Mini Damson Madeira Loaves
Did you catch the first episode of The Great British Bake Off this week? If you’re anything like me you’ll have been looking forward to this moment since the last series finished. It seems ages ago since Nancy won back in October last year. I’m not sure how we’ve managed to get by, but it probably involves cake (and biscuits, pies and tarts, bread, patisserie…).
This week, in a nod towards one of this week’s bakes on GBBO, I’ve baked mini damson madeira loaves, using damsons from my garden. I spotted the deep purple of these lovely plums up in the trees, and, risking the neighbours thinking I am even more crazy than they first suspected, got up on a chair with a broom to encourage some down. Our haul will be enough for a small batch of jam as well, fingers crossed.
Got damsons and need cake? You must make these!
Sweet little fruity madeira cakes perfect for afternoon tea
- 110 g butter unsalted, softened
- 110 g caster sugar
- 2 medium eggs
- 175 g self raising flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 3 tbsp milk
- Zest of a lemon
- 10 damson plums
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Cream the butter and the sugar together until very soft.
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Add the eggs one by one and mix well.
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Fold in the flour and baking powder.
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Add the milk and lemon zest and mix until just combined.
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Prepare the mini loaf tin by spraying each cell in the tray with cake release spray.
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Divide the cake mixture between the cells evenly and spread it out well.
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Cut each damson in half, remove the stone and place two or three halves (depending on the size of the damsons) on top of each loaf cell. Press them in gently.
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Bake at 180 degrees for approx. 20 minutes, until golden on top of the Madeira cake and a cake tester comes out clean.
If you were listening to Mary Berry, you will know that you are looking for a dome and a crack to form on the surface of the cakes, and a light but close texture. These mini loaves have a light lemon flavour and the damsons turned bright pinky-red in the oven.
If you want more ideas with madeira cake, check these out:
- Clotted cream madeira cake from Mostly About Chocolate
- Zesty lemon and blueberry madeira cake from Supper in the Suburbs
- Gin and tonic madeira cake from It’s not easy being greedy
Pin for later
I am linking this post up with Jenny from Mummy Mishaps and the Great Bloggers Bake Off (#GBBOBloggers2015).
I love these, they are so cute! Perfect for an afternoon tea, and a great way to use up damsons!
Thanks Isabella, mini loaves are great for a small treat aren’t they
Ooh cute little cakes Lucy and you got them all with cracks too. I love damson jam, but I’ve never had them in a cake. So glad GBBO is back – very exciting.
Thanks Choclette, this is the one TV program I watch, there are no interruptions on a Wed night in our house!
Wow! These look fantastic- I was laughing at the idea of you encouraging down with a broom, but it definitely looks as though it was worth the effort.
Thanks so much! Was determined the birds wouldn’t get them all this year.
These look amazing, love the idea of damsons, any spare to go with my cuppa? X
Thanks Cathy, I’ll send you one
what a fab fruit to have growing in your garden! I love you mini loaf tin too – they come out looking so cute. popping by from #gbbobloggers2015 linky.
I have never managed to eat them before, usually the birds get them! So grabbed the chance this year 🙂
Lovely idea to make miniature loaves, I’ve order myself a tray to start making some too…Tesco have theirs for £4.50 at the moment x
They are so handy aren’t they! was lucky enough to get mine in a half price sale a while back, always a stroke of luck.
oooh these looks lovely. i bought myself some mini loaf tins ages ago but have yet to use them!
thank you for linking up x
They are good for portion control 😉 x
Mmm, these look scrummy. I love the idea of the damsons in them, it must have added so much more beautiful flavour alongside the lemon.
Angela x
Thanks Angela, they were tasty 🙂
These are so cute! I’ve been loving fresh fruit in my cakes too! 🙂
It is great in the summer when there is so much choice isn’t it! Thanks.
These look delicious. I love the addition of the damsons. Have pinned! Im so rubbish at baking but love watching Bake Off nonetheless!
Thanks Ciara! It is such a fun show isn’t it
these are so cute. I bet they taste amazing – I love how plums go so jammy when they’re cooked.
Thanks, plums are so tasty aren’t they
These are so cute! I’m obsessed with damsons, they are the best fruit, especially with gin 😉
Ooh gin, good call!
These are so cute! I’ve never had a damson so think I’ll have to give them a try!
You must try one, they are lovely Cat
Ooh these look fabulous, and would be perfect as a little picnic treat
Great idea 🙂
Oh I love these, you’re so lucky to have a damson tree in your garden. Ours is hardly big enough to swing a cat in, let alone have a fruit tree. Something to dream of for the future perhaps!
This one is quite tall and is just by the fence so it doesn’t take up any room, we have the previous owners of the house to thank for it really. Going to make sure I don’t miss the fruit ripening next year now!
These look great, I’ve never had damsons but need to give these a go!
Awwww these are so cute!!! I love that they are mini 😀 I love damson gin but have never actually eaten the fruit before. These look like a great way of using the fruit
Mmmm gin… 🙂
I love damsons and other “traditional” fruits, and am so sad that I don’t have any damsons near me currently. Thank you for linking to #cookblogshare
Thanks for hosting Beckie!
They look delicious. I love the way to juice is softly oozing into the golden sponge. Very tempting.
Yes they were, I may have eaten a couple!
These look gorgeous, I can imagine it would be very easy to eat more than one! Thanks for entering into Treat Petite!
Thanks Kat
Ooh these look delicious, I could just gobble one up right now! 🙂 #gbbobloggers2015
[…] show they made Madeira cake, frosted walnut layer cake and Black Forest gateau. My bake was these Mini damson Madeira loaves – the perfect bite-sized […]