Mary Berry Salted Caramel Traybake Recipe

Mary Berry Salted Caramel Traybake Recipe

This irresistible Mary Berry Salted Caramel Traybake Recipe pairs a feather-light toffee sponge with a luxurious layer of salted caramel buttercream. Finished with chewy fudge pieces and a sprinkle of sea salt, it offers the perfect balance of sweet and savory notes in a simple, slice-and-share format that is ideal for coffee mornings or charity bake sales.

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Mary Berry Salted Caramel Traybake Ingredients

The Toffee Sponge:

  • 225g (8oz) Baking Spread: (Like Stork). Mary always prefers baking spread over butter for traybakes as it yields a lighter, fluffier crumb straight from the fridge.
  • 225g (8oz) Light Muscovado Sugar: Provides a subtle caramel flavor and golden color compared to white sugar.
  • 275g (10oz) Self-Raising Flour: The structural base.
  • 2 tsp Baking Powder: Essential for a good rise.
  • 4 Large Eggs: To bind the mixture.
  • 2 tbsp Milk: To loosen the batter to the right consistency.

The Salted Caramel Icing:

  • 100g (3 ½oz) Butter: Softened.
  • 200g (7oz) Icing Sugar: Sifted.
  • 3 tbsp Carnation Caramel: Or dulce de leche (from a tin or jar). This gives the intense caramel hit.
  • 1/2 tsp Sea Salt flakes: Crushed slightly.

The Decoration:

  • 2 tbsp Carnation Caramel: Reserved for drizzling.
  • Fudge pieces: Small cubes for texture.
  • Sea Salt flakes: For the finishing touch.
Mary Berry Salted Caramel Traybake Recipe
Mary Berry Salted Caramel Traybake Recipe

How To Make Mary Berry Salted Caramel Traybake

  1. Prep the Tin: Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C Fan / Gas 4). Grease a 30 x 23cm (12 x 9in) traybake tin and line the base and sides with baking parchment.
  2. All-in-One Method: Measure the baking spread, light muscovado sugar, self-raising flour, baking powder, eggs, and milk into a large mixing bowl. Using an electric hand mixer, beat the ingredients together for about 2 minutes. The batter should be smooth, light, and creamy. Tip: Avoid overbeating once it’s mixed, or the sponge may become heavy.
  3. Bake: Scrape the batter into the prepared tin and level the surface with a palette knife or the back of a spoon. Bake in the center of the preheated oven for 30–35 minutes.
  4. Check Doneness: The cake is ready when it is well-risen, golden brown, and springs back when pressed gently in the center. It should also be shrinking slightly away from the sides of the tin.
  5. Cool: Leave the cake to cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then lift it out using the lining paper and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  6. Make the Icing: Place the softened butter into a bowl and beat until pale and fluffy. Gradually beat in the sifted icing sugar. Add the 3 tablespoons of caramel and the sea salt. Beat again until the frosting is smooth and spreadable.
  7. Decorate: Spread the icing evenly over the cold traybake using a palette knife. Drizzle the reserved 2 tablespoons of caramel over the top in a zigzag pattern. Scatter the fudge pieces and a tiny pinch of sea salt flakes over the surface. Cut into squares to serve.
Mary Berry Salted Caramel Traybake Recipe
Mary Berry Salted Caramel Traybake Recipe

Recipe Tips

  • Muscovado Lumps: Muscovado sugar is prone to clumping. Rub any hard lumps through a sieve or pinch them out with your fingers before adding the other ingredients to ensure a smooth batter.
  • Caramel Choice: Use a thick, canned caramel (like Carnation or a thick dulce de leche). Pourable dessert sauces are too thin and will make the buttercream runny.
  • Salt Control: Add the salt gradually to the icing. Sea salt flakes vary in intensity, and it is easier to add more than to fix a salty icing.
  • Cutting: To get neat squares, wipe your knife with a warm, damp cloth between cuts.

What To Serve With Salted Caramel Traybake

  • Black Coffee: The bitterness cuts through the sweet icing perfectly.
  • Fresh Raspberries: A tart fruit garnish balances the sugar.
  • Vanilla Ice Cream: Serve a square warm (without icing) or cold with a scoop of ice cream.
  • Hot Chocolate: For the ultimate sweet indulgence.
Mary Berry Salted Caramel Traybake Recipe
Mary Berry Salted Caramel Traybake Recipe

How To Store Salted Caramel Traybake

  • Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. The muscovado sugar helps keep the sponge moist.
  • Refrigerate: If the weather is very hot, store in the fridge to prevent the buttercream from melting, but serve at room temperature.
  • Freeze: You can freeze the un-iced sponge for up to 3 months. Wrap well in cling film and foil.

Salted Caramel Traybake Nutrition Facts

  • Calories: 310 kcal
  • Fat: 16g
  • Carbohydrates: 40g
  • Sugar: 28g
  • Protein: 4g

Nutrition information is estimated per square.

FAQs

Can I make this as a layer cake?

Yes. Divide the batter between two 20cm (8in) sandwich tins and bake for about 25 minutes. Sandwich with half the icing and top with the rest.

Do I have to use baking spread?

Mary Berry swears by it for all-in-one cakes, but you can use very soft unsalted butter. If using butter, ensure it is extremely soft to avoid lumps in the batter.

Can I make my own caramel?

You can, but it needs to be thick (dulce de leche consistency). Store-bought canned caramel is consistent and saves time, which is the spirit of a traybake.

Try More Recipes:

Mary Berry Salted Caramel Traybake Recipe

Course: DessertCuisine: BritishDifficulty: Easy
Servings

15

servings
Prep time

20

minutes
Cooking time

35

minutes
Calories

310

kcal

A foolproof all-in-one toffee sponge topped with a rich salted caramel buttercream and fudge pieces.

Ingredients

  • 225g baking spread

  • 225g light muscovado sugar

  • 275g self-raising flour + 2 tsp baking powder

  • 4 eggs + 2 tbsp milk

  • Icing: 100g butter, 200g icing sugar, 5 tbsp caramel (divided), 1/2 tsp sea salt

  • Topping: Fudge pieces

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C Fan).
  • Beat cake ingredients in a bowl for 2 mins.
  • Bake in lined tin 30-35 mins.
  • Cool completely on a rack.
  • Beat butter, sugar, 3 tbsp caramel, and salt.
  • Spread icing on cake.
  • Drizzle extra caramel; top with fudge.
  • Cut into squares.

Notes

  • Baking spread ensures a light sponge.
  • Use canned caramel for the best consistency.
  • Don’t overbeat the batter.
  • Keeps well for several days.

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