Bake like Mrs. Patmore, eat like the Crawleys with this delightful 'Downton Abbey' cake

  • Madeira Cake just like the upstairs folks at Downton Abbey might enjoy with tea.

    Madeira Cake just like the upstairs folks at Downton Abbey might enjoy with tea. Stacy Zarin Goldberg for The Washington Post

  • Madeira Cake, similar to a pound cake, a little lighter perhaps, was once paired with Madeira, a fortified Portuguese wine.

    Madeira Cake, similar to a pound cake, a little lighter perhaps, was once paired with Madeira, a fortified Portuguese wine. Stacy Zarin Goldberg for The Washington Post

 
By Becky Krystal
The Washington Post
Updated 10/8/2019 1:01 PM

This is the cake you're likely to spot on a side table at the Crawley family's afternoon tea on "Downton Abbey." Madeira cake, named after the fortified Portuguese wine with which it was often paired, was a favorite throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. We can see why: It has a delicate citrus flavor and a tender crumb that holds together well enough to not mar a beautiful dress. It may remind you of a lightened-up poundcake.

Dusting the pan with sugar instead of flour gives a slightly crunchy exterior. Feel free to swap in orange or lime zest for the lemon.

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