Mary Berry’s Chocolate Chip Traybake is a delicious, easy-to-make, and utterly irresistible treat that has become a staple in British baking. Perfect for all ages, this traybake is a delightful mix of a soft, buttery sponge base combined with rich, gooey chocolate chips. What makes it stand out is its simplicity and versatility – it’s an ideal bake for beginner bakers or anyone looking to whip up a quick but decadent dessert or snack.
Mary Berry, known for her comforting and accessible recipes, has created a traybake that strikes a balance between a cake and a cookie, offering the best of both worlds. The batter is thick and indulgent, giving it a firm yet melt-in-the-mouth texture when baked, while the chocolate chips add bursts of sweetness and a slight chewiness.
The beauty of this chocolate chip traybake lies not only in its taste but also in its practicality. It is baked in a tray, making it easy to slice and serve, which is perfect for parties, family gatherings, or even just as a quick treat for yourself. Whether you’re a baking novice or an experienced pro, this recipe allows you to create a comforting, crowd-pleasing dessert with minimal effort.
Mary Berry’s Chocolate Chip Traybake Recipe
Ingredients Needed
To make Mary Berry’s Chocolate Chip Traybake, you’ll need a handful of pantry staples. Here’s a breakdown of the ingredients you’ll need:
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Butter (Unsalted) – 200g
The base of the traybake relies on butter to give it a rich, soft texture. Unsalted butter allows you to control the salt content, which is especially important since the chocolate chips will add their own sweetness.
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Caster Sugar – 200g
Caster sugar, with its fine texture, dissolves easily in the butter, creating a smooth batter. It provides the sweetness without being overly heavy.
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Self-Raising Flour – 225g
Self-raising flour is key to achieving that light, airy texture. Its inclusion means you don’t have to fuss with adding baking powder, making the recipe simpler.
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Eggs – 2 large
Eggs help bind the ingredients together and contribute to the cake’s soft, moist crumb. They also provide structure to the batter, ensuring it rises beautifully.
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Milk – 2 tablespoons
A small amount of milk helps loosen the batter, giving it just the right consistency so it spreads evenly in the tray.
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Chocolate Chips – 200g
The star ingredient. The chocolate chips melt into the cake, creating pockets of gooey chocolate goodness. You can use milk, dark, or white chocolate depending on your preference. You could even mix different types for variety!
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Vanilla Extract – 1 teaspoon
A touch of vanilla brings out the sweetness in the cake and pairs wonderfully with the chocolate, enhancing the overall flavor.
Equipment Needed
Making Mary Berry’s Chocolate Chip Traybake requires only a few essential kitchen tools. Here’s a list of what you’ll need:
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Baking Tray (Approximately 20 x 30 cm)
You’ll need a square or rectangular tray, ideally 20 x 30 cm, to bake your traybake. The size of the tray ensures the cake has the perfect thickness and cooks evenly.
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Electric Mixer or Hand Whisk
An electric mixer will save you time when creaming the butter and sugar together, but a hand whisk will work just as well if you don’t have one. It’s important to cream these ingredients until light and fluffy to get the ideal texture.
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Spatula
A spatula will be useful for folding in the flour and chocolate chips to prevent overmixing and ensuring a smooth batter.
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Measuring Spoons and Scales
Accurate measurements are essential to getting the right balance of ingredients, so having a good set of scales and measuring spoons is important.
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Cooling Rack
Once your traybake has baked, a cooling rack will help it cool down evenly and prevent it from becoming soggy.
Instructions To Make Mary Berry’s Chocolate Chip Traybake
Now that you’ve gathered your ingredients and equipment, here’s a step-by-step guide to baking this tasty treat:
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Preheat the Oven
Start by preheating your oven to 180°C (160°C for fan ovens), or 350°F (320°F for fan ovens). This ensures the cake starts baking as soon as it’s ready to go into the oven.
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Prepare the Tray
Line your baking tray with parchment paper or lightly grease it with butter. This will ensure that the cake doesn’t stick and makes it easier to remove once it’s cooled.
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Cream the Butter and Sugar
In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer or hand whisk to cream the butter and caster sugar together until the mixture becomes light, pale, and fluffy. This can take around 3-4 minutes with an electric mixer, and it’s crucial for getting the perfect texture.
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Add the Eggs and Vanilla
Beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Add the vanilla extract and mix until everything is combined.
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Fold in the Dry Ingredients
Sift the self-raising flour into the bowl and gently fold it into the wet mixture using a spatula or wooden spoon. Be careful not to overwork the batter to maintain the lightness.
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Stir in the Milk and Chocolate Chips
Add the milk to loosen the batter slightly, then fold in the chocolate chips, ensuring they’re evenly distributed throughout the batter.
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Bake the Traybake
Spoon the batter into your prepared baking tray, smoothing the top with a spatula. Place the tray in the preheated oven and bake for about 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown, and a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
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Cool and Serve
Once baked, remove the tray from the oven and let it cool in the tray for 10 minutes before transferring it to a cooling rack. Once fully cooled, slice it into squares or rectangles and serve.
Tips And Tricks
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Swap Out the Chocolate Chips
If you’re feeling adventurous, try swapping the chocolate chips for chopped-up chocolate bars, dried fruit, or even nuts. You could go with a combination of dark and milk chocolate for an extra depth of flavor.
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Use Room Temperature Ingredients
Ensure your butter and eggs are at room temperature before you start mixing. This allows them to blend together more smoothly and helps the batter achieve a light, fluffy consistency.
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Don’t Overmix the Batter
Overmixing the batter can result in a dense traybake. Mix just until everything is incorporated and no streaks of flour remain.
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Keep an Eye on the Oven
Ovens can vary in temperature, so start checking the traybake around the 25-minute mark. If it’s golden on top and a skewer comes out clean, it’s done!
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Make It Your Own
Add a little pinch of sea salt on top for a touch of contrast to the sweetness or try swirling in some caramel sauce or peanut butter for a twist on the classic.
Mary Berry’s Chocolate Chip Traybake is the perfect combination of simplicity and indulgence. It’s an easy recipe to follow, making it accessible to both novice and experienced bakers, while still delivering a deliciously rich treat. Whether you’re making it for a party, an afternoon tea, or just to satisfy a chocolate craving, this traybake never disappoints.
The light, buttery sponge and gooey pockets of melted chocolate create a mouthwatering experience in every bite. It’s also a highly adaptable recipe, allowing you to get creative with different types of chocolate or additional flavorings.
Easy Recipe Variations For Mary Berry’s Chocolate Chip Traybake
Mary Berry’s Chocolate Chip Traybake is a beloved treat known for its delightful combination of buttery sponge and rich chocolate chips. While the original recipe itself is a classic, there are several simple variations you can experiment with to elevate the flavor or cater to different dietary preferences. Here are a few ideas to make it uniquely yours:
1. Fruit and Nut Variation:
For a more textured version, add dried fruits such as raisins, sultanas, or chopped dried apricots. Nuts, such as walnuts, hazelnuts, or almonds, can also be incorporated. These add an earthy depth to the sweetness of the chocolate. If you’re going for a decadent nutty taste, try a combination of dark chocolate chips and chopped hazelnuts for a rich contrast.
2. White Chocolate Chip Traybake:
If you prefer a milder, sweeter option, you can swap the traditional milk or dark chocolate chips for white chocolate chips. This variation gives the traybake a smoother, creamier flavor that contrasts beautifully with the slight crumbly texture of the cake itself. You could even swirl in a bit of vanilla or almond extract to further complement the white chocolate.
3. Vegan Chocolate Chip Traybake:
For those who prefer plant-based options, you can easily adapt Mary Berry’s recipe to be vegan-friendly. Replace the butter with vegan butter or coconut oil and swap the eggs for flax eggs (made from ground flaxseed and water). Choose dairy-free chocolate chips and ensure that any other ingredients, like the baking powder or vanilla extract, are also plant-based. The result is a traybake that’s just as soft and delicious without any animal products.
4. Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Traybake:
For a gluten-free version, simply replace the regular flour with a gluten-free flour blend. It’s important to ensure that the flour blend you choose contains xanthan gum or guar gum, which helps with the structure of the cake. You could also add a bit of ground almonds to enhance the texture and flavor. This variation will still give you that moist, fluffy traybake, minus the gluten.
5. Adding Coffee:
If you love the combination of chocolate and coffee, add a tablespoon or two of instant coffee or espresso powder to the batter. Coffee enhances the depth of the chocolate flavor, giving the traybake a more robust taste. Just make sure to dissolve the coffee granules in a small amount of hot water before adding them to the mix, to ensure the flavor integrates smoothly.
6. Caramel Chocolate Chip Traybake:
For a more indulgent version, drizzle caramel sauce over the top of the baked traybake. You can either use store-bought caramel sauce or make your own by melting sugar and butter together to form a smooth, gooey sauce. The caramel adds a beautiful richness that pairs wonderfully with the chocolate chips, making this a great treat for special occasions.
7. Marbled Chocolate Traybake:
For an eye-catching twist, create a marbled effect by swirling both dark and white chocolate through the batter before baking. This not only enhances the visual appeal but also gives a delicious variety of flavors in each bite. A spoon or knife is all you need to gently swirl the chocolate into the batter, creating a striking contrast between the rich, dark chocolate and the creamy, sweet white chocolate.
Storing Leftovers
After enjoying a few slices of Mary Berry’s Chocolate Chip Traybake, you might find yourself with some leftovers. Storing these properly ensures they stay fresh and delicious for several days. Here are a few tips on how to keep your traybake in perfect condition:
1. Room Temperature Storage:
If you plan to eat the leftover traybake within a few days, storing it at room temperature is the best option. To do this, cut the traybake into individual slices and place them in an airtight container. This prevents the cake from drying out and helps maintain its moist, fluffy texture. Keep the container in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. The traybake should last for about 3 to 4 days this way.
2. Freezing:
If you have more leftovers than you can eat in a few days, freezing the traybake is a great option. To freeze, first ensure the traybake has completely cooled. Then, slice the traybake into individual portions. Wrap each slice tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, and then place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. This will prevent freezer burn and keep the cake fresh for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to eat, simply thaw at room temperature or heat the slices in the microwave for a few seconds.
3. Keep the Toppings Separate:
If you’ve added extra toppings, such as caramel sauce, frosting, or whipped cream, it’s best to store these separately. Store them in a small, airtight container and add them just before serving to avoid sogginess. If the toppings are baked into the traybake (e.g., chocolate chips or nuts), they should be fine stored alongside the cake.
4. Avoid Refrigeration (Unless Necessary):
Although it might seem like a good idea to refrigerate your traybake to keep it fresh longer, this can actually cause the cake to dry out. Refrigeration can make the cake lose its soft texture. However, if your environment is particularly warm and you’re worried about spoilage, refrigeration can be a good backup option. Just make sure to bring it to room temperature before serving to restore some of its original softness.
What To Eat With Mary Berry’s Chocolate Chip Traybake?
While Mary Berry’s Chocolate Chip Traybake is delicious on its own, there are several ways to elevate the experience by pairing it with complementary flavors and textures. Whether you’re serving it at a tea party, picnic, or as a casual dessert after dinner, here are some ideas on what to serve alongside this delightful treat:
1. Fresh Fruit:
Fresh, juicy fruits are the perfect contrast to the rich, buttery traybake. Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, or even a simple fruit salad provide a refreshing balance to the sweetness of the chocolate. For an added touch, you could drizzle a little bit of honey or a squeeze of lemon over the fruit for extra zing.
2. Ice Cream or Whipped Cream:
For those who want to indulge further, a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of freshly whipped cream is a dreamy pairing. The cold, creamy texture of the ice cream contrasts wonderfully with the warm, soft traybake. If you’re feeling adventurous, try pairing it with a slightly tangy flavor like lemon or berry ice cream for a refreshing twist.
3. Custard:
A classic British pairing for chocolate cake is custard. Serve your chocolate chip traybake with warm custard for a comforting and nostalgic dessert. The creamy custard complements the richness of the chocolate, making it a heartwarming treat for any occasion.
4. A Hot Drink:
The traybake pairs beautifully with a hot drink like tea or coffee. Earl Grey or a classic English breakfast tea would work wonderfully, as the tea’s slight bitterness helps balance the sweetness of the cake. If you prefer coffee, a dark roast or espresso brings out the chocolate flavors even more, creating a perfect harmony.
5. A Cheese Plate:
For a more unconventional yet surprisingly delightful pairing, serve the traybake with a cheese platter. Soft cheeses like brie, mascarpone, or cream cheese complement the chocolate’s sweetness and add an interesting savory twist. Pair it with some crackers or a few slices of fresh baguette, and you’ve got a sophisticated spread.
Conclusion
Mary Berry’s Chocolate Chip Traybake is a timeless treat that never fails to delight with its soft, moist texture and rich bursts of chocolate. Whether you stick to the classic recipe or experiment with one of the many variations, this traybake is versatile enough to suit any taste. From adding fruit and nuts for texture to making it vegan or gluten-free, there’s a version for every occasion and dietary need. Storing leftovers is easy, and if you’re looking to elevate the experience, consider pairing it with fresh fruit, ice cream, or a steaming cup of tea. Whether you’re baking for a crowd or just enjoying a sweet moment alone, this traybake is sure to be a crowd-pleaser that offers comfort and joy with every bite.
FAQs
What Ingredients Are Needed For Mary Berry’s Chocolate Chip Traybake?
Mary Berry’s chocolate chip traybake requires basic baking ingredients such as 175g unsalted butter, 175g caster sugar, 2 large eggs, 200g self-raising flour, 100g chocolate chips, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. You will also need a baking tray (roughly 20×30 cm) lined with baking parchment for easy removal after baking.
How Long Should I Bake Mary Berry’s Chocolate Chip Traybake, And At What Temperature?
Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C for fan ovens) or 350°F. Mary Berry’s chocolate chip traybake should be baked for approximately 20-25 minutes. The traybake is ready when it turns golden brown on top, and a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs.
Can I Modify Mary Berry’s Chocolate Chip Traybake Recipe To Suit Dietary Restrictions?
Yes, Mary Berry’s chocolate chip traybake can be adjusted to suit various dietary needs. To make it dairy-free, you can substitute the butter with a dairy-free alternative like margarine or coconut oil and use dairy-free chocolate chips. For a gluten-free version, swap the self-raising flour with a gluten-free flour blend that includes xanthan gum for structure. Be mindful to check that all ingredients, like the chocolate chips, are suitable for your dietary needs.
