Madeira cake

How to make Madeira cake recipe - Instead of waiting for the butter to come to room temperature, use ready-softened butter from a tub. Pastel de Madeira recette

Special equipment • electric mixer • 7in (18cm) round cake pan

Serves 4–6

5 1⁄2oz (150g) butter, at room temperature

3⁄4 cup (150g) sugar

3 eggs, lightly whisked

13⁄4 cups (225g) self-rising flour

juice of 1 lemon

Method:

1 Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Put the butter and sugar in a mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer for 5 minutes, or until pale and creamy.

2 Mixing all the time, add the eggs a little at a time, along with a little of the flour to stop the mixture from curdling. Stir in the lemon juice, then fold in the rest of the flour. Spoon the mixture into the lightly greased cake pan.

3 Bake for 1–11⁄2 hours, or until cooked through. To test, pierce the center of the cake with a skewer—if it comes out clean, the cake is cooked. Remove from the oven and leave to cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then run a knife around the edge to loosen. Leave to cool completely, then turn out onto a plate and serve.

Madeira cake