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    Home » Recipes » Baking

    Easy Madeira Cake Recipe

    Published: May 12, 2025 by Beth Sachs · 7 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    An easy Madeira cake recipe made in a loaf tin! 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! You might also like my air fryer cherry Madeira cake recipe!

    Madeira cake on a wooden board.

    Would you like to save this?

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    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 simple moist Madeira cake
    • Top 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!

    1. Plain and simple cake.
    2. Made in a loaf tin.
    3. Delicious with a cup of tea.
    4. Make traditional sherry trifles with leftover cake.
    5. Freezer-friendly.

    What is Madeira cake?

    It's a simple cake that is traditionally flavoured with lemon zest, although other citrus fruits can also be used. Madeira cake is known for its dense yet light texture, and its buttery, slightly sweet flavour. It's also signified by a dome and a crack on the top.

    Madeira cake has been popular here in the UK since the 19th century, and it is often enjoyed as a tea-time treat or used as a base for other desserts such as trifle. The cake is typically baked in a loaf tin, and it can be served plain or with a dusting of icing sugar.

    🛒 Ingredient notes

    What you'll need to make this simple Madeira loaf 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 simple moist 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.

    Top Tips

    • If your batter feels too dry (it should resemble a smooth, thick cake batter), add a splash of milk to achieve the right consistency.
    • Don’t be concerned if your cake develops a crack on top! A cracked top is characteristic of a traditional Madeira cake and indicates the recipe has turned out perfectly.
    • Make sure to use the correct size loaf tin (2lb/900g) to prevent the batter from overflowing during baking.
    • Line your loaf tin with baking paper or nonstick parchment, and grease the sides with butter to ensure the cake can be easily removed after baking. Alternatively, use loaf tin liners for added convenience.
    • Due to its dense texture, Madeira cake is a popular choice for wedding and birthday cakes as it keeps well and can be easily carved into various shapes.

    🍴 Serving suggestions

    Serve the cake for Afternoon tea along with other tea-time treats 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 also be used as the base of sherry trifle.

    📖 Variations

    • Make a chocolate Madeira cake by replacing 25g of the plain flour with cocoa powder.
    • Add ground almonds (almond meal) for more texture.
    • Mix in 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 - Keep the cake in an airtight container or cake tin for up to 5 days. Wrap it in parchment paper to help retain moisture and prevent it from drying out.

    Freeze - Once the cake has cooled, wrap it in parchment paper, then in a layer of tin foil. You can freeze it for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, 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 12 votes

    Easy Madeira Cake Recipe

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

    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.
     
    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 Cake Recipe
    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.
    Tried this recipe?Snap a pic and tag @effortlessf00d on Instagram or Twitter

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      Rhubarb and White Chocolate Muffins
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      Easy Biscoff Blondies Recipe
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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
    5 from 12 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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    Hi, I'm Beth!

    Mum of three (and two crazy dogs), living in Cornwall, UK. I love creating easy, delicious and fuss-free recipes, perfect for busy families, just like my own.

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