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Madeira cake is a dense, moist sponge cake that originated in England around 1800 and is named after the wine it accompanies. The cake is traditionally flavored with lemon and is made with simple ingredients like butter, sugar, eggs, and flour. It is often garnished with lime peels and can be served with a variety of beverages. Despite its name, the cake never contains Madeira wine or any other type of alcohol in the recipe.
Madeira cake is a rich product that falls into the category of sponge cakes. This typically indicates that the cake is made without the use of shortening. The cake originated in England around 1800.
While the name has led some to believe that this cake has origins in the Portuguese islands, it’s actually named for the wine it often accompanies. Madeira wine, produced in the Madeira Islands, was a popular drink in Europe as early as the 16th century. The sea voyage from the Madeira Islands to Europe, and later to America, served to age the wine. The warmth of the ship and the constant motion on the sea was beneficial to the finished product.
Madeira cake was developed as an accompaniment to this favorite alcoholic beverage. This type of cake is dense, moist, and full of flavor. The main ingredients are very simple, usually consisting only of butter, sugar, eggs and flour.
Traditional versions of this cake have a lemon flavor. Lemon juice and lemon zest are added to the recipe to impart a slightly tangy flavor. Modern variations of the recipe, however, may deviate from this. Lime juice and lime zest can be substituted to create a variety of Madeira pie limes. Another popular variation that is often served today is the Vanilla Madeira Cake, made by replacing the lemon juice and zest with vanilla extract.
Despite the name, the cake never contains Madeira wine, or any other type of alcohol, in the recipe. Fruit should also be excluded from the proposed additions for those wishing to stick to the original roots of the cake. A few adventurous bakers, however, have created Madeira cakes with raisins, cherries and other fruit products.
The finished cake should be garnished with lime peels for an authentic and traditional presentation of this dessert. Other variations of the recipe call for a sugar topping. This gives the cake a slightly crunchy texture on top.
Although the cake was originally created as a side dish for Madeira wine, it is now served with a variety of beverages. It goes well with afternoon tea or other rich spirits. For additional flavor, the pie can be topped with a little lime or lemon curd. Stale Madeira cake can be made more palatable by topping it with hot custard. Whether served as a delicate snack with afternoon tea or as a mouthwatering dessert after a satisfying meal, Madeira cake is a classic pastry that has stood the test of time.
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