My first effort at Queens Cakes did not disappoint.

I decided to try some Mrs Beeton recipes to start up my baking blog having had so many copies of various Mrs Beeton tomes over the years.  Flicking through the books it was the Queens Cakes that intrigued me.  I had never heard of them and yet here I am purporting to have been baking for over 30 years!  Surely, I thought, a long forgotten recipe.  Turns out not!  Turns out they are quite popular.  And having made and tried them I completely understand why!

Presented on one of my favourite Midwinter Cake plates – looks like an umbrella!


You will need:- 226 grams plain sifted flour 113 grams unsalted butter 113 grams caster sugar 1 egg 1/4 pint of milk 113 grams currants 1/2 teaspoon baking powder (sifted with the flour) Essence of Lemon


Grease your muffin tin / cake tin or, I used Pyrex Ramekins


Put the butter, sugar and milk into a bowl and mix to a light cream. Add the egg. Slowly add the flour and baking powder. Add the currants. Add a tea spoon of lemon essence. If needed add some more milk.


Mix until a cake batter consistency.


Spoon the mixture into the ramekins / cake tin


Bake in a pre-heated oven. Mrs Beeton doesn’t specify a temperature so I cooked at 180 degrees for 25 minutes.


Leave to cool and then put onto a wire tray to cool.

To review:-

You will need:-

  • 226 grams plain sifted flour
  • 113 grams unsalted butter
  • 113 grams caster sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 pint of milk
  • 113 grams currants
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder (sifted with the flour)
  • Essence of Lemon

Mix the sugar, butter and a little of the milk together. until they are a light cream.  Add the egg.  Add the flour and baking powder slowly then the currants and lemon essence.  If the mixture needs moisture add a little more milk.  Once a batter is formed spoon the mixture into the prepared tins and bake in a pre-heated oven for 20-25 minutes.  Use a skewer to check that they are cooked – just spear the centre of the cake (gently) and if the skewer comes out clean the cake is done.  If covered in any goo just put back into the oven for another few minutes.  Be gentle.

I really enjoyed making the mix, it was quite straightforward.  The reviews on completion were extremely positive.  I thought it was the perfect cake to accompany an afternoon cup of tea.

It was good fun to try something completely new and they were certainly tasty.  I have to say that I will be baking them again.  A quick treat and super to have in a tin. I might try them with a bit of butter and jam next time?

Have you had Queens Cakes before?  I wonder if it is a regional cake?  How do you eat yours???

We’ll next be giving Mrs Beeton’s Victoria Sandwich recipe a go.  And having watched the Great British Bake Off tonight will be checking out whether she did a madeira recipe.

Love Wish Vintage x