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?

My mum is Catholic and makes a great mars bar crispie cake or millionaires shortbread traybake.

My dad is Protestant and does no traybaking whatsoever.

I'm a NI Protestant and I do make a LOT of tray bakes, I'm known for my tray bakes at events but I didn't realise it was just a Protestant thing

I make lots of different ones but the favourites would be:
Caramac Squares
Aero Mint Squares
Mars Squares
Johnny's Favourites.

Do you English folk not have tray bakes?

NoParticularPattern we may need more information - how thick were they? Were they split and buttered? Any jam on them?

Oo coconut macaroons my gran used to make them I just buy a bar of Lees occasionally but it isn't the same.

doilooklikeatourist the first fifteen I ever had was at my first Saturday job in a local cafe. The chef (I use that description very lightly ) used to come in and make a batch every morning. They freeze very well too.

I didn't have a traybake until I was well into my teens! I kick with the wrong foot . We had to make to with a bun and a quick smoke.

@NoParticularPattern Does he mean treacle scones?

But, @irisheyesaresmiling7, who is Johnny and what are his favourites?

well I haven't RTFT so hope no-one has stolen my Protestant Tray Bake: it's a sort of a cheesecake, biscuit base, jam and tinned fruit layer, cheese cake layer, fridge, crumble half a flake on tip and keep the rest in the baking cupboard for future baking (you don't just eat it you know). I haven't made this since I was 15 and I'm knocking on for 50 but it was good then and I bet it's good now.

I didn't know it was protestant by the way, although now that I do I'm sure I could incorporate some red white and blue colouring along the way. I actually think it's more churchgoing traybakes in commun ities that don't drink alcohol - you've got to have some fun in life after all

*FlaviaAlbia

My mum made Philadelphia and grape sandwiches I think it's the dark side of the traybake ability*

^This, and the other classic church hall sandwich - Mars Bar and apple 🤢

Have you all read the pineapple tart by Anne Dunlop. It is my favourite NI book. Glorious with its Protestant-ism. Like a Presbyterian version of derry girls

There's too much dessicated coconut in these recipes. Is that a protestant thing? I'm a lapsed catholic, what can i substitute for coconut?

The cafe at theDonaghadee Garden Center is the dogs bollocks.

I genuinely had no idea that traybake was split down these religious lines. Fascinating.

I'm a lapsed catholic, what can i substitute for coconut?

Shredded communion wafers.

Or failing that, blitzed nuts of some sort, pistachios might be nice if considered a bit highfalutin, or biscuit crumbs.

I’m neither Protestant not Northern Irish. I grew up in Australia and am constantly amazed (via Mumsnet) at how much of my childhood originated in the culture of the North, Scotland and NI - given I don’t have any parents/grandparents from here.

Australians love a tray bake (called a “slice”). We make a pretty similar Pineapple Slice. Millionaires Shortbread is Caramel Slice. We do yummy ones called called a Cherry Ripe Slice, Passionfruit Slice, Jelly Slice and Raspberry Coconut Slice.

Also, Fifteens is very similar to what the Kiwis call Lolly Cake, and I grew up on Scotch Pancakes (“pikelets”).

My mum made coconut haystacks, I can't really remember what they were because I don't like dessicated coconut so sulked when she made them. She used to shape them in an egg cup. I'm going to have to ask her what they were now.

I grew up in the NI Protestant tray bake heartland. I even have inherited a W.I. cookbook from about 20 years ago with its own tray bake section.

The best to me is tiffin, but it needs to have cherries in it to be really good.

Malteser squares are also good, as are caramel. Very fond of a lemon slice too. Fifteens are a classic, but I'm not a huge fan myself. The ones with the mint under the chocolate topping are also popular but I always find them slightly disappointing.

The tricky bit with making a really good tray bake is getting the rations right. Base:middle bit:chocolate on top. Too much of any of the parts and the tray bake goes from sublime to pedestrian.

I guess Methodists and the Sally Army can't have any kind of alcohol in their tray bakes to liven them up a little. Are Mormons allowed coffee cake I wonder? Evangelicals should make industrial size portions of tray bakes so they can share them with everyone they meet 😂

Coco, I love that garden centre! The café is amazing. I always have a cheese scone and my mother has the lemon meringue.

Right.

6 oz crushed digestive biscuits
2 oz melted margarine (butter also works)
1 tin condensed milk
Packet dessicated coconut
Packet marshmallows (not mini kind)

Mix crushed biscuits, melted marg and condensed milk in bowl - if too wet I add another couple crushed biscuits. On a separate plate spread the coconut out.

Take each marshmallow and spread the sticky mixture around it until it's entirely covered, then roll it in the coconut. Put each one on a tray (=this is where the tray-bake bit comes in .) I find I have to wash and dry my hands between each one or two. When they're all done put in fridge to set.

The pink ones taste best for some reason. But you won't know what colour until you bite!

Hang on, I thought Tiffin was an Aussie thing?

That was for snowballs by the way.

Fifteens, every time.
Mint squares also good ( though not using toothpaste for the mint as my sister and I did aged about 5 and 7)

My MIL is a good presbyterian and a legendary authority on the best garden centres serving traybakes big enough for two. It's not a myth.

Oo coconut macaroons my gran used to make them I just buy a bar of Lees occasionally but it isn't the same.

That's because they're not made with mashed potato.

Has to be mashed potato to get the right, nostalgic granny used to make, taste.