Iced Bakewell Traybake 🍒✨
This retro Bakewell traybake combines buttery almond sponge, a layer of jam, and a sweet icing topping. Decorated with cherries and flaked almonds, it’s a nostalgic dessert perfect for afternoon tea or school bake sales!
Ingredients
For the Base:
🌾 Plain Flour: 200g
🧈 Unsalted Butter: 100g, chilled and cubed
🥄 Icing Sugar: 25g
💧 Cold Water: 2–3 tbsp (to bind)
For the Sponge:
🧈 Unsalted Butter: 100g, softened
🍋 Caster Sugar: 100g
🥚 Eggs: 2 large
🌾 Self-Raising Flour: 100g, sifted
🌿 Ground Almonds: 50g
🌟 Almond Extract: ½ tsp
For the Filling and Topping:
🍓 Raspberry Jam: 4 tbsp
🥄 Icing Sugar: 200g
💧 Water: 2–3 tbsp (adjust for icing consistency)
🍒 Glacé Cherries: 12 halves
🌰 Flaked Almonds: 2 tbsp
Method
For the Base:
🌡️ Prepare the Oven: Preheat your oven to 180°C (fan) or 160°C (gas mark 4). Grease and line a 20x20cm square tin with baking paper.
🥣 Make the Pastry: Rub the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in the icing sugar, then add cold water, one tablespoon at a time, until it forms a dough.
🍪 Bake the Base: Roll out the pastry to fit the tin. Press it into the base, prick it with a fork, and bake for 10 minutes. Allow it to cool.
For the Sponge:
🥄 Mix the Batter: Cream the softened butter and caster sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then fold in the self-raising flour, ground almonds, and almond extract.
🍓 Add the Jam and Sponge: Spread the raspberry jam evenly over the cooled pastry base. Spoon the sponge mixture on top, spreading it evenly.
🔥 Bake: Bake for 25–30 minutes until the sponge is golden and a skewer inserted comes out clean. Let it cool completely.
For the Topping:
🍋 Ice the Cake: Mix the icing sugar with water until smooth and spreadable. Spread it evenly over the cooled sponge.
🎨 Decorate: Place the glacé cherry halves evenly on top and scatter with flaked almonds. Let the icing set before slicing.
Serving Information
⏱ Prep Time: 30 minutes | 🔥 Cook Time: 40 minutes | ⏳ Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
🍴 Servings: 12 slices
🔥 Calories: ~250 per slice
A treat full of charm and sweetness – perfect with a cuppa! ☕🍰