OK, maybe not just UK CCers, but anyone who regularly bakes UK style rich fruit & Maderia cakes! I have a bride who is, unfortunately, getting married the day before I return from my vacation. We are only away for 2 weeks however, so I could feasibly bake and decorate her cakes and deliver them before we leave (stacked and finished ready to be put on the table). Now I know for a fact that a fruit cake covered in marzipan and fondant is going to survive the 2-3 week wait until the wedding just fine, but what about Maderia cake if she doesn't want fruit? Will that last 2-3 weeks if covered with marzipan & fondant and still be nice to eat? Thanks for any advice

I know that an iced madeira cake can be frozen provided no jam is used and then it needs to dry out after thawing.

Madeira cake does benefit from ripening but I can't tell you how long for. I think the reason fruit cakes keep is because of the alcohol content in them plus the almond paste sealing it.

If you were flavouring the madeira like orange could you add some grand marnier or something? Sorry I could not be of more help!

I bake madeiras so I too would like to know the answer to this question.

In Lindy Smiths books, she talks about her madeira cake recipe.. she allows a week to decorate and then a week after that for the cake to be eaten..

hope this helps some!!

cheers

kylie