Madeira Cake

Makes 20cm round cake

Traditionally a Victorian England cake, now enjoyed around the world, this lovely orange and lemon scented cake is accompanied with a freshly brewed cup of tea. Madeira cake is something my grandmother and mother loved to eat, sometimes buying the supermarket alternative, but there is nothing better than freshly baked Madeira cake. The recipe fills a 20cm cake tin, however, being sentimental, I prefer a loaf style cake just how I used to eat it when I was young. It is a light, fluffy and citrusy cake that is baked on low heat at double a usual cakes cooking time. Try dipping it in your tea, definitely a winner in my house!

Madeira Cake

Ingredients

• 250g butter
• 1 cup caster sugar
• Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
• Finely grated zest of 1 orange
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 5 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups plain flour
• 1/2 cup self-raising flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp milk

Method

1. Preheat oven to 160^oC.
2. Grease a deep 20cm cake tin with butter and line with baking paper.
3. Sift the flours and salt together in a bowl.
4. Beat the butter, sugar, zests and cinnamon in a separate bowl until the mixture becomes pale and creamy.
5. While beating begin adding one egg at a time, combining each egg thoroughly before adding the next. 
6. Slowly fold in half the flour with a wooden spoon. When thoroughly combined, mix in the milk, then fold in the rest of the flour until combined.
7. Place into the lined cake tin and bake for 45 mins then check with a skewer. Depending on your oven it may need another 20-35 minutes. Cook until the cake it golden brown and the skewer comes out clean.
8. Remove cake from the tin and place on a wired rack to cool. You can eat it warm if you like, I believe it is best once cooled.

Hints!

• You may like to place glazed fruit or jam on the cake. The glazed fruit can be added once 45 minutes of cooking time has passed. Just press them onto the cake and cook for the remaining time. The jam can be brushed onto the surface once the cake is cooked and cooling down on the rack.