Name: Baileys Chocolate Traybake Cake
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 80 min
Ingredients: 225 g Butter or baking spread; 225 g Light brown soft sugar; 4 Eggs (large); 125 ml Baileys; 165 g Self raising flour; 60 g Cocoa powder; 1/4 tsp Baking powder; 100 g Dark chocolate chips; 200 g Butter (unsalted, softened); 400 g Icing sugar; 3-4 tbsp Baileys; 12 Baileys truffles (chopped up); Sprinkles (optional)

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Although I'd happily drink Baileys all year round, it always comes out at Christmas and I think people do see it as a Christmas drink. I absolutely love baking with it as it has such a yummy creamy flavour. This Baileys Chocolate Traybake Cake (also known as a sheet cake) features an easy chocolate sponge that's infused with Baileys, plus some chocolate chips for extra chocolate flavour! I've smothered it in Baileys buttercream, which is so good I could just eat it with a spoon!! I've used Baileys truffles to decorate the traybake, which are pretty easy to get hold of in the UK. I also added some glitzy sprinkles to give it that festive look!

Ingredient Tips & Equipment Information

Make sure all your ingredients (particularly the butter and eggs) are at room temperature before you start baking.
I used a baking spread for the cake and unsalted butter for the buttercream.
You can use the original Baileys branded irish cream liqueur, or another version like Aldi's for example. You could also use Amarula.
I used dark chocolate chips in the sponge, but white or milk chocolate chips would also be super yummy!
I really recommend using light brown soft sugar if you can for the cake, but if you can't get hold of it, caster sugar will work well too.
The Baileys Truffles are usually available from shops like B&M Bargains, Quality Save or Home Bargain. They always seem to have them around Christmas time!
Although I provide cup measurements, I highly recommend weighing your ingredients out using digital kitchen scales*. It is the most accurate way to measure ingredients and will ensure the best results. Digital scales are very low cost and can be purchased for around £12 ($16.50) .
For teaspoon (tsp) and tablespoon (tbsp) measurements, please use measuring spoons* and not the type of spoons you eat with. Again this will ensure accuracy and provide the best results.

For the full recipe with measurements, head to the recipe card at the end of this post.

How to make Baileys Chocolate Traybake Cake

To make the sponge, mix light brown sugar and butter together, then add eggs and Baileys.

Mix in cocoa powder, self raising flour and baking powder. Fold in chocolate chips, then pour the cake batter into a lined tin.

Bake the cake for 30-35 minutes, then leave to cool fully. Make the buttercream using butter, icing sugar and Baileys, mix until smooth then spread over the cake. Decorate with Baileys truffles and sprinkles.

How long does the cake last for and can you freeze it?

The cake will last for 3-4 days in an airtight container in a cool place. You can freeze both the cake and the buttercream (but do not freeze the truffles). To freeze them separately, wrap the cake well in cling film or put it in an airtight container. The buttercream can be frozen in a sealed tub. To freeze the cake decorated, freeze on a plate until frozen solid, then carefully wrap in cling film. Remove the clingfilm when you take the cake out of the freezer to defrost, as if it defrosts with it still on it could damage the buttercream. Or freeze in slices.

Can you make this cake with plain/all purpose flour?

Self raising flour, which is very commonly used in the UK where I am based, already contains a raising agent and a little salt too. Therefore if you want to swap it for plain or all purpose flour, you will need to add some additional baking powder and also a little salt if you like. Some people like to add salt to cake recipes and some don't, so I'll leave that up to you as it won't affect the bake. The general advice is to add 2 teaspoons baking powder (a measuring teaspoon, not the kind you stir your coffee with) per every 200g plain or all purpose flour. So for this recipe you'd need to add an additional 1 + ½ teaspoons baking powder. Please note, I have not tested this recipe using plain or all purpose flour.

What size tin do you need for this cake?

This recipe is best made in a 12" x 9" (36.5cm x 26cm) traybake tin with deep sides (4cm or 1.5"). However, if you'd prefer to make it in a smaller 9" square tin, check the recipe card notes section for details on how to change the measurements and baking time.

How many people does this cake serve?

It completely depends how you slice it up, which is great because it makes this such a versatile cake for parties and gatherings. I love a big chunk of cake so I cut it into 12 slices, but for a party you may prefer to cut it into smaller slices so it feeds more people. You can cut into 16 slices, or even 24 slices. If you are doing smaller slices, cut it up before you add the Baileys truffles on top so you don't have to try and cut through them.

Can this cake be made gluten or dairy free?

Yes! For gluten free you can replace the self raising flour with a gluten free self raising flour blend. If you only have a gluten free plain flour blend, you will need to add additonal baking powder. The general advice is to add 2 tsp baking powder per 200g flour, so for this recipe you'd need to add 1 + ½ teaspoons baking powder. You may also like to add ¼ tsp Xantham Gum for better texture. For a dairy free version, use a dairy free baking spread and dairy free Baileys irish cream for both the cake and buttercream (Baileys Almande is dairy free).

Can this cake be made into cupcakes?

Yes, to make this recipe into cupcakes check out my Baileys Chocolate Cupcakes recipe for details.

Can this recipe be made alcohol free?

Yes, if you want to make these for children, a pregnant person or anyone that doesn't consume alcohol then replace the Baileys in the sponge with milk and the Baileys in the buttercream with double cream. Add 1 tsp vanilla extract to the buttercream as well for extra flavour. They of course won't taste of Baileys, but they will still be delicious, chocolatey and creamy!

More tips for making the Baileys Chocolate Traybake Cake:

You could try making this with some of the other Baileys flavours, like coffee or orange. Both would be delicious with the chocolate sponge.
I cut the traybake into squares before adding the truffles so I could make sure each serving got an equal amount of truffle.
I spread the buttercream onto the cake, but you could pipe it on if you prefer.

Troubleshooting

If you have any questions about this recipe, or if something went wrong and you need help, please use the comment form below and I will get back to you. You can also get in touch with me on my Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. I'd love to hear from you!

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