Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
I grew up eating traditional British Lemon Madeira cake and now bake it for my family.
What could be easier to make than a lemon-flavoured Madeira cake with almonds that are moist but practical at the same time?
Madeira Cake is easy to make and inexpensive to fit a tight budget.
When you take your Madeira Cake out of the oven, it’s a beautiful golden colour with a lemony aroma.
What Is Madeira Cake?
Madeira cake is a light cake that tastes denser than a sponge cake but is much better.
Some compare Madeira cake to a buttery pound or sponge cake.
The Madeira sponge cake was named after the Portuguese Madeira wine popular in England in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Today you might find this delicious cake served with a glass of Portuguese Madeira.
Customarily, the Madeira cake usually has either lemon or an orange peel mixed into it.
The flavour I’ve chosen to make today is a Lemon Madeira Cake since I have fresh lemons I need to use up.
How To Serve Madeira Cake
The Madeira cake can be used in many ways, such as dipped in chocolate, placed in trifles like my tiramisu, or eaten in slices.
Many people enjoy a slice in the morning for breakfast or a snack or dessert after dinner with a cuppa tea.
A festive madeira cake known as a Tunis cake topped with a ganache of chocolate and decorated with marzipan flowers and leaves is sometimes made for Christmas festivities.
This sponge cake boasts only 7 ingredients that can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week.
How To Make Madeira Cake
- Prep time 20 mins
- Cook time 50 mins
- Oven Temp 180oC/356oF
- Makes 1 23x13x7 cm loaf tin
Printable Recipe is Below
- Recipe Type: Cake
- Cuisine: Dessert
- Author: Nicola Don
- Prep time: 20 mins
- Cook time: 50 mins
- Total time: 1 hour 10 mins
- Serves: 8
If you want to stash an easy light cake for after dinner or when guests come around, this is the simple cake for you.
Madeira Cake Ingredients
- 3/4 cup butter
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 3 eggs lightly beaten
- 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon or orange peel or juice of one lemon
- 1/2 cup ground almonds
- 1 3/4 cups self-raising flour
- Icing sugar for dusting
Step By Step Instructions To Make A Madeira Cake
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Brush the loaf tin with butter or oil, then line it with parchment paper.
- Beat the sugar and the butter together until they are light in colour and creamy.
- Add the eggs gradually, beating thoroughly after each addition.
- Place lemon or orange rind in the next mixing well.
- Using a large metal spoon, fold in the almonds and sifted flour. Stirring until the mixture is fully combined and has a smooth texture.
- Spoon into loaf tin and place in the oven for 50mins.
- Once cooked, leave in the tin for 10mins until cooled.
- Turn out onto a wire rack and dust with icing sugar.
Once you finish making your Madeira cake, let it cool and enjoy it with a hot cuppa tea.
-Nicky x
Classic Madeira Cake
If you want to stash an easy light cake for after dinner or when guests come around, this is the simple cake for you.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup butter
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 3 eggs lightly beaten
- 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon or orange peel or juice of one lemon
- 1/2 cup ground almonds
- 1 3/4 cups self-raising flour
- Icing sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Brush the loaf tin with butter or oil, then line it with parchment paper.
- Beat the sugar and the butter together until they are light in colour and creamy.
- Add the eggs gradually, beating thoroughly after each addition.
- Place lemon or orange rind in the next mixing well.
- Using a large metal spoon, fold in the almonds and sifted flour. Stirring until the mixture is fully combined and has a smooth texture.
- Spoon into loaf tin and place in the oven for 50mins.
- Once cooked, leave in the tin for 10mins until cooled.
- Turn out onto a wire rack and dust with icing sugar.
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This looks good!! I think I might be making it soon!! I still have a couple of lemons in the fridge to use up!!
I love baking cakes and I should try this Madeira cake, this looks very yummy! Thanks for this recipe!
Nicola, I love your recipe! My Aunt used to bake Madeira cake when she’s still living with us. Now that she’s married and in New Zealand, we just have it from the bake shop. I am gonna use your recipe for me to do it. Thanks!
Jayson, Clarisse. Thanks hope you make it soon and let everybody know how easy it is to make!
Step 3 should read “sugar and the butter”
Thanks Kevin, I’ve updated that.
Mr.CBB
One of my favourite cakes growing up and an excellent recipe from Nicola.
Thanks For Sharing this Amazing Recipe. My Family Loved It. I will be sharing this Recipe with my Friends. Hope They will like it.