{"id":1768278,"date":"2022-05-03T16:03:33","date_gmt":"2022-05-03T16:03:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/recipes\/madeira-cake\/"},"modified":"2024-09-20T21:34:12","modified_gmt":"2024-09-21T02:34:12","slug":"madeira-cake","status":"publish","type":"recipe","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/recipes\/madeira-cake\/","title":{"rendered":"Madeira Cake"},"content":{"rendered":"
Madeira cake, traditional in British or Irish fare, is similar to a sponge or butter cake. As such, it truly shines when served with fresh berries, a dollop of homemade whipped cream and, of course, a cup of tea. This Madeira cake recipe calls for just over a handful of ingredients, it can be made in under an hour, start to finish, and it’s versatile enough to customize. Read on to learn the simple steps to making a Madeira cake of your own.<\/p>\n
Preheat the oven to 325\u00b0F. Grease an 8×4-inch loaf pan, line it with parchment paper, then grease the parchment paper. In a large bowl or stand mixer, cream together the butter and 1 cup of sugar until light and fluffy, five to seven minutes. Beat in the lemon zest. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.<\/p>\n
In another bowl, whisk the flour and baking powder, then gradually add this dry mixture to the creamed mixture.<\/p>\n
Transfer the batter to your prepared pan, then sprinkle the top with the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing it to a wire rack to cool completely.<\/p>\n As with any cake, it’s important to store it in a completely airtight container. You can store a well-wrapped Madeira cake in a cool, dry place for up to a week. We recommend avoiding the fridge, however, as this will make the butter in the cake mix too hard. If the fridge is your only option, allow it to come to room temperature prior to serving.<\/p>\n Yes. You can store Madeira cake in the freezer for up to three months. To do so, you’ll need to allow the cake to cool completely and leave it wrapped in the greased paper lining. Wrap the cake and the paper lining in plastic wrap, then place this in a large freezer bag. To thaw, transfer the cake as is (bag and all!) into the fridge for a full 24 hours before decorating or serving.<\/p>\n To keep a Madeira cake from getting too dry and crumbly, a few keys steps must be followed. For starters, it’s important to use room-temperature ingredients, as this allows the batter to more fully combine. Be sure not to overwork the batter, and above all else, be sure to not overbake the cake.<\/p>\n Because it’s important to not overbake this cake, you’ve got to keep a good eye on it while it’s baking. As soon as the edges of the cake have started to pull slightly away from the pan, check to see if a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. If it does, remove it immediately. Additionally, the internal temperature should be 98\u00b0.<\/p>\n Traditionally, this heavy cake is served with a glass of Madeira wine, a truly lovely complement to the spongier, thicker texture of this type of cake. Other options include berries, cheeses and a steamy cup of tea<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Thanks to creamy butter and tart lemon zest, Madeira cake is dense in texture but light, crisp and fresh in flavor. Essentially, it’s quite similar to a pound cake, and as such, it’s especially delightful when served alongside berries, fresh cream and a cup of tea.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7061,"featured_media":2046334,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false},"tags":[304032,303971,304158,305338,305744,305271,304288,305487,305334,304515,307104,303966,304368,303887,306848,307199,304268,304558,324623,304150,303883],"categories-v2":[308623,308500,310461,309438,340136,311389,308988,308481,309216,259620,310796,309337,308880,310155,308495,308745,308478,309603,310245,259483,308910,309177,309434,308476],"coauthors":[343493],"recommended_recipes":[{"post_title":"Fruit Cocktail Cake","post_link":"\/recipes\/fruit-cocktail-cake\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Fruit-Cocktail-Cake_EXPS_TOHD24_4319_JuliaHartbeck_8.jpg"},{"post_title":"Pina Colada 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Essentially, it's quite similar to a pound cake, and as such, it's especially delightful when served alongside berries, fresh cream and a cup of tea.","recipeIngredient":["1 cup unsalted butter, softened","1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, divided","2 teaspoons grated lemon zest","3 large eggs, room temperature","2-1\/4 cups all-purpose flour","2 teaspoons baking powder"],"recipeInstructions":[{"@type":"HowToStep","name":"Start the batter","text":"Preheat the oven to 325\u00b0F. Grease an 8x4-inch loaf pan, line it with parchment paper, then grease the parchment paper. In a large bowl or stand mixer, cream together the butter and 1 cup of sugar until light and fluffy, five to seven minutes. Beat in the lemon zest. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition."},{"@type":"HowToStep","name":"Add the dry ingredients","text":"In another bowl, whisk the flour and baking powder, then gradually add this dry mixture to the creamed mixture.","image":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Madeira-Cake-FT22_269211_F_0407_3.jpg?fit=700,1024"},{"@type":"HowToStep","name":"Bake the cake","text":"Transfer the batter to your prepared pan, then sprinkle the top with the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing it to a wire rack to cool completely.","image":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Madeira-Cake-FT22_269211_F_0407_2.jpg?fit=700,1024"}],"recipeYield":"12 servings","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Tana Baer"}],"nutrition":{"@type":"NutritionInformation","calories":" 304 calories","fatContent":"17g fat (10g saturated fat)","cholesterolContent":"87mg cholesterol","sodiumContent":"100mg sodium","carbohydrateContent":"35g carbohydrate (17g sugars","fiberContent":"1g fiber)","proteinContent":"4g protein."},"aggregateRating":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"AggregateRating","ratingValue":5,"reviewCount":1,"worstRating":1,"bestRating":5},"recipeCuisine":"Europe, British","review":[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Review","datePublished":"2024-10-22","author":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Person","name":"bri847"},"reviewBody":" This cake turned out so delicious. Did a theme night for British dessert & had this with tea. Was perfect and just what I was looking for. Will bake again! <\/p>","reviewRating":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Rating","ratingValue":5,"worstRating":1,"bestRating":5}}]},"video":{"data":{"status":204},"message":"No shortcode found in recipe"},"rms_legacy_id":"269211","romance_copy_dek":"Thanks to creamy butter and tart lemon zest, Madeira cake is dense in texture but light, crisp and fresh in flavor. Essentially, it's quite similar to a pound cake, and as such, it's especially delightful when served alongside berries, fresh cream and a cup of tea.","enhanced_recipe_title":"Madeira Cake","rms_legacy_data":{"RecipeCategories":null,"Ingredients":[{"CampaignId":"","IsBrandedIngredient":false,"Ingredient":"1 cup unsalted butter, softened","IngredientText":"1 cup unsalted butter, softened"},{"CampaignId":"","IsBrandedIngredient":false,"Ingredient":"1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, divided","IngredientText":"1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, divided"},{"CampaignId":"","IsBrandedIngredient":false,"Ingredient":"2 teaspoons grated lemon zest","IngredientText":"2 teaspoons grated lemon zest"},{"CampaignId":"","IsBrandedIngredient":false,"Ingredient":"3 large eggs, room temperature","IngredientText":"3 large eggs, room temperature"},{"CampaignId":"","IsBrandedIngredient":false,"Ingredient":"2-1\/4 cups all-purpose flour","IngredientText":"2-1\/4 cups all-purpose flour"},{"CampaignId":"","IsBrandedIngredient":false,"Ingredient":"2 teaspoons baking powder","IngredientText":"2 teaspoons baking powder"}],"FeaturedImage":"https:\/\/tmbidigitalassetsazure.blob.core.windows.net\/rms3-prod\/attachments\/37\/1200x1200\/Madeira-Cake_EXPS_FT22_269211_F_0407_1.jpg","RecipeId":269211,"AttachmentSourceId":null,"AttachmentSource":"Taste Recipes","PhotoCredit":"Madeira Cake Recipe photo by Taste Recipes","VideoCode":null,"RecipeAttachmentFileName":"Madeira-Cake_EXPS_FT22_269211_F_0407_1.jpg","ContributorId":null,"Firstname":"Peggy","Lastname":"Woodward","City":"Shullsburg","StateDescription":"Wisconsin","IsCommunityCook":false,"ContributorAttachmentFileName":"https:\/\/tmbidigitalassetsazure.blob.core.windows.net\/rms3-prod\/attachments\/76\/75x75\/CP_14909PeggyWoodward2.jpg","TimeCallout":"Prep: 15 min. Bake: 45 min. + cooling","MinimumServingQuantity":12,"MaximumServingQuantity":12,"Yield":"12 servings.","DigitalTitle":"Madeira Cake","SubmittedTitle":"Madeira Cake","RecipeTypeId":1,"AverageRating":5,"WebPublishedDate":"5\/3\/2022 4:03:33 PM","ContestPlacementId":null,"FbImage":"FB_FT22_269211_F_0407_1.jpg","PreparationTimeInMinutes":15,"CookTimeInMinutes":50,"TotalTimeInMinutes":65,"ServingDescription":null,"IsTestKitchenCertified":true,"IsContestWinner":false,"IsFieldEditorRecipe":false,"IsCommunityRecipe":false,"PublishedProjectTitle":"Madeira Cake","OriginalSourceProject":"Madeira Cake","ContestPlacement":"","Trailer":null,"Metadescription":"Serve this satisfying Madeira cake with Madeira wine as the British often do, or enjoy it with tea for a sweet afternoon treat. ","AboutRecipeTitle":null,"AboutRecipe":null,"DigitalHeadnotes":"This classic British Madeira cake is often served with Madeira wine, which is how it got its name. Similar to a pound cake, it is commonly flavored with lemon and can also be served with tea or other sweet liqueurs. \u2014Peggy Woodward, Shullsburg, Wisconsin","FreezerDirections":"","FreezerDirectionsTitle":"","HTMLTitle":null,"RecipeVersionNumber":null,"WorkflowStatusId":9,"Directions":[{"Direction":"Preheat oven to 325\u00b0. Line bottom of a greased 8x4-in. loaf pan with parchment; grease parchment.","SequenceNo":1},{"Direction":" In a large bowl, cream butter and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in lemon zest. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. In another bowl, whisk flour and baking powder; gradually add to creamed mixture.","SequenceNo":2},{"Direction":" Transfer to prepared pan. Sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 45-50 minutes. 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Step 3: Bake the cake<\/h3>\n
Taste Recipes<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Madeira Cake Variations<\/h2>\n
\n
How to Store Madeira Cake<\/h2>\n
Can you freeze Madeira cake?<\/h3>\n
Madeira Cake Tips<\/h2>\n
Taste Recipes<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Why is my Madeira cake drying out?<\/h3>\n
How do I make sure that this Madeira cake is done (but not overdone)?<\/h3>\n
What is traditionally served with Madeira cake?<\/h3>\n
Why does my Madeira cake have a crack? <\/h3>Many denser cakes can crack while baking. This is often caused by the top of the cake setting too quickly, which cracks when the cake's center then cooks and expands. This can happen due to too-high temperatures, often caused by an oven out of calibration or a rack positioned too high inside the oven. Use an oven thermometer<\/a> to double check your oven's temperature, and make sure your rack is set in the middle or a little lower before you preheat.\r\n
Why is my Madeira cake dry? <\/h3>The biggest culprit is often too much flour. The simplest solution is to weigh the flour for this Madeira cake recipe with a kitchen scale<\/a> to get the exact amount correct. However, even with the right amount of flour, over-mixing your batter<\/a> will make it tougher and drier with each stir. Only mix until the ingredients are combined and then stop! Resist the temptation to continue to stir. \r\n
How should I store Madeira cake? <\/h3>This classic British teatime cake<\/a> is similar in texture to many American pound cakes<\/a>. And like other pound cakes, it\u2019s best stored in an airtight container, or wrapped in parchment or foil, at room temperature for up to 4 days. It doesn\u2019t need to be refrigerated. (In fact, the fridge will actually dry out your cakes.)
\u2014James Schend<\/a>, Taste Recipes Deputy Culinary Editor<\/i>"}]},"breadcrumb":[{"term_id":309177,"name":"Recipes","slug":"recipes","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":309112,"taxonomy":"categories-v2","description":"Browse Taste Recipes recipes by course, cooking style, cuisine, ingredient, holiday and more categories to find a new family-favorite recipe.","parent":0,"count":50832,"filter":"raw","term_order":"0","url":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/recipes\/"},{"term_id":310796,"name":"Dishes & Beverages","slug":"dishes-beverages","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":310731,"taxonomy":"categories-v2","description":"Wondering what to make? We've got recipes for any dish and beverage you're craving, from easy dinners to rich chocolate cakes and everything in between.","parent":309177,"count":43222,"filter":"raw","term_order":"0","url":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/recipes\/dishes-beverages\/"},{"term_id":311389,"name":"Cakes","slug":"cakes","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":311324,"taxonomy":"categories-v2","description":"Taste Recipes's Test Kitchen is the headquarters for cake recipes. Our pros have all the techniques you need to whip up the perfect cake from scratch.","parent":310796,"count":2937,"filter":"raw","term_order":"0","url":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/recipes\/dishes-beverages\/cakes\/"}],"meta_data":{"enhanced_fields":{"enhanced_recipe_title":"Madeira Cake"}},"analytics":[],"yoast_head":"\n