This easy Madeira Loaf Cake is classically simple and boasts a delicate richness and softness from all the ingredients combined to make the right texture and taste of this recipe.
This lemon madeira cake might be your next go-to cake recipe whenever you would like to have a slice of a quick and easy serving of baked goods that will surely satisfy your craving.
You may also like my Coffee Loaf Cake recipe.
Serving this recipe is literally your choice to make. You can serve and include it at any mealtime you prefer, and no one would even bat an eye.
You may have a cup of hot coffee in the morning paired with a slice of this loaf cake. Or you may also have tea together with your peers in the afternoon to enjoy the cake. In the evening, after a full course meal, no one will ever say no to a dessert with Madeira Cake.
What Does Madeira cake taste like?
This dish is mildly sweet with the distinct flavor of woody and zesty sweetness, thanks to the lemon and vanilla extract included in the recipe. The texture is light and soft, but you cannot deny the mouthwatering moisture it also possesses. A simple bake with promising results.
Madeira cake origin
This recipe is famous in England. English people love including Madeira cake for their tea because of its firm and light texture. It is a simple and classic recipe that seems not to be that much at first glance, but when eaten, the flavor and texture will surprise you with their excellence.
Why do they call it Madeira cake?
You may be confused about why Madeira loaf cake is called Madeira loaf cake if it did not originate in Madeira Portugal. Well, back in the days, before England served it with tea, people would usually pair the said loaf cake with Madeira wine.
Why Does This Recipe Work
You may think that this recipe is just another version of sponge cake; hence it has no other special features anymore. Just the same old sweet and light cake to be eaten. That's where you got it wrong, though, because here are some of the unique reasons why this loaf cake is a must-try:
- This recipe is freezer-friendly, which gives it a longer shelf-life!
- Similar to pound cake, Madeira cake has a rich and dense texture.
- It is made with pantry staple ingredients that you no longer have to find aisle after aisle in the supermarket.
- Simple and delicious. It has no other pretenses, no fancy additives, no expensive decorations, just a baked good with an excellent taste and texture.
- As has been mentioned, this loaf cake is simple, but if you have time to kill and money to spend, you may decorate it with frosting, dust it with powdered sugar, or top it with whipped cream.
- Baking this dish can serve as a bonding time with your family.
What's in This Recipe?
Butter. Aside from assisting the cake batter to rise, butter also helps to create a light and tender texture cake once the baking is done.
Golden Caster Sugar. It imparts a light golden color to your baked loaf cake. Aside from sweetness, it also allows a slight caramel flavor with a touch of crisp texture on the outer portion of the cake.
Eggs. They will help establish the structure of the cake, and it also provides richness to the flavor. Eggs assist the flour to let the batter rise as well. If you are to skip eggs, your loaf cake will be dry and flat.
Vanilla Extract. It is vital in this recipe because it will enhance the sweetness and other flavors included in the recipe. Without vanilla extract, the loaf cake will taste almost bland and unsatisfying.
Lemon Juice and Zest. Flavor the loaf cake by adding lemon juice and zest. By the end of the baking process, your loaf cake will have a sweet and tangy flavor.
Self-rising Flour. A baked good will be incomplete and a complete failure without the flour to establish the structure. Without flour, the dish will just be a huge mass of lumpy failure.
Ground Almond. With the presence of ground almonds in your cake batter, the loaf cake will become denser, moister, crumblier, and browner. Meaning to say that thanks to ground almonds, your loaf cake will be more desirable.
How to Make Madeira Loaf Cake?
Preheat your oven to 170°c, and line a 900g loaf tin with baking paper.
In a mixing bowl, mix together butter and sugar until creamy and fluffy.
Whisk in eggs one by one, and add in the vanilla extract, lemon zest and juice.
Now, fold in the flour, ground almond, and mix until combined.
Pour the batter into the loaf tin and bake for 50-55 minutes.
Allow it to cool for 15 minutes before removing it from the tin.
Top Tips!
- Check your cake batter after mixing. If you observe dryness in your batter, instead of being smooth and thick, splash milk on the batter. This will fix the dryness and will make the batter of your loaf cake as smooth and thick as intended to be.
- Don't overfill the 900g loaf tin with the batter so that when baking begins, the batter will not overflow as it rises.
- Grease the baking paper with butter so that the loaf cake will not stick to it when served.
- Don't rush. Don't increase the heat of the oven to cook the loaf cake faster. It will only burn the exterior of the loaf cake, with the interior uncooked.
Recipe Variations
- Not every time you will have access to ground almonds. If it is unavailable, you may just use plain flour instead. However, plain flour will not give your loaf cake a moist and dense result.
- Chocolate Madeira cake: Do you love the chocolate flavor in cakes? Consider adding cocoa powder to your cake batter to create a chocolate version of this Madeira loaf cake!
- Orange Madeira cake: Replace lemon with orange.
Serving Suggestions
Aside from tea and coffee, there are so many other foods and beverages you may pair this recipe with.
Slather a slice of your loaf cake with the thick and creamy Greek Yogurt and sweet honey and top it with crushed almonds. This addition to your simple loaf cake will surely improve its taste. You can also make this loaf cake as a side dish to any pasta dish.
Recipe FAQs
The batter for a Madeira cake contains more flour than that of a standard sponge cake, which results in the latter's lighter texture than the former's moist and dense consistency.
If stored in an airtight container or cake tin, it will last for up to 5 days. It would be best to keep it from becoming dry by wrapping it in parchment paper.
Wrap the cake in a layer of parchment paper; then put in a ziplock bag and put it in the freezer for 1-2 months, then let it defrost at room temperature before you slice it.
Recipes you may like
Recipe
Easy Madeira Loaf Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 180 G Golden caster sugar
- 180 G Butter , softened
- 3 Large Eggs
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 1 Lemon zest
- Juice of half a lemon
- 200 G Self-rising flour
- 50 G Ground almond
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 170°c, and line a 900g loaf tin with baking paper.
- In a mixing bowl, mix together butter and sugar until creamy and fluffy.180 G Butter, 180 G Golden caster sugar
- Whisk in eggs one by one, and add in the vanilla extract, lemon zest and juice.3 Large Eggs, 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract, 1 Lemon zest, Juice of half a lemon
- Now, fold in the flour, ground almond, and mix until combined.200 G Self-rising flour, 50 G Ground almond
- Pour the batter into the loaf tin and bake for 50-55 minutes.
- Allow it to cool for 15 minutes before removing it from the tin.
Notes
- Check your cake batter after mixing. If you observe dryness in your batter, instead of being smooth and thick, splash milk on the batter. This will fix the dryness and will make the batter of your loaf cake as smooth and thick as intended to be.
- Don't overfill the 900g loaf tin with the batter so that when baking begins, the batter will not overflow as it rises.
- Grease the baking paper with butter so that the loaf cake will not stick to it when served.
- Don't rush. Don't increase the heat of the oven to cook the loaf cake faster. It will only burn the exterior of the loaf cake, with the interior uncooked.
Variations
- Not every time you will have access to ground almonds. If it is unavailable, you may just use plain flour instead. However, plain flour will not give your loaf cake a moist and dense result.
- Chocolate Madeira cake: Do you love the chocolate flavor in cakes? Consider adding cocoa powder to your cake batter to create a chocolate version of this Madeira loaf cake!
- Orange Madeira cake: Replace lemon with orange.
Nutrition
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Bonnie
I used vegetable oil instead of butter, and the cake was perfect.
Alexis
I liked how simple and delicious this is; I added some nuts for a crunchy texture.
Diana
The recipe is so easy to follow. Thanks I loved it!
Isabella
Perfect for my breakfast with a cup of tea.
Eva
I love it; however, I usually make it with orange.