Madeira sponge wedding cake

Good Housekeeping online 29.05.2007

Madeira cake has a firm texture, so it’s perfect for a wedding cake.

Madeira cake batter being mixed
Click here to see the rest of the Wedding Cake Special

To make a Madeira sponge cake
Choose your tin size and corresponding ingredient amounts, then follow the method below:

Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, and mix in. If the mixture looks as though it’s going to curdle, mix in 1tbsp flour. Fold in the remaining flour with the lemon juice and zest. Bake at 170°C (150°C fan oven) mark 3.

FOR A 15cm (6in) SQUARE or 18cm (7in) ROUND TIN
Makes: 12 slices
Baking time: 1¼hr
175g (6oz) each of softened unsalted butter and golden caster sugar; 3 medium eggs; 175g (6oz) sifted self-raising flour; 75g (3oz) sifted plain flour; grated zest and juice of 1 lemon

FOR A 18cm (7in) SQUARE or 20.5cm (8in) ROUND TIN
Makes: 20 slices
Baking time: 1¼hr
225g (8oz) each of softened unsalted butter and golden caster sugar; 4 medium eggs; 225g (8oz) sifted self-raising flour; 100g (3½oz) sifted plain flour; grated zest and juice of 1 lemon

FOR A 23cm (9in) SQUARE or 25.5cm (10in) ROUND TIN
Makes: 28 slices
Baking time: 1hr 20-30min
350g (12oz) each of softened unsalted butter and golden caster sugar; 6 medium eggs; 350g (12oz) sifted self-raising flour; 175g (6oz) sifted plain flour; grated zest and juice of 1½ lemons

Note: This cake can be made up to a week in advance or frozen for up to one month.

Click here to see the rest of the Wedding Cake Special. And for more brilliant wedding ideas visit youandyourwedding.co.uk

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