Baking with Lou - #1 - Tray Bake

When I did the little video for this I did mean to thank one of my students for giving me this recipe, as many of you will know my memory is not that good so sadly I cannot recall her name, she had done the Clipper race and this tray bake was one of their treats en-route due to the ease of making and the fact it packs a punch of energy.

Ingredients Required

• One packet of malted milk biscuits
• 3oz butter
• Small pack of milk chocolate and white chocolate buttons*
• Mixed fruit*
• Flaked almonds*
• Desiccated coconut*
• One tin condensed milk

Ingredients with * can be changed to anything you would prefer - different dry fruits, different nuts or no nuts at all etc etc

Equipment Required

• Baking tin 10.5 x 7inches
• Greaseproof paper
• Sturdy plastic bag and rolling pin or basher of some description
• Mixing bowl
• Small pan
• Spatular or spoon
• Cooling rack

Instructions

Turn your oven to 180 C / 356 F / Gas 4

Line the baking tray with greaseproof paper.

Put the butter in a small pan to melt, whilst the butter is melting put the biscuits into your sturdy plastic bag (make sure it's not sealed and will allow air in), now bash the hell out of them - the base is similar to that of a cheesecake.

Once the biscuits are bashed tip these into the mixing bowl and pour in the butter - mix thoroughly.

Tip the biscuit base into the baking tray and flatten evenly across the tray, I use the back of a spoon for this.

Now you start putting on your toppings and you can use the things you like best, I start with the chocolate buttons, sprinkle the dried fruit on top if that then the nuts. Once you have all the toppings in place pour the condensed milk evenly over the top and place in the oven for 30 minutes - it's worth checking after 25 minutes.

When the top is a nice golden brown colour it is done - remove from the oven and place on a cooling rack, after about 10 minutes it should be cool enough to pull out of the tray onto the rack, it is a good idea to cut whilst still warm.

Enjoy !!!