• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Belly Rumbles
  • Recipes
  • Travel
  • Restaurants
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Travel
  • Restaurants
  • Work with Sara McCleary
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Cakes

    Easy Sultana Cake Recipe

    March 26, 2012 By Sara McCleary Updated November 29, 2020 - This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe

    Super easy sultana cake recipe, it's a classic. A butter cake with delicious hints of lemon and vanilla. Perfect for afternoon tea or an after school snack.

    One of my favourite childhood memories (I have many) was when I was still in primary school.  The memory isn't actually of primary school itself, but arriving home afterwards.  On the odd occasion I would walk through the front door and my nostrils would be greeted with the aromas of freshly baked cake.

    Sultana cake recipe 2

    I loved those days when Mum had been baking.  I think they topped the days that she had been in town shopping and there was a present left on my bed when I got home.  They were good days too!

    I knew it would generally be one of two cakes, either Mum's coconut cake or her sultana cake.  Feeling a little nostalgic this weekend I was going to whip up her coconut cake.  A simple to make recipe which results in a moist cake, which is then drizzled with tangy lemon icing.  Unfortunately I couldn't find the recipe, I don't seem to have it.

    Sultana cake recipe 3

    Instead I went to plan B and whipped up Mum's sultana cake.  Often Mum would make this recipe as cupcakes, perfect for the school lunch box as well as an after school snack.  I decided to make it as a cake and keeping it simple, dusted it with icing sugar.

    Sara xxx

    Other Awesome Cake Recipes

    Melt and Mix Vanilla Cakes - so simple and so delicious
    Apple Almond Cake - and its gluten free!
    Blood Orange Chiffon Cake - it sort of looks like a muppet......
    Papaya Pecan Streusel Cake - tropics meet scrumptious
    Pink Lemonade Ombre Cake - oh so tangy
    Blood Orange Almond Cake - a seasonal sensation

    Printable Recipe

    Easy Sultana Cake Recipe

    Recipe Author: Sara McCleary
    My mum's easy sultana cake recipe. The perfect treat for afternoon tea or when the kids get home. You can even make cupcakes.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save RecipeSaved!
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 40 minutes mins
    Total Time 50 minutes mins
    Course Baking
    Cuisine Australian
    Servings 12
    Calories 214 kcal

    Ingredients

    • 150 grams self raising flour
    • 75 grams plain flour
    • 180 grams caster sugar
    • 100 grams butter
    • 120 grams sultanas
    • 3 eggs
    • 125 ml milk
    • zest of one lemon
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla essence

    Instructions
     

    • Pre-heat oven at 180 degrees C.
    • Cream butter and sugar. Then beat in eggs one at a time, beating well between each addition.
    • Stir in sultanas, lemon zest and essence. Mix in sifted flours and milk, mix until combined.
    • Pour mixture in to prepared tin or cupcake papers.
    • Bake for 40 minutes if cake, 15 minutes if cupcakes.
    • Once cool dust with icing sugar if desired.

    Oven Temperatures

    All oven temperatures are fan forced.

    Measurement Notes

    All measurements are Australian metric standard. All measures are level, and cups are lightly packed unless specified. 1 teaspoon = 5ml / 1 tablespoon = 20mls / 1 cup = 250ml /4 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon.

    NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

    The recipe's nutritional information is an approximation based on an online calculator. It is meant solely for reference purposes. If you're looking for precise details, be sure to double-check with your own research.

    Calories: 214kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 3gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 59mgSodium: 81mgPotassium: 112mgSugar: 18gVitamin A: 285IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 26mgIron: 0.7mg
    Did You Make This Recipe?I do a happy dance when people share how they went. Tag me on Instagram @bellyrumbles & #bellyrumbles
    « The Perfect Hot Dog & Chipotle Mayonnaise Recipe
    Pashka, Latvian Easter Recipe »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Steve

      July 08, 2021 at 7:57 pm

      Cake was great, I used some hash butter and had a baller of a night. Thanks so much

      Reply
      • Sara McCleary

        July 20, 2021 at 12:58 pm

        Hey Steve
        Sounds like you had a very good night!!
        Cheers, Sara

    2. Jo@JoSimplyWill

      May 27, 2021 at 3:41 pm

      5 stars
      Thanks Sara, have just made this cake today. It's like a traditional teacake with the addition of sultanas.

      Reply
      • Sara McCleary

        June 04, 2021 at 3:50 pm

        Hi Jo

        It is a classic recipe, and you are right, very much like a tea cake. I had never even thought of it that way before. It has always simply been Mum's recipe LOL.

        Cheers, Sara

    3. Sarah

      March 01, 2019 at 3:03 pm

      5 stars
      Really delicious cake and no fuss recipe! Thanks, will be adding to the regular baking list

      Reply
      • Sara

        March 05, 2019 at 12:51 pm

        Hi Sarah

        Really glad you like my mum's recipe. It is a staple for me as well.

        Cheers Sara

    4. Elise

      February 24, 2019 at 3:57 pm

      Oops, didn't add a star rating for my other comment.

      Reply
    5. Elise

      February 24, 2019 at 3:55 pm

      5 stars
      The texture of this cake is exceptional. It's both light and rich, with a very pleasing crumb.

      I made a variation by doubling the recipe, and used 1tsp cinnamon, zest of one orange, 2tsp turmeric, and brown sugar.

      Reply
      • Sara

        March 05, 2019 at 12:52 pm

        Hi Elise

        A very interesting variation you have made. I will have to give it a go.

        Cheers Sara

    6. Tracy

      December 16, 2017 at 11:29 pm

      Hi what size tin is used please

      Reply
      • Sara

        December 18, 2017 at 3:46 pm

        Hi Tracy, the tin would have been roughly 20cm (9 inches) across.

      • Sara

        December 18, 2017 at 3:47 pm

        That is the tin for the cake which is shown. I also use a loaf tin at times.

    7. angela

      October 26, 2012 at 11:51 am

      This was a lovely recipe. Thank you for sharing...I made 3 lots in one week to make enough for the office and for home. Just beautiful.

      Reply
    8. Rita (mademoiselle délicieuse)

      April 08, 2012 at 2:26 pm

      This looks perfect for having with cups of tea and, preferably, a chin-wag with friends!

      My mother doesn't bake, so if only I had some after-school cake memories! The closest I come is when she'd finish work early on a Friday and present me with a mini fruit tart from the local bakery.

      Reply
    9. Sara

      April 02, 2012 at 9:39 am

      Hi Martyna, very clever lol, and sneaky

      Reply
    10. Martyna@WholesomeCook

      March 29, 2012 at 1:18 am

      How wonderful! My Mum's favorite cake was an apple and custard cake but I actually preferred the custard before it was baked so I always insisted on baking it together which meant I could more easily sneak in and eat the hot custard out of the pan before it went in. hehe

      Reply
    11. Sara

      March 28, 2012 at 10:43 am

      Hi Mary, It is fantastic warm.
      Hi Sarah, I am a big fan of lemon in cakes too, your mum's sounds great.
      Hi Barbara, Thank you so much.
      Hi Anna, It is a nice crumb in this one.

      Reply
    12. Anna@ The Littlest Anchovy

      March 26, 2012 at 10:13 pm

      I love things that bring back a childhood memory. This cake has such a beautiful crumb! This would be very welcome on my desk right now to have with my morning coffee 🙂

      Reply
    13. Barbara @ Barbara Bakes

      March 26, 2012 at 11:33 am

      Such a beautiful, simple bundt cake. How great that you remember your mom making it for you.

      Reply
    14. Sarah @ The Healthy Diva

      March 26, 2012 at 9:30 am

      This cake looks awesome sara! My fav cake memories are of my mom's lemon bundt cake. It was my favourite cake and she would always make it for my birthday. To this day I still love lemons and that cake, but only make it on occasions. It's nice to reminisce with food memories isn't it!

      Reply
    15. Mary@beyondjelly

      March 26, 2012 at 5:45 am

      Yum! I love that kind of cake - the teacake that's best be eaten warm (so of course, you have the excuse that you need to finish it right away!)

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    photo of Sara McCleary, Founder, Belly Rumbles culinary travel blog

    Well hello there! I’m Sara McCleary a food lover and avid traveller.

    Welcome to Belly Rumbles, my slice of the Internet.

    A space where I share family recipes and ones discovered on my foodie travel adventures.

    Come join me on my culinary adventure.

    More about me ?

    photo of Sara McCleary, Founder, Belly Rumbles culinary travel blog

    Well hello there! I’m Sara McCleary a food lover and avid traveller.

    Welcome to Belly Rumbles, my slice of the Internet.

    A space where I share family recipes and ones discovered on my foodie travel adventures.

    Come join me on my culinary adventure.

    More about me ?

    Footer

    back to top


    Nitty Gritty

    About Us

    Let's Connect

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure
    • About
    • Sara McCleary
    • Work With Us
    • Contact
    • Sign Up! for emails and updates
    • Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Threads

    © Sara McCleary and Belly Rumbles® 2009-2025

    • Pinterest
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn
    • Reddit
    75 shares