Learn how to make 🇵🇹 Madeira Molasses Cake (bolo de mel) - the quick version!

blackstrap molasses

🥗Healthier: honey

💰Cheaper: light molasses

Honey offers sweetness with fewer calories.

butter

🥗Healthier: coconut oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Coconut oil provides a dairy-free option.

walnuts

🥗Healthier: pecans

💰Cheaper: almonds

Pecans provide similar texture and flavor.

brown sugar

🥗Healthier: coconut sugar

💰Cheaper: white sugar

Coconut sugar has a lower glycemic index.

Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).

Grease and flour a 9-inch cake pan, placing parchment on the bottom.

In a small saucepan, heat milk and lemon zest, adding baking soda and setting aside.

In another small saucepan, melt together butter and lard, then stir in blackstrap molasses and set aside.

In a bowl, combine ground almonds, chopped walnuts, candied citron peel, bleached all-purpose flour, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and ground anise, whisking together and setting aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together brown sugar and half of an egg (25 grams).

Add the butter and molasses mixture to the sugar and egg, whisking gently to combine.

Heat the milk, lemon, and baking soda mixture until bubbling, then add to the molasses mixture while stirring.

Fold in the dry ingredients gently with a spatula until just combined.

Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan, smoothing the top.

Decorate the top with whole walnut pieces and whole almonds in a design.

Bake for 17-20 minutes, checking at 15 minutes for doneness with a toothpick.

Let the cake cool in the pan for 5 minutes before inverting onto a cooling rack.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens