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MADEIRA SPONGE CAKE RECIPES

This is a simple all-in-one recipe. Throw everything into the bowl together and mix. Read the section on flour beforehand and do try to use scales. If you find the cake is not rising well because the flour you in your area is heavier, add a little baking powder to the mix to give it a hand.

1 Grease and line your cake pan (see page 14) and preheat your oven to 300˚F (150˚C)

2 If you are using a mixer, sift your flour into the bowl and add the rest of the ingredients. Mix on the slowest speed to gently bind the ingredients together. Switch to the mixer’s highest speed and beat all the ingredients for a minute until the mixture is pale and smooth.

3 If you are mixing by hand, make sure your butter is very soft (place it in a microwave for a few seconds if necessary). Then beat the butter and sugar together until creamy. Add the eggs and beat those in too until the mixture is smooth. Sift the flour and gently stir it in with a metal spoon.

4 Spoon the mixture into your prepared pan and smooth the top. Place the cake in the center of the pre-heated oven and bake for the required time. Not all ovens bake the same so the baking times are approximate. Your cake will be ready when it is starting to pull away from the sides and you can’t hear bubbling noises. To check for sure, insert a knife or metal skewer. If it comes out clean then the cake is done. If there’s mixture on the skewer, cook for another five or ten minutes or so.

Variations This is a very versatile recipe which lends itself to all sorts of variations. To alter the flavor, stir in a tablespoon of cocoa or coffee to create a simple chocolate or coffee cake. Add a dash of almond or mint flavoring for something unexpected. Add a handful of desiccated coconut, a ripe banana (mashed). You could even add the zest of an orange or lemon. To make a colorful cake stir in a little food coloring before baking. Perhaps add a little green food color to your Halloween cake for example. If you just stir it in lightly, your cake will have a marbled appearance when baked. Stir it in thoroughly and your cake will be one solid color. You can even alter your cake’s texture by stirring in chocolate beans or chocolate chips, raisins, or glacé cherries.