Perfect with a glass of madeira or sherry, madeira cake is so good to have around at Christmas. As it’s denser than the average sponge, it is also perfect for trifle. Preheat the oven to 170C ...

Madeira cakes improve in flavour and texture after one or two days, and so can be made in advance and wrapped tightly in aluminium foil until needed. This cake also freezes well. Madeira cakes are ...

The acidity in this fortified wine counteracts the sweetness. One night, around ten years ago, I tasted a Madeira wine whose grapes were harvested before the Civil War. Lincoln was still president ...

Line a 7-inch loose-bottomed cake tin with greaseproof paper and preheat the oven to 325ºF. Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in each egg, individually, then fold ...