of aluminum foil for the last 10-15 minutes of baking.

Try More Recipes:

• Mary Berry​ Blueberry Traybake Recipe
• Mary Berry Salted Caramel Traybake​ Recipe
• Mary Berry Old School Traybake​ Recipe