Madeira Cake... Simple at its Best!

No! There is no Madeira wine in this cake nor does it come from the Madeira Islands! Madeira Cake is a traditional English teacake. With a long crack down the middle. And in the typical English way, it is served with Madeira wine. This is my first try at the cake and I have followed the recipe by Nigella Lawson. If you have yet not tried her recipes, come on, I insist, please do. They come out wonderfully well. Especially her cakes, cookies and puddings. Go ahead.


This is the best old fashioned cake I have eaten, simple and elegant, which is understood once you start slicing it up and eating.


INGREDIENTS: (Courtesy: How to be a Domestic Goddess by Nigella Lawson)
Softened Unsalted Butter - 1 cup
Fine Grain Sugar - 3/4 cup (plus 1 tablespoon for sprinkling)
Lemon - 1 (Grated Zest and Juice)
Eggs - 3 large
Self Rising Flour - 1 and 1/3 cup
All Purpose Flour - 1/2 cup
Baking Powder - 1/4 teaspoon
9 x 5-inch Loaf Pan - Buttered and Lined

METHOD:
Get all the ingredients at room temperature before starting.
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C.
Sift the self rising flour, all purpose flour and baking powder, together,  THRICE and keep aside.
Cream the butter and 3/4 cup sugar using an electric beater. Once they are well creamed, grate in the zest of the lemon.

Beat well till it is combined.
Add the eggs one at a time with a tablespoon of flour for each. Beat well after each addition.
Once all the 3 eggs are in, and the mixture is well beaten, gently FOLD IN, with a wooden spoon,  the rest of the flour in small batches.
Finally put in the juice of the lemon.
Mix well with the spoon and pour the batter into the prepared tin.

Sprinkle the top with sugar as it goes into the oven.
Bake for 1 hour or until a tester comes out clean (mine got done in just under 50 minutes. I suggest you check after 45 minutes as the times varies with different ovens).
Remove the tin to a wire rack and let cool in the pan before turning out.

This is the most satisfying part. When you see the  flour, egg, butter and sugar getting transformed into this beautiful loaf!
Now, make yourself a cup of English Breakfast Tea. No, not any flavoured tea. Only English Breakfast Tea. Slice up the Madeira Cake. Take a sip of the tea and a bite of the cake...
Did you just say... heavenly?


Yeah... I heard it:)

 Lots of love and happiness!

Comments

Indian Khana said…
wow this looks so delish...soft, spongy
Sangeeta Madhav said…
Thanks so much Priti!
wow this cake looks fabulous
Priya Suresh said…
Looks super spongy and irresistible.
Hi Sangeeta, thank you for visiting my blog and leaving your kind words. I must say your madeira cake looks lovely, such a beautifully browned crust and great texture too. You have done absolute justice to Nigella Lawson's recipe!
Sangeeta Madhav said…
Thanks so much Denise!!! Overwhelmed I am seeing your comment here:)
Rumana Rawat said…
This is the recipe i was looking for so many days.. i have made this cake and it taste awesome.. will post the pic soon...

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