Traditional Dundee Cake Recipe

Our Dundee cake recipe is nice and easy to make and as tasty as they come. But not everyone has tried a traditional Dundee cake before, but we think they will have seen one.

They may not have realised they were looking at a Dundee Cake, but this deliciously iconic cake has a look that no other cake, Scottish or otherwise, has.

Why? The simple almond.

Every Dundee cake recipe demands the cake is topped with a stunningly simple circular pattern of almonds, making it stand out in any crowd of cakes! It’s this timeless, nutty design that makes the Dundee cake so special.

What can be overlooked, though, is quite how tasty this amazing cake is, who apparently had the cake put together in the first place and how simple it is to make for yourself.

Scroll to the end or use the table of contents to be taken straight to the Printable Recipe Card.

What is a Dundee Cake

Dundee Cake is a rich Scottish fruitcake made with currants, sultanas/raisins, and almonds. Many recipes also include marmalade and fruit peel. Like many Scottish recipes, it’s been known to have a dash of whisky. Yum!

The cake is beautifully moist with a rich zesty flavour backed up by a sweet Dundee marmalade. The almonds are more than a design feature, they also provide a crunch and roasted flavour.

The History of the Dundee Cake Recipe

The story of the Dundee Cake and the recipes nutty decoration is said to be buried deep in Scottish folklore. Legend says Mary, Queen of Scots herself asked for the recipe to be created. Why? Well, she did not care for glacé cherries so an alternative was requested, and you didn’t say no to a Queen!

The blanched almonds that form circles on the top of every Dundee cake, well that can be said to form a crown, one fitting a queen perhaps?

Like all folklore, the origins of the Dundee Cake recipe should be taken with a pinch of salt (not literally). Rich fruitcakes were popular across Scotland so there is no proof that Mary demanded the creation of this recipe.

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A more likely story is that the Dundee Cake recipe was created by Janet Keiller in the 1700s, later to be mass-produced by the marmalade company Keiller’s Marmalade.

Marmalade is a key ingredient in several Scottish recipes that we’ve found, one of our favourites being Caledonian cream – delicious!

Like Cranachan, Caledonian Cream contains whipped cream and whisky, but there the similarities end. The other main ingredients in Caledonian Cream are marmalade, and then, the juice of a lemon or an orange, plus a little sugar for sweetness. 

Although it is unlikely that Mary ordered the creation of the Dundee Cake recipe, it is said that our current Queen, Queen Elizabeth, is partial to a slice or two, so it’s a cake with royal heritage, one way or another!

What is the difference between a Dundee Cake and a Christmas Cake?

Many people dust off their trusted Dundee Cake recipe at Christmas time, but technically, it’s not a Christmas cake. The differences are slight but do make the difference.

Dundee Cake recipes have no alcohol traditionally and, of course, have a topping of blanched almonds.

Traditional Christmas cake has a richer flavour and uses different fruits to a Dundee Cake including glacé cherries. Sometimes a Christmas cake can have a similar almond decoration but more modern recipes call for the cake to be iced.

Things you’ll need

• 2 Mixing Bowls – we use this one
• Wooden Spoon
• Digital Scales – we use this one
• Cups measure – we use these ones
• 7-8 inch round cake tin
• Parchment paper
• Electric Whisk

Ingredients

• 180g Unsalted Butter ( 3/4 cup and 1 tbsp)
• 180g Brown Sugar ( 3/4 cup and 1 tbsp)
• 3 Large Eggs
• Zest of 1 Orange
• 5 Tbsp Dundee Marmalade with Peel
• Blanched Almonds
• 225g Plain Flour ( 1 cups + ¼ cup + 2 tbsp)
• 1 tsp Baking Powder
• 175g Sultanas or Raisins (1 cups + 3 tbsp)
• 175g Currants (1 cups + 3 tbsp)

How to Make a Dundee Cake – Step by Step Guide

Pre-heat the oven to 150C / 300F. The cake needs to cook at a low temperature so it doesn’t brown too quickly or crack.

Cream the butter and sugar together in a large bowl.

In another bowl, crack the 3 large eggs and whisk them together. Measure out the flour that you’ll need to use and then add a tablespoon or two along with the eggs to the creamed butter and sugar. This helps the eggs to not curdle when you mix it together.

Slowly fold in the remaining flour and the baking powder.

Once your mix has begun to come together, add the currants and sultanas, as well as the marmalade. At the same time, grate your orange, adding the zest to the rest of the ingredients, and fold it all into the mixture.

Don’t mix it too much!

Grease or line your cake tin, we greased the sides and cut parchment paper for the base, this seemed to work well.

Pour your mix into your cake tin and smooth the top with the back of a spoon.

Decorate with blanched almonds, usually in circles. Lightly lay the almonds on the batter rather than pushing them into the mix, the cake will expand around them as it cooks.

Put in the centre of the preheated oven for 1.5-2 hours. If it starts to brown too quickly you can put some tinfoil over the top of the cake tin. Do keep an eye on it as it will darken very quickly once done.

Remove and allow to cool in the cake tin for around 10 minutes before removing and placing on a rack to cool further.

Some people suggest placing your cooled cake in an airtight tin for 2 days before cutting as it will taste better. We do not have the willpower to wait that long and be able to try this, do let us know if it works!

We suggest eating whenever you choose, with a good book and a cup of tea.

How long does a Dundee Cake last?

In our house not very long at all but, in an airtight cake tin, your cake should last a week or so. Once cut if you want the cake to last a little longer wrap it in tin foil before placing it in your tin.

Variations

Newer versions of the Traditional Dundee Cake Recipe have seen the addition of glacé cherries, a sweet glaze brushed over the top of the cake and some have even whisky added. None of these sound like bad options to us but we do like trying to stick to the traditional!

Enjoy,

Phil & Sonja

Other Traditional Scottish Desserts, Sweet Treats and Cakes to Try:

• Easy Clootie Dumpling Recipe
• Simple Microwave Clootie Dumpling Recipe
• Traditional Homemade Scottish Tablet Recipe
• Cranachan: A Traditional Scottish Dessert Recipe
• Scottish Cranachan Cheesecake Recipe
• Simple Caledonian Cream Recipe
• Scottish Trifle: The Easiest Tipsy Laird Recipe
• Homemade Scottish Macaroons Recipe
• Empire Biscuit Recipe: Classic Scottish Double Biscuits

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