Description
Whipping up Cherry Madeira Cake brings pure joy to your kitchen, filling the space with warm, buttery aromas. Perfectly crumbly and packed with sweet cherries, this classic British treat makes afternoons delightful with a cup of tea.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup dried cherries
Liquid and Flavor Enhancers:
- ½ cup Madeira wine
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup reserved Madeira wine
- 2–3 tablespoons Madeira wine
Leavening and Seasoning:
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Optional Add-ins:
- ½ cup chopped walnuts or almonds
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Submerge 1 cup of dried cherries in ½ cup Madeira wine within a saucepan. Heat mixture on medium, then reduce to low, simmering for 12 minutes until cherries absorb liquid. Allow cherries to cool completely in remaining wine.
- Prepare your 9×13 inch baking pan by greasing and flouring the surface. Preheat oven to 350°F. Whisk 2 ½ cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, and ¼ teaspoon salt together in a medium bowl.
- Cream 1 cup softened butter with 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar using an electric mixer for 4 minutes until fluffy. Add 3 large eggs one at a time, then mix in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
- Combine 1 cup sour cream with ½ cup reserved Madeira wine in a separate bowl. Alternate adding dry ingredients and sour cream mixture into butter mixture, mixing until just incorporated.
- Drain cherries and fold 1 cup of plumped cherries into batter. Optional: Stir in ½ cup chopped walnuts. Transfer batter to prepared pan, spreading evenly.
- Bake cake at 350°F for 33 minutes. Check doneness by inserting wooden skewer – it should emerge clean. Rest cake in pan for 12 minutes before transferring to wire rack.
- Prepare glaze by whisking 1 cup powdered sugar with 2 tablespoons Madeira wine until smooth. Add wine incrementally to reach desired consistency.
- After cake cools completely, drizzle glaze across top. Allow glaze to set for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Use room temperature ingredients to ensure smooth, even mixing and a consistent cake texture.
- Drain cherries well to prevent excess moisture from affecting the cake’s structure.
- Fold cherries and nuts gently to keep the batter light and prevent deflating the delicate crumb.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free baking blend and add 1 teaspoon of xanthan gum to maintain the cake’s structure.
- Prep Time: 20-25 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Category: Cakes
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 431 kcal
- Sugar: 36 g
- Sodium: 151 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 58 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 77 mg