Tray bakes make perfect mid-week bites, little made-ahead pick-me-ups to bring to school pick-ups, or to grab with a cup of tea when you come home from work. They’re lovely, low-key cakes to make with little ones in tow and can be as simple – or as fancy – as you so desire. Teatime treats ahoy.

Millionaire’s Shortbread


Olive Magazine
Millionaire

Who can possibly resist a sweet treat that goes by the name of Millionaire’s Shortbread? Not us, that’s for sure, especially when it combines crumbly shortbread with gooey caramel, all topped off with chocolate. Pure decadence, it’s also an easy but impressive tray bake to make. A great way to add a touch of snacking luxe to your week. Find the recipe here.


Banana Traybake With Cream Cheese Frosting


BBC Good Food
Banana Traybake With Cream Cheese Frosting

Remember the collective banana bread obsession of the first lockdown? If you haven’t touched the stuff since thanks to 2020 overkill, it’s time to resurrect the old classic. It’s a great one for using up overripe bananas, and there are few better ways to add extra deliciousness than spicing it with the liberal use of cinnamon. The cream cheese icing is, of course optional but, we would suggest, highly advisable. Find the recipe here.


Chocolate And Marshmallow Mini Egg Traybake


Delicious
Chocolate And Marshmallow Mini Egg Traybake

In the wake of Easter, you probably have a glut of Mini Eggs hanging around. Use them up and flex your culinary muscles post the sugar-fuelled celebration with this mini egg-scattered bake. Simple, indulgent, and irresistibly sweet: we defy you to stick to just the one slice. The perfect cake to offer to little ones on playdates. Find the recipe here.


Retro Sprinkle Tray Bake


Ohla Living
Old Skool Retro Sprinkle Tray Bake

Delight your inner child (or indeed your actual child) with this retro bake with classic sprinkles. It could not be simpler: a traditional sponge cake topped with icing sugar whipped up with milk and finished, of course, with those all-important sprinkles. Find the recipe here.


Treacle Spice Traybake


Mary Berry
TREACLE SPICE TRAYBAKE

We defer to the queen of puddings and cakes, Mary Berry, on all matters baking. This simple traybake packs a big flavour punch thanks to the treacle, ginger and allspice – and, as Berry says, ‘Don’t be too worried if the traybake dips in the centre – it means you were a little generous with the treacle.’ And, we say, it’s always good to be generous, no? Find the recipe here.

By Nancy Alsop
Updated March 2024