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.
Jump to RecipeMary 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.

How To Make Mary Berry Salted Caramel Traybake
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.

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.

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 Millionaire Caramel Shortbread Recipe
- Mary Berry Spanish Tortilla Recipe
- Mary Berry Spiced Orange Cake Recipe
Mary Berry Salted Caramel Traybake Recipe
Course: DessertCuisine: BritishDifficulty: Easy15
servings20
minutes35
minutes310
kcalA 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.
