Food with passion: Sprinkle Cake Tray Bake

This is a really fun cake recipe that brings me back to my childhood. Colourful, full of sprinkles, perfect for kid’s parties, large gatherings and adults will enjoy this cake too as it’s delicious.

A classic vanilla based sponge with brightly coloured icing which you can have lots of fun experimenting with different coloured icing if you fancy.

I came across this recipe when looking through my large haul of cook books and I realised I had not made a good old fashioned tray bake in a long time.

Tray bakes are great for large gatherings as they go a long way and best of all they are a great get ahead bake! I made this for my nephews when they came for Sunday lunch and it was a great hit with them and my adult guests!

Ingredients: (Makes approx 20 squares)

For the cake:

• 400g plain flour
• 400 softened unsalted butter
• 350g castor sugar
• 2 teaspoons of good quality vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon of baking powder
• 400g free range eggs (Weigh in their shells) approx.6 large eggs
• 300ml buttermilk
• 80g large sugar sprinkles

Icing:

• 200g softened unsalted butter
• 300g icing sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• Food colouring – whatever colour your fancy, yellow, pink, green etc.
• 1-2 tablespoons of hot water – just boiled
• Lots of sprinkles to decorate

Method

1. Preheat your oven to 200 degrees / 180 fan / 400F / Gas Mark 6 and grease and line (with parchment paper) a 33 x 23 cm baking tray / tin.

 

2. Cream the butter and sugar together until pale and fluff then gradually add the eggs and vanilla, mixing well between each addition.

 

3. Fold in about one third of the flour, baking powder and add one third of the buttermilk and repeat twice more until all combined and you have a nice smooth batter.

 

4. Add in the large sugar sprinkles, one final quick mix (being careful not to overmix) then pour the batter into the prepared tin, smooth out until nice and even and bake for 30 minutes until nice and golden and the cake has risen – as always to test if the cake is baked, use a metal skewer and once it comes out clean the cake is cooked. Allow to cool in the tin for 10 minutes before removing and allowing to cool completely.

 

5. To make the icing beat the butter until light and fluffy then carefully add in the icing sugar until nice and smooth. Add the vanilla and your chosen food colouring and 1- 2 tablespoons of just boiled water and mix together until you have a lovely smooth icing.

 

6. Lather the icing over the top of the cake and scatter lots of sugar sprinkles serve with whipped double cream and enjoy.

To me this is a sweet nostalgic bake and one you could bake for your loved ones or special someone this Valentine’s Day.

You could source heart shaped sugar sprinkles and use a red food colouring to capture the colour of love.

Either way the making of a cake for a loved one in my experience always goes down well as it shows your loved ones you’ve gone that extra mile.

This is a great cake to get the kids involved in making, as they will love the bright brash colour, masses of sugar sprinkles and it’s also a really simple recipe to follow.

Have fun baking this cake and it will bring love and sunshine into your life!