Almost everybody knows Madeira cake. A nice, simple cake that goes so well with a good cup of tea. It is almost impossible to get this cake wrong. Mine turned out nicely, though I have no photo to share. As if I need to repeat myself, I didn’t realise I was going to start this blog, so didn’t photograph many of my early bakes.
I am sure I will make this again soon, so then I will be able to update with a photo.
This was the fourth loaf of my one day baking blitz, so by the end I was ready for a rest. But first I had to deliver the cakes to the intended recipients, and to sample them, with some tea.
Ingredients
- 240 grams unsalted butter (softened)
- 200 grams caster sugar (plus extra for sprinkling)
- grated zest and juice of 1 unwaxed lemon
- 3 large eggs
- 210 grams self-raising flour
- 90 grams plain flour
Method
You will need a loaf tin (23 x 13 x 7cm / 9 x 5 x 3 inches), buttered and lined.
- Preheat the oven to 170ºC/gas mark 3/325ºF.
- Cream the butter and sugar, and add the lemon zest.
- Add the eggs one at a time with a tablespoon of the flour for each.
- Then gently mix in the rest of the flour and, finally, the lemon juice.
- Sprinkle with caster sugar (about 2 tablespoons should do it) as it goes into the oven, and bake for 1 hour or until a cake-tester comes out clean.
- Remove to a wire rack, and let cool in the tin before turning out.