Madeira Fingers Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C). Line two 17 x 12 inch baking sheets with baking parchment. Fit large pastry bag with a plain 1/2 inch round tube.
• Place egg whites in bowl and beat on high until soft peaks start to form. Slowly add 2 tablespoons of the sugar and continue beating until stiff and glossy. In another bowl beat egg yolks and remaining sugar. Whip until thick and very pale in color.
• Sift flour and baking powder together on a sheet of wax paper. Fold half the egg whites into the egg yolk mixture. Fold in flour, and then add the remaining egg whites. Transfer mixture to pastry bag and pipe out onto prepared baking sheet. Bake 8 minutes.

Steps:

• 1 Heat oven to 170C/150C fan/gas 3. Butter and line the base of a 900g loaf tin with greaseproof paper. Using an electric whisk, beat together the butter and sugar until light and creamy then beat in the eggs one at a time. Add the lemon zest and vanilla. Now beat in the flour and almonds until you have a thick batter. The batter should be loose enough that it falls off a wooden spoon, if it's too thick mix in a splash of milk.
• Tip the batter into the tin and smooth over the top. Bake for 55 mins - 1hr until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean. Remove from the oven then leave to cool for 15 mins then remove from the tin, peel away the paper and leave on a wire rack to cool completely before slicing. The loaf will keep in an airtight container for three days.

Steps:

• Sift together the flour and salt into a large bowl. Cream in the butter until mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Mix in the sugar and Madeira, until mixture becomes stiff. Wrap dough in foil or plastic, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• On a lightly floured surface, knead dough lightly until smooth. Roll out to approximately 1/8" and prick all over with a fork. Cut dough into 36 fingers measuring 1 x 2 1/2 inches. Place on cookie sheets. In a small bowl, lightly beat the egg. Brush cookie fingers with the egg and sprinkle each with sugar.
• Bake for about 15 minutes or until light golden in color. Let cool on wire racks. Store in an airtight container.