Celebrate good times with a Celebration tray bake.

I personally love a tray bake cake. Simple to make, moist sponge and a tempting topping to finish it off.

Whisk all the ingredients together, bake, cool and add your topping of choice and you are ready to go. As we are in the new year (Happy 2024 by the way) what better way to celebrate new beginnings than with a celebration tray bake!.

With my eldest back at school, little man and l made together and he went crazy with the sprinkles to which I'm sure I will still be hoovering up over the next few days like l am with the pine needles from the Christmas tree. Have a go at making at show us your bakes.... Enjoy!.

Celebration Tray Bake Cake

Prep time: 15 minutes            Cook time:  25 mins       Makes: 1 large traybake with 12 slices

Ingredients

For the sponge

300g of Butter - room temperature and cubed

300g of Caster Sugar

300g of Self raising flour

90ml of Milk

5 Eggs

2 tsp of Vanilla extract

Butter for greasing tin

For the icing

400g of Icing sugar

8 tbsp of Cooled boiled water

80g of Hundreds and Thousands

Equipment

Tray bake tin

Electric whisk

Mixing bowl

Spatula

Jug

Greaseproof paper

Tablespoon

Cooling rack

Fork

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 160C.

2. Grease the tray bake tin with the butter and greaseproof paper.

3. In the mixing bowl place the sugar and butter and cream together until a pale and fluffy batter is formed.

4. Whisking at a low speed add one egg at a time.

5. Continue to whisk the mixture and begin to add the flour a tablespoon at a time.

6. When all the ingredients are combined, use the spatula to double check all the ingredients are combined.

7. Pour the batter into the tray bake tin and use the spatula to spread the batter evenly in the baking tin.

8. Place in the oven for 25 minutes until risen and golden brown. TIP! Check the cake is baked by inserting a cocktail stick in the middle and ensure it comes out clean.

9. Once baked, leave in the baking tin for 15 minutes to cool before emptying onto the cooling rack.

10. Leave the cake to cool completely before beginning to ice the cake. TIP! Allow the cake to cool for up to 1 hour.

11.  When the cake has cooled, begin to make the icing in the jug by adding the icing sugar and slowly adding the cooled boiled water a tablespoon at a time and mixi g with the fork,  until you reach a thick consistency.

12. Pour the icing sugar over the cake, allowing to cover all areas. Use the spatula to spread the icing around the cake.

13. Add the sprinkles, covering the cake.

14. Cut into squares and serve.

15. Enjoy!.