Platinum Jubilee Pudding – Union Jack Jubilee Traybake Cake

If you are looking for a super easy and fun Platinum Jubilee Pudding then you are in the right place. This Union Jack Jubilee Traybake Cake is perfect for a jubilee party. This traybake cake is a party cake favourite in our house and can feed lots of people. Even after the jubilee street parties and celebrations, this will make a truly delicious summer traybake.

This union jack traybake cake is the perfect way to celebrate the extra bank holiday and the jubilee! This easy platinum jubilee pudding will have everyone smiling and will even have the little ones eating summer berries! It’s an easy jubilee cake that can be whipped up quickly the morning of your street party or even the day before. The Union Jack traybake looks amazing and tastes even better. I promise you’ll be making summer berries traybake over and over again.

Why you’ll love this platinum jubilee pudding recipe

  • Who doesn’t love cake? The easy jubilee cake is so easy to make, it’s a simple sponge with a little lemon zest to add a wonderful fresh taste.
  • Then the fun part begins, decorating! I arranged these summer berries to look like a union jack jubilee traybake cake.
  • You can decorate your platinum jubilee cake however you want, if you do decide to decroate with your own patern then let me know in the comments below.
  • This recipe makes 12 big slices of cake or you can easily divide it into 48 smaller slices. This makes it perfect for a party where everyone wants a little slice.

Top Questions

What can you serve with a Union Jack traybake cake?
Can I freeze the platinum jubilee pudding?
What is an easy jubilee pudding easy recipe?
What are Jubilee afternoon tea ideas?

Platinum Jubilee Pudding union jack traybake cake on a chopping board

Ingredients

For the full recipe and instructions scroll to the bottom of the page for the recipe card.

SUMMER BERRIES

No summer berry traybake would be complete without lots of summer berries! For this easy jubilee cake, I used strawberries, raspberries and blueberries! I love the taste of fresh strawberries and these berries pair so well with the delicious cream cheese frosting.

Union Jack traybake

CREAM CHEESE

A little controversial I know, but I just love cream cheese frosting! It’s sweet but not too sweet and has a wonderful tang to it that pairs perfectly with the sweet summer berries. Using cream cheese for a platinum jubilee cake feels a bit weird but trust me, once you’ve made cream cheese frosting, you’ll never go back to just buttercream.

LEMON ZEST

The perfect addition to any spngue cake. I love a little hint of lemon, it balances the sweetness of the cake and adds a sharpness. You don’t need much just use a zester, or a grater if you don’t have a zester, to scrape some lemon est into your cake mix.

How to make Union Jack Traybake – step by step

To start your baking extravaganza – preheat your oven and grease/ line your tin.

  • In a large mixing bowl cream together the butter and sugars until light and fluffy.
  • Add the eggs.
  • Sieve the flour, baking powder and salt into the mixing bowl.
  • Mix in the lemon zest until well incorporated.
  • Gently add in the milk. If it starts to curdle add 1 tablespoon of plain flour.
  • Pour the mix into the prepared tin and level out. Gently tap the tin on the worktop to remove any air bubbles.
  • Bake for 35-40 minutes until the centre of the cake is cooked – use a cake tester or skewer to check. If the tester comes out clean the cake is cooked. If it has pieces of uncooked cake on leave the cake to cook for a few minutes more and test again.
  • Leave in the tin to cool for 30 minutes and then remove from the tin to cool completely.
Union Jack traybake

Cream Cheese Buttercream

  • Make sure the unsalted butter is at room temperature as it will help make it a lot easier to make.
  • Using a hand mixer, mix the butter and icing sugar.
  • Add the cream cheese and create a smooth mix. It should be more thick than runny and will hold its shape. If it’s too runny add a tablespoon of icing sugar at a time and whisk until it thickens up

Once your cake is completely cool, you can spread a nice even layer of frosting over and decorate with your summer berries. I used a photo of the Union Jack just to help me get all the colours in the right place.

Making a Union Jack on the Traybake

cream cheese frosting on a lemon cake
making the Union Jack traybake with fresh strawberries

I started making the Union Jack traybake by placing the strawberries first to mark out the central cross.

From there I used raspberries to mark the diagonal lines on the cake. Then to finish off all you need to do is fill in the spaces leftover with bluebrries. It takes a while but you shuld be done in about 15 minutes.

strawberries and raspberries on the Union Jack traybake
Union Jack traybake covered with berries

Top Tips for making a platinum jubilee pudding

  • My tip works for an easy jubilee cake or any sponge you make. When you’re ready to start baking, ensure your eggs and butter are both at room temperature. This helps everything combine better and can help you to avoid your summer berries traybake mix from curdling.
  • Secondly, wash your berries! Do not forget to ensure all your summer berries are clean before decorating your platinum jubilee cake. After all, this is a pudding fit for a queen and the queen does not eat dirty strawberries!

Drink Serving Suggestions for the Union Jack Jubilee Traybake Cake

Champagne

What celebration can’t be made better with champagne? It’s light, fizzy and perfect for garden parties. ThisUnion Jack traybake cake pairs perfectly with a lovely tall glass of champagne.

Tea

No English street party would be complete without a strong cuppa. If we have sunny weather ( I have everything crossed) then you could enjoy thisUnion Jack traybake outside with a cup of Earl Grey or English Breakfast Tea.

Cocktails

I have an exhaustive list of fruity and sweet cocktails on my blog, classic G&Ts, prosecco spritzer and so much more! I really enjoy a nice fresh cockatil in the afternoon sun. Check out my favourites here:

Easy Gin Ginger Cocktail
Gin Limoncello Cocktail
Elderflower Prosecco Cocktail

Equipment

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You don’t need anything too fancy to make this platinum jubilee cake:

closeup of vanilla sponge cake with cream cheese frosting and fresh berries

Substitutions and variations for the Union Jack traybake

  • You can use any fruit for your decoration of this union jack traybake cake. I used summer berries because I love the colours but you could decorate your easy jubilee cake with chopped apples, and cherries or even if fresh fruit isn’t your thing – use a lovely fruity jam with your cream cheese frosting.
  • Chocolate! No cake can’t be made better with chocolate. Rich and dark chocolate grated over the cream cheese frosting of this easy jubilee cake is wonderful. It adds a gloriously luxurious taste and elevates your summer berries traybake to something truly fit for a queen!
Union jack cake with fresh berries

Storing Union Jack traybake / Making ahead of time options

The traybake cake itself can be made a fews days in advance as the cake when wrapped up (once cold) can last 5 days. Once decorated with the cream cheese frosting and berries it’s much better to enjoy on the same day.

This easy jubilee cake can be kept in a dry, cool space for up to 5 days. It is best eaten fresh, on the day of baking but if you happen to have any leftovers, pop them in an airtight container and they will keep for up to 5 days.

You may find that your sponge starts to dry out a little after 3/4 days but it still tastes amazing! ( I suggest adding more frosting to make up for it).

hand placing blueberries on a cake

Union Jack Jubilee Traybake Cake FAQS

What can you serve with a Union Jack traybake cake?

You can serve your favourite summer berries cocktail with a Union Jack traybake cake. I love a summer berries G&T as it pairs perfectly with the union jack traybake.

Can I freeze the platinum jubilee pudding?

Yes, you can freeze the cake but the decorations and icing won’t freeze well. Take the undecorated cake and wrap it tightly in cling film before freezing. It will last really well for up to 3 months.

You can make the cake part in advance and freeze it until your jubilee party. To defrost the platinum jubilee pudding cake remove it from the freezer and leave it to thaw overnight. Decorate once it has completely defrosted.

What is an easy jubilee pudding easy recipe?

My recipe for platinum jubilee pudding is an easy jubilee pudding recipe, it’s quick to whip up and perfect for the whole family. Once you’ve perfected this easy jubilee traybake, you;ll be making it every year.

Union Jack traybake with strawberries, raspberries and blueberries on a cream cheese cake

What are Jubilee afternoon tea ideas?

Jubilee afternoon tea ideas. Try and enjoy your jubilee afternoon tea in the classic British summertime weather, with an umbrella and a warm cup of tea. Finger sandwiches are always a hit, cucumber sandwiches, ham and mustard or even a cheese sandwich. Then you can add a few sausage rolls and some cakes and you’ve got a jubilee afternoon tea. Of course, no afternoon tea would be right without my platinum jubilee pudding.

Other Recipes you might like for Jubilee afternoon tea ideas

Pimm’s Cake
Club Sandwiches
Strawberry White Chocolate Cheesecake

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I’ve linked this recipe to this week’s CookBlogShare being hosted by Tin and Thyme.

Recipe

Platinum Jubilee Pudding – Union Jack Jubilee Traybake Cake

Sisley White
If you are looking for a super easy and fun Platinum Jubilee Pudding then you are in the right place. This Union Jack Jubilee Traybake Cake is perfect for a jubilee party. This traybake cake is a party cake favourite in our house and can feed lots of people. Even after the jubilee street parties and celebrations, this will make a truly delicious summer traybake.
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Decorating Time 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Course Bakes, Cakes, Party Food, Sweet Treats
Cuisine American, English, International
Servings 12 Large Slices
Calories 667 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 400 g (13.4 oz) unsalted butter (or baking block like Stork)
  • 100 g (3.5 oz) light brown soft sugar
  • 250 g (1.25 cups) caster sugar
  • 4 medium (4 medium) eggs
  • 375 g (3 cups) plain flour / all purpose flour
  • 0.5 teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) baking powder
  • small pinch (small pinch) salt
  • lemon (zest only)
  • 100 ml (150 ml) semi skimmed milk

Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting Decorations

  • 125 g (4.4 oz) unsalted butter
  • 150 g (1.25 cups) icing sugar / confectioners sugar
  • 180 g (6.35 oz) cream cheese
  • 400 g Strawberries
  • 250 g raspberries
  • 400 g Blueberries

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 180ºC.
  • Grease and line a 9 inch by 12 inch traybake cake tin with greaseproof paper.
  • In a large mixing bowl cream together the 400g butter, 100 light brown soft sugar and 250g caster sugar until light and fluffy.
  • Add the 4 medium eggs and mix in.
  • Sieve the 375g flour, 0.5tsp baking powder and pinch of salt in to the mixing bowl.
  • Mix in the lemon zest until well incorporated.
  • Gently add in the 100ml milk little at a time. If it starts to curdle add 1 tablespoon of plain flour.
  • Pour the mix into the prepared tin and level out. Gently tap the tin on the worktop to remove any air bubbles.
  • Bake for 35-40 minutes until the centre of the cake is cooked – use a cake tester or skewer to check. If the tester comes out clean the cake is cooked. If it has pieces of uncooked cake on leave the cake to cook for a few minutes more and test again.
  • Leave in the tin to cool for 30 minutes and then remove from the tin to cool completely.

Cream Cheese Buttercream

  • Make sure the unsalted butter is at room temperature as it will help make it a lot easier to make.
  • Using a hand mixer, mix the 125g butter and 150g icing sugar together.
  • Add the 180g cream cheese and create a smooth mix. It should be more thick than runny and will hold its shape. If it's too runny add a tablespoon of icing sugar at a time and whisk until it thickens up.
  • Smear the cream cheese buttercream thickly over the cold cake.
  • Decorate the cake with the strawberries, raspberries and blueberries in the shape of the Union Jack.

Video

Notes

  • It makes 12 large slices but we often make these bitesize pieces where you can actually get 48 pieces out of the cake.
  • The cake will last for up to 5 days in an air tight container.
  • Store somewhere cool but not the fridge.
  • For the best results use the eggs and butter from room temperature.

Nutrition

Calories: 667kcalCarbohydrates: 71gProtein: 8gFat: 42gSaturated Fat: 26gCholesterol: 162mgSodium: 97mgPotassium: 262mgFiber: 5gSugar: 42gVitamin A: 1332IUCalcium: 68mgIron: 3mg

Please note that the nutrition information provided above is approximate and meant as a guideline only.

Keyword bake, blueberries, cake, cream cheese buttercream, cream cheese frosting, jubilee, Jubilee party food, platinum jubilee pudding, raspberries, strawberries, union jack traybake
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

26 thoughts on “Platinum Jubilee Pudding – Union Jack Jubilee Traybake Cake”

  1. 5 stars
    Fun, festive and looks delectable! I really like how easy this is to make and that it lasts a few days should I have leftovers. Can’t wait to taste this.

    Reply
  2. Such a great idea for summer holidays! Love how easy this is and, of course, the fresh berries make it! Thanks for sharing 🙂

    Reply

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