Mary Berry’s red velvet traybake

Name: Mary Berry’s red velvet traybake
Yield: 16 serving(s)
Ingredients: 150 mL sunflower oil, plus extra to grease; 250 g plain flour; 1 tbsp. cocoa powder; 2 tsp. baking powder; 1 tsp. bicarbonate of soda; 250 g light muscovado sugar; 200 mL buttermilk; 2 tsp. vanilla extract; 1 tbsp. red food colouring gel or about 1/4tsp food colouring paste; 2 large eggs; 100 g butter, softened; 150 g icing sugar, sifted; 100 g full-fat cream cheese

A popular cake, perfect for a bake sale or to feed many.

By Mary BerryPublished: 13 October 2025

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Tara Fisher

‘Such a popular cake, perfect for a bake sale or to feed many. The raw mixture should be bright red; it will get a little darker as it cooks. If it’s not as vivid as you’d like, add a touch more of the red gel colouring.’  ~ Mary Berry

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Yields:

16 serving(s)

Cal/Serv:

297

Ingredients

150 ml
sunflower oil, plus extra to grease
250 g
plain flour
1 Tbsp.
cocoa powder
2 tsp.
baking powder
1 tsp.
bicarbonate of soda
250 g
light muscovado sugar
200 ml
buttermilk
2 tsp.
vanilla extract
1 Tbsp.
red food colouring gel or about 1/4tsp food colouring paste
2
large eggs

FOR THE ICING

100 g
butter, softened
150 g
icing sugar, sifted
2 tsp.
vanilla extract
100 g
full-fat cream cheese

Directions

1. Step 1Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan) mark 4. Grease and line a 30 x 23cm baking tin with baking parchment.  
2. Step 2Measure the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and muscovado sugar into a bowl and mix well. 
3. Step 3In a jug, combine the buttermilk, oil, vanilla, food colouring and 100ml water. Add the eggs and whisk with a fork until smooth. Pour the buttermilk mixture into the bowl with the dry ingredients and whisk with a handheld electric whisk until combined. 
4. Step 4Pour into the tin and level the surface. Bake in the preheated oven for about 30-45min, or until well risen and shrinking away from the sides of the tins. Leave to cool in the tin for 10min, then turn out, peel off the paper and leave to cool completely on a wire rack. 
5. Step 5Meanwhile, to make the icing, place the soft butter, icing sugar and vanilla extract in a large bowl. Mix with a handheld electric whisk until smooth. Add the cream cheese and whisk again. 
6. Step 6 Spread the icing over the top of the cake and swirl the top using a palette knife.