Which is the tastiest Protestant traybake?

[FiddleFaddleDingDong]

NI Protestants are famed for their tray bakes but which is the best traybake of all?

I’m thinking something crunchy and chocolatey, a tiffin like thing. But are there unchocolatey traybakes that I just haven’t been exposed to? Are they keeping all the best recipes to themselves, strictly to be eaten behind closed doors?

And does it get a bit competitive? Does Annie cast aspersions on Doris’ traybaking abilities?

I’m not from NI, but when I was growing up we did make something that sounds very similar to the no-cheese cheesecakes mentioned. A pastry case with a dollop of jam in and a layer of cake on top. I know them as Welsh Cheesecakes though.

This thread has also reminded me that I bought a copy of Australian Woman’s Weekly Quick Mix Biscuits and Slices back in the 90’s, it’s full of no bake recipes, but to my shame, I’ve never made anything from it. I just open it and drool at the recipes from time to time

I’ve been married to an Ulsterman for 21 years and no-one’s given me a traybake. I feel cheated. Maybe they are just not Proddy enough. They do make brilliant soup, though, which they have all the time.

Best thread ever! I was intrigued by the title but have now baked a tray of blondies to get in the spirit. Being raised Methodist in England traybakes were definitely a coffee morning staple in my childhood

This Catholic’s first ever traybake, so thought I’d go classic: Caramel Square. Neither baked nor, in fact, in a tray - a real “Irish” one.

Ruthboros ltb.
We should have our own (tray) bake off thread.

Oooof, yes please, piglet.

I’ve been married to an Ulsterman for 21 years and no-one’s given me a traybake

I'm sure that contravenes the Good Friday Agreement or something.

Brilliant, piglet! Enjoy.

Going back the funerals, they are usually mixed gatherings. Hence Arlene Foster at Martin McGuinness's funeral. Wasn't such a big deal (but because of the political acrimony at the time a lot was made of it.) But wakes and funerals would be mixed gatherings.

I’ve just looked up the recipe for Fifteens... that is outrageous

I found this thread late last night and it’s taken me all day to read it, between wrangling children. Am loving it, best thread in ages!

I’ve been doing Slimming World for 6 months but I think you lot are about to undo all my good work

I’m still a bit fuzzy about caramel squares - how do you make the caramel different to a millionaire’s shortbread?

Also, MrsTommyShelby I love the sound if that - care to share the recipe? I am also hopeful that the recipe for the lemon fudge square thingy will be posted... I love a bit of citrus, me.

So many brilliant recipes and lovely banter, this thread has made my day!

Not tray bakes, but in the nostalgic spirit of this thread, I really miss proper NI soup veg. You can't get it here, and nobody sells the right sort of leafy celery.

In honour of this thread I, (prod [welsh] married to catholic [ni] living in catholic village)[NI])HAD to make pineapple delights today!! (But more like pineapple delight pudding!! - can't get the right cream!!!) everyone in our house v happy!!

It definitely contravenes the Good Friday Agreement.

NI Prod here, spoiling Parisians with the tray bake for the last 25 years. You can stuff yer 🥐 🥐 up yer hole - bring on the Chinese Chews & Wonder Bites & Shah biscuits that saw us through the oul Troubles 😋

The handed down from generation to generation recipe that I have for caramel squares says that you need to boil the caramel vigorously until it leaves the sides of the pan. None of this 'boil for six minutes' nonsense that you get with a cookbook recipe. It's all about just knowing to look at it.

The thing about this is that unless you are an experienced traybake, you will have panicked ten minutes earlier and removed it from the heat because you think it's going to burn. It took me a good fifteen years to pluck up the courage to keep boiling it.

I've only got to page 10 of this thread as it's past my bedtime but this is absolute gold and needs to go into classics. Welsh Wesleyan Methodist here and I was brought up on traybakes (I guess we're not far over the water). School coffee mornings were my favourites as there were always good caramel squares and I can't believe nobody has mentioned the pastry/strawberry jam/cornflake cake thing which was the best school pudding ever. I have a Dairy Book of Home Management from the late 70s and would recommend anyone to buy one if they see it in a charity shop, bloody brilliant recipes (ignore the flower arranging advice).

Curnt squers (currant squares) - the only traybake I’ve ever known a catholic to make. My granny’s speciality.

moved away from deepest traybake country for nearly 20 years, but I've been back 'home' a lot recently to see my wee mum (who hasn't been too well) and can testify to the cornucopia of traybakes available at ALL petrol stations in a 25 mile radius of Bangor (Is the Norn Irn post Brexit economy going to depend solely on the amount of traybakes eaten per head?) and to the heroic scale of the traybakes/scones/apple pies at the Donaghadee garden centre...yes that slice really is meant for one person! I actually had to ask the last time I was there...I've obviously been away too long.

Reading this thread has been a trip down memory lane into a subset of northern Irish culture that I hadn't really realised was a thing and that I was part of, top hats and all. Has the prod salad of grated carrot in orange jelly been on yet? that's one I don't miss

My much missed Dad adored a curnt squer & when my much missed Mum (tray baker extraordinaire) left us 😢 he took to visiting The Golden Crumb, Belmont Church Road (appropriately enough 😉) Next best thing. Agreed this is a Classic BEST THREAD EVER & I’m homesick as hell...

Oh flick sakes, @goodthinking99 ! You've just reminded me!

I was at a party a few years ago and they had carrot in orange jelly, beetroot in black currant jelly and cucumber in lime jelly.

No word of a lie it's the worst thing I've ever had in my mouth.

I didn't know that jellies with bits of suspended vegetables was an offshoot of the NI Protestant traybake culture. I've only ever seen that with midwestern Americans. And Mormons, American Mormons love a weird vegetable jelly dish.

OP I think a rocky road is what you’re looking for. www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/12412/rocky-road?amp You can’t beat a good malteser square, cappuccino square, or chocolate cracknel. That’s what I tend to bring to wakes anyway. Plus top hats for the kids and carrot & pineapple muffins.

@bitteroulbag I actually had a shag biscuit tonight with a cup of tea (nambarrie of course).

*shah biscuit lol!

carrot in orange jelly, and beetroot in blackcurrant jelly was a staple of my mum's 'special' salads when we had people in but cucumber in lime jelly is taking it to a whole new level of abomination...