Cherry Madeira Cake

Method12 steps · about 1 hr 10 min

1. 1

   Step 1: Preheat the oven to 180°C conventional (356°F) or 160°C fan.

2. 2

   Step 2: Grease a 900 g (2 lb) loaf tin, about 24 x 12 cm, with the separate teaspoon of butter (1 tsp) and line with baking parchment.

   Uses 1 tsp butter (for the tin)

3. 3

   Step 3: Wash the cherries, cut into halves and dry on kitchen paper.

   Uses 200 g glace cherries (candied)

4. 4

   Step 4: In a food mixer or large bowl, cream the butter (175 g) and sugar (175 g) together until very soft and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla extract (1 tsp).

   Uses 175 g butter (soft) · 175 g caster sugar (golden or white) · 1 tsp vanilla extract

5. 5

   Step 5: Beat the eggs (3) individually and add them one by one to the cake batter, mixing well after each addition.

   Uses 3 eggs (large) · 175 g soft butter 175 g caster sugar vanilla creamed until fluffy

6. 6

   Step 6: Reserve one tablespoon from the measured 200 g self-raising flour and toss the prepared dried cherry halves in it.

   Uses 1 tbsp from measured 200 g self-raising flour for cherries · 200 g candied cherries washed halved dried

7. 7

   Step 7: Fold the remaining measured self-raising flour, baking powder (1 tsp) and ground almonds (50 g) into the prepared egg-enriched batter with a metal spoon.

   Uses remaining part of 200 g self-raising flour after coating cherries · 50 g ground almonds · 1 tsp baking powder · creamed mixture with three eggs beaten in one at a time

8. 8

   Step 8: Spread half the prepared cake batter in the lined loaf tin.

   Uses egg batter with remaining self-raising flour ground almonds baking powder folded in

9. 9

   Step 9: Press half the prepared flour-coated cherry halves into the first batter layer. Repeat with the remaining batter and remaining cherries.

   Uses halved dried cherries coated in one reserved tablespoon flour · half prepared cake batter spread in lined 24 x 12 cm loaf tin · remaining half of complete batter for second layer

10. 10

    Step 10: Bake the assembled loaf for 50–60 minutes, until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.

    Bake cake · 60 minUses two batter layers with halves of coated cherries distributed

11. 11

    Step 11: Cool the baked cake in its tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.

    Cool in tin · 5 minUses cake baked 50–60 minutes until middle skewer clean

12. 12

    Step 12: Cool the cake completely on the rack before cutting into ten slices.

    Uses cake rested 5 minutes in tin then moved onto rack