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    Home » Recipes » Baking

    Easy Madeira Loaf Cake Recipe

    Published: May 1, 2022 · Modified: Jan 24, 2023 by Beth Sachs · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases · 7 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    An easy Madeira loaf cake recipe! A simple and classic British bake that's perfect with a cup of tea.

    Made with everyday pantry staples, Madeira cake is my go-to cake when I need something sweet!

    Madeira cake on a wooden board.
    Easy Madeira Loaf Cake

    Much like US pound cakes, Maderia cakes have a moist, dense texture, and despite being a simple bake, there is nothing quite as comforting when you need a little pick-me-up!

    It makes the perfect after-school snack too! My kids love thick slices smothered in homemade lemon curd or Nutella, with a glass of milk or hot chocolate.

    👩‍🍳 Love cake? Try my easy lardy cake recipe next!

    Jump to:
    • ✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!
    • What is Madeira cake?
    • 🛒 Ingredient notes
    • 🔪 How to make a Madeira cake
    • 💭 Expert tips
    • 🍴 Serving suggestions
    • 📖 Variations
    • 🥡 Storage
    • ❓ Frequently asked questions
    • 😋 More loaf cakes to try
    • Recipe
    • 💬 Comments
    Plain Madeira cake on a wooden board.

    ✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!

    Here's why this is the easiest and best Madeira cake recipe!

    • Plain and simple cake.
    • Made in a loaf tin.
    • Delicious with a cup of tea.
    • Make traditional sherry trifles with leftover cake.
    • Freezer-friendly.

    What is Madeira cake?

    Madeira Cake is a close-textured plain cake delicately flavoured with lemon. It's signified by a dome and a crack on the top. 

    🛒 Ingredient notes

    What you'll need to make this simple Madeira cake!

    • Butter - unsalted and softened so it is easy to cream with the sugar.
    • Sugar - I use golden caster sugar but white caster sugar can be used too.
    • Eggs - 3 large free-range eggs at room temperature.
    • Lemon - you'll need the zest of the whole lemon and juice from half.
    • Vanilla Extract - use a good quality extract and not vanilla essence.
    • Flour - a combination of self-raising flour and plain flour gives the best-textured cake (a tip I learned from the domestic goddess herself, Nigella Lawson).

    🔪 How to make a Madeira cake

    The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post

    One: Cream together the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl with a wooden spoon until pale and fluffy.

    Two: Beat in the eggs one by one to prevent the mixture from curdling, and mix in the lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract.

    Three: Fold in the flour and mix until you have a thick smooth batter.

    Four: Pour the batter into your prepared 2lb loaf tin and bake for 55 minutes - 1 hour, or until a skewer comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool for 15 minutes before running a knife around the edge of the tin and removing it to a wire rack.

    How to make madeira cake - photo instruction collage.

    💭 Expert tips

    • If your batter seems a bit dry (it should be a smooth thick cake batter), add a splash of milk.
    • Don't worry if your cake has a crack in it! Traditional Madeira cake is meant to have a crack on top of it! It's a sign that the recipe has worked perfectly!
    • Use the correct size loaf tin (2lb/900g) to ensure the batter doesn't overflow.
    • Line the tin (with baking paper or nonstick parchment paper) and grease the sides with butter to ensure you can remove it from the tin easily at the end of cooking. Or use loaf tin liners to save time!
    • Due to the dense texture, Madeira cakes are popular wedding and birthday cakes because they keep well and can be easily carved into different shapes.

    🍴 Serving suggestions

    Serve the cake for Afternoon tea along with other goodies such as mini sausage rolls, cucumber sandwiches, Empire biscuits, and small pieces of Malteser tiffin.

    I sometimes serve slices of cake for dessert with honeycomb ice cream or custard.

    Leftover cake can be used as the base of sherry trifle.

    📖 Variations

    • Make a chocolate Madeira cake by replacing the plain flour with cocoa powder.
    • Use ground almonds (almond meal) instead of plain flour.
    • Add 100g of glace cherries to make a cherry madeira cake.
    • Decorate the top of the cake with a lemon sugar syrup and candied lemon slices.
    • Swap the lemon zest for orange zest and the lemon juice for orange juice. Or use lemon extract instead.
    • Bake the cake in a round springform pan.
    A slice of madeira cake.

    🥡 Storage

    Store: The cake will keep for up to 5 days in an airtight container or cake tin. Wrap it in parchment paper to prevent it from drying out.

    Freeze: Once cool, wrap the cake in parchment paper, followed by a layer of tin foil. Freeze for up to 3 months and defrost at room temperature before slicing.

    ❓ Frequently asked questions

    What is the difference between a sponge cake and Madeira cake?

    Madeira cake has a higher proportion of flour in the batter than a traditional Victoria sponge cake, and therefore has a denser texture.

    Is Madeira cake the same as a pound cake?

    They are very similar cakes - both very dense in texture and plain in flavour. In the UK, it is known as Madeira cake, in the US, it is known as a pound cake.

    Is there Madeira wine in Madeira cake?

    No, there is no Madeira wine in Madeira cake. It is so-called because it used to be served with a glass of Madeira (a fortified Portuguese wine). These days it is more likely to be served with a cup of tea.

    A close up of the texture of Madeira cake.

    😋 More loaf cakes to try

    • Golden Syrup Cake
    • Apple Loaf Cake
    • Blackberry Loaf Cake
    • Lime and Coconut Loaf Cake
    • Lemon Curd Loaf Cake
    • Marzipan Loaf Cake
    • Banana and Blueberry Bread

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    Recipe

    Madeira loaf cake on a wooden board with a slice cut.
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    5 from 11 votes

    Easy Madeira Loaf Cake

    An easy Madeira loaf cake recipe! A simple and classic British bake that's perfect with a cup of tea.
    Course Baking, Cake
    Cuisine British
    Keyword easy madeira cake, madeira cake, madeira loaf cake
    Prep Time 8 minutes
    Cook Time 1 hour
    Total Time 1 hour 8 minutes
    Servings 10
    Calories 287kcal
    Author Beth Sachs
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Kitchen Scales
    • Microplane Grater
    • Wooden Spoon
    • Mixing Bowl
    • 2lb Loaf Tin
    • Baking Paper
    • Cooling Rack

    Ingredients

    Metric - US Customary
    • 180 g Butter softened
    • 180 g Golden Caster Sugar
    • 3 Eggs large
    • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
    • 1 Lemon zest of whole lemon and juice of half.
    • 200 g Self Raising Flour
    • 50 g Plain Flour

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 170°c (150 fan/ Gas 3/ 320F) and grease and line a 2lb (900g) loaf tin with baking paper.
    • Cream together the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl with a wooden spoon until pale and fluffy.
      180 g Butter, 180 g Golden Caster Sugar
    • Beat in the eggs one by one to prevent the mixture from curdling, and mix in the lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract.
      3 Eggs, 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract, 1 Lemon
    • Fold in the flours and mix until you have a thick smooth batter.
      200 g Self Raising Flour, 50 g Plain Flour
    • Pour the batter into your prepared 2lb loaf tin and bake for 55 minutes - 1 hour, or until a skewer comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool for 15 minutes before running a knife around the edge of the tin and removing it to a wire rack

    Notes

    Expert Tips:
    • If your batter seems a bit dry (it should be a smooth thick cake batter), add a splash of milk.
    • Don't worry if your cake has a crack in it! Traditional Madeira cake is meant to have a crack in the top of it! It's a sign that the recipe has worked perfectly!
    • Use the correct size loaf tin (2lb/900g) to ensure the batter doesn't overflow.
    • Line the tin (with baking paper or nonstick parchment paper) and grease the sides with butter to ensure you can remove it from the tin easily at the end of cooking. Or use loaf tin liners to save time!
     
    Variations:
    • Make a chocolate Madeira cake by replacing the plain flour with cocoa powder.
    • Use ground almonds (almond meal) instead of plain flour.
    • Add 100g of glace cherries to make a cherry madeira cake.
    • Decorate the top of the cake with a lemon sugar syrup and candied lemon slices.
    • Swap the lemon zest for orange zest and the lemon juice for orange juice. Or use lemon extract instead.
    • Bake the cake in a round springform pan instead.
     
    Storage:
    Store: The cake will keep for up to 5 days in an airtight container or cake tin. Wrap it in parchment paper to prevent it from drying out
    Freeze: Once cool, wrap the cake in parchment paper, followed by a layer of tin foil. Freeze for up to 3 months and defrost at room temperature before slicing.
     
    Nutrition:
    The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
     
    Nutrition Facts
    Easy Madeira Loaf Cake
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    287
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    10
    g
    15
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    6
    %
    Trans Fat
     
    1
    g
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    49
    mg
    16
    %
    Sodium
     
    20
    mg
    1
    %
    Potassium
     
    72
    mg
    2
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    42
    g
    14
    %
    Fiber
     
    1
    g
    4
    %
    Sugar
     
    18
    g
    20
    %
    Protein
     
    8
    g
    16
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    83
    IU
    2
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    6
    mg
    7
    %
    Calcium
     
    36
    mg
    4
    %
    Iron
     
    2
    mg
    11
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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    More Easy Baking Recipes

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mairead

      May 01, 2022 at 6:36 pm

      5 stars
      I love Madeira cake - it brings back memories of my Irish childhood. I would eat a thick slice of cake with a cold glass of milk as soon as my mother said the cake was cool enough for cutting. Thank you for a wonderful recipe.

      Reply
    2. Andrea

      May 01, 2022 at 7:31 pm

      5 stars
      This loaf cake looks so light and fluffy. Perfect with tea or coffee.

      Reply
    3. Jill

      May 01, 2022 at 7:36 pm

      5 stars
      The flavor and texture of this cake was wonderful. Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
    4. Anita

      May 01, 2022 at 11:53 pm

      5 stars
      I always love a good pound cake, so it is a no surprise that I am in love with this cake too.

      Reply
    5. Ana F.

      May 02, 2022 at 6:33 am

      This madeira cake turned out amazing! Truly fluffy and delicious. I enjoyed it with some nutella as you suggested and the combo was perfect. Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
    6. SM

      May 02, 2022 at 6:34 am

      5 stars
      This cake should go into my oven soon and then it would accompany my coffee. Many thanks for sharing this recipe Beth. 🙂

      Reply
    7. Laura

      May 02, 2022 at 6:38 am

      5 stars
      This madeira cake was perfect for brunch with my girlfriends! Light and fluffy and delicious! Can't wait to make it again.

      Reply

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    Beth Sachs Food Blogger

    Hi, I’m Beth, a Mum of three (and one crazy dog), living in Cornwall, UK. I love creating easy, delicious and fuss-free recipes, perfect for busy families, just like my own.

    More about me →

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