Madeira loaf cake

Madeira loaf cake

By Barney Desmazery
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(108 ratings)
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Prep: 20 mins Cook: 1 hr

Easy

Cuts into 8 slices

A classic English sponge cake, delicately flavoured with lemon and almond - perfect for afternoon tea

Nutrition and extra info

  • Freezable

Nutrition: per serving

  • kcal397
  • fat23.6g
  • saturates12.3g
  • carbs39.5g
  • sugars22.6g
  • fibre1.4g
  • protein6.3g
  • salt0.6g
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Ingredients

  • 175g butter, softened, plus extra for greasing
    Butter

    Butter

    butt-err

    Butter is a dairy product made from separating whole milk or cream into fat and…

  • 175g golden caster sugar
  • 3 large eggs
    Eggs

    Egg

    egg

    The ultimate convenience food, eggs are powerhouses of nutrition packed with protein and a…

  • grated zest 1 lemon
    Lemon

    Lemon

    le-mon

    Oval in shape with a pronouced bulge on one end, lemons are one of the most versatile…

  • few drops vanilla extract
  • 200g self-raising flour
  • 50g ground almond

Method

  1. 1 Heat oven to 170C/150C fan/gas 3. Butter and line the base of a 900g loaf tin with greaseproof paper. Using an electric whisk, beat together the butter and sugar until light and creamy then beat in the eggs one at a time. Add the lemon zest and vanilla. Now beat in the flour and almonds until you have a thick batter. The batter should be loose enough that it falls off a wooden spoon, if it’s too thick mix in a splash of milk.

  2. Tip the batter into the tin and smooth over the top. Bake for 55 mins – 1hr until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean. Remove from the oven then leave to cool for 15 mins then remove from the tin, peel away the paper and leave on a wire rack to cool completely before slicing. The loaf will keep in an airtight container for three days.

  • Recipe Tip

    Change tin

    The same mix can be used to make a 17cm round cake, you just need to adjust the cooking time to 45-50 mins. It will cut into 6 – 8 slices.

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Comments, questions and tips

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tanyahetherton
1st Mar, 2013
5.05
made this madiera cake the other day it was just fabby doo da
lolster
24th Feb, 2013
5.05
Just made this - didn't have lemon so just left it out, and had to use a third baking spread as I ran out of butter. Oh and I only had medium eggs! It is DELICIOUS! Will definitely make again with proper ingredients. Great recipe.
sadieloumc
22nd Feb, 2013
5.05
Lovely taste and texture, v easy, nicer than I expected!
cookie5957
9th Feb, 2013
5.05
Just made this cake in a 7inch square tin and it took 55 mins to cook at gas mark 3. It was perfect....lovely flavours and so moist. Going to make another one to take into work.
alistairx1
8th Jan, 2013
Very good recipe. It turns out perfect each time. Try orange instead of lemon and equally delicious.
abikinsey
3rd Jan, 2013
5.05
Never Made Madeira Cake, needed a good excuse to make one, this was simple (I did use my food processor) and found it moist, subtle flavour & texture, perfect... Agreed, looks just like the picture, happy faces :-)
ginny13
8th Dec, 2012
Excellent recipe very light all the family enjoyed it
chefjulielee
3rd Dec, 2012
5.05
Never made madeira cake and decided to make it on mother's request. It was really gorgeous and was so moreish! it was gone in half day. Came out fluffy and came out just like the picture. yum!
jazziholt
23rd Nov, 2012
5.05
So easy to make. I change the lemon zest for orange zest and was delightful with a cup of afternoon tea.
minners1
5th Nov, 2012
I also had to add some milk. Mine's just come out the oven, looking good so far, and if the bowl licking is anything to go by I can't wait :)

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