Madeira Cake

You will need:

• 375g soft margarine or butter at room temperature
• 375g caster sugar
• 6 eggs
• 4 tablespoons milk
• 625g self-raising flour
• 3 teaspoons vanilla extract

1. Preheat the oven to 160 C / Gas 2 1/2. Line a deep round (23cm) baking tin with greaseproof paper.
2. Cream the margarine or butter and the caster sugar together in a bowl until light and fluffy.
3. In a separate bowl beat the eggs and the milk with a fork. Add alternate spoonfuls of all the egg mixture and the all flour into the butter mixture until all is consumed and whisk until smooth, then beat in the vanilla extract. Spoon the cake mixture into the cake tin.
4. Bake in the oven for 1 -1/4 hours or until risen and golden brown. Leave for 10 minutes in the tin then remove gently and put onto a wire cooling rack and leave to cool completely.