Madeira Cake with Candied Lemon Slices (English)

english-madeiracakelemoncandiedslices Lightly flavoured with lemon and topped with candied lemon slices, this classic English madeira Cake is the easiest dessert you will ever make. Madeira cake is a sponge or butter cake in traditional British and Irish cookery. It is sometimes mistakenly thought to originate from the Madeira Islands but was in fact named after Madeira wine from the islands, popular in England in the mid-1800s and often served with the cake. Madeirans produce their own traditional cake - bolo de mel, dark, spicy and honey flavoured - which is very different.

Cake:
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup super fine sugar, not powdered
3 large eggs, at room temperature
2½ cups all-purpose flour, unbleached
2½ tsp baking powder
1½ lemons, freshly juiced
1½ lemons, freshly zested

Candied Lemon Slices:
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup water
2 lemons, sliced ⅛" thick

Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C/140°C fan, Gas Mark 3) (170C). Grease and flour a deep 8" round cake pan, line with parchment.

In a medium bowl, whisk flour and baking powder. Set aside.

Beat butter, sugar and lemon zest on medium-high until pale and fluffy (2-3 minutes). Add eggs one at a time along with one Tbsp. of flour mixture for each egg. Fully incorporate after each addition.

Gently fold in flour mixture, then lemon juice.

Bake for approximately 1 hour or until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes then turn out onto wire rack to cool completely.

Candied Lemon Slices:
Place sugar and water in a large, shallow, saucepan. Bring to a simmer and stir until dissolved. Gently lay the lemon slices in a single layer in the saucepan. Simmer for 15 minutes, turning over half way through.

Carefully remove slices from pan, dripping off excess syrup and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Allow to dry at room temperature. Dip in granulated sugar if desired.

Makes 10 servings.

Cook's Notes:

Make sure your pan is at least 3" deep.
The cooled lemon syrup can be drizzled over cake or used in various beverages. I used mine in homemade iced tea.