You can't beat a simple old-fashioned cake recipe. This farmhouse-style cake has a scattering of Sultanas (you can add more if desired?) inside an indulgent crumbly vanilla sponge.
Follow along with our easy baking instructions in UK & US measurements to make this Manor House Sultana Cake.
If you don't want to commit to baking a larger cake, but still want a delicious sultana-filled cake, why not try making our rock cakes, Queen Cakes or fruit flapjacks?
What is Manor House Sultana cake?
If you love Mr Kipling's Manor House cake this recipe is for you! It is the closest thing to it we have made, we all know he does not share his secret recipe! But I can tell you this is exceedingly good 🙂
Making Homemade Sultana Cake
This is a quick and easy cake to put together! As long as you measure all ingredients out, there is no way of failing!
See our recipe card and step by step slide show on how we made our Manor House Sultana cake, more tips for ingredients and instructions can be found below the card.
📖 Step by Step Recipe
Manor House Sultana Cake
Ingredients
- 215 grams (1 ¾ cups) Plain flour
- 225 grams (1 cup) Unsalted Butter
- 200 grams (1 cup) Caster sugar
- 1 tablespoon Cornflour - mixed with 3 tablespoon water
- 3 medium Eggs
- 1 teaspoon Baking powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 80 grams (½ cup) Sultanas
Instructions
- Preheat Oven to 160°C (fan) 320 F
- Put sultanas in a saucepan with enough water to cover them, bring to the boil. Then turn the heat off and allow them to sit for 10 minutes whilst you prepare the sponge mix.80 grams (½ cup) Sultanas
- Beat the sugar and butter together until creamy ( we used a cake mixer to help speed it up), add 3 eggs and stir to combined. Add Vanilla extract.225 grams (1 cup) Unsalted Butter, 200 grams (1 cup) Caster sugar, 3 medium Eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Make a cornflour slurry using 1 tablespoon cornflour with 1 tablespoon of water, stir until no lumps and then add another 2 tablespoon of water. Pour into cake mixture and stir.1 tablespoon Cornflour
- Sift flour into the bowl and finally add baking powder. Mix all together.Add a tablespoon of flour in with the drained sultanas to coat in flour (this helps stop them sinking)215 grams (1 ¾ cups) Plain flour, 1 teaspoon Baking powder, 80 grams (½ cup) Sultanas
- Fold the sultanas into the mix. Place in a greased springform cake base I used a 20cm / 8inch round one and flatten the mixture as best you can.80 grams (½ cup) Sultanas
- Bake for 1 hour, leave to cool and sprinkle with extra sugar before serving.
Video
Nutrition
Updated on 07/03/2025 to improve blog post image layout and include more cake recipe suggestions.
How many sultanas to use in Manor House cake recipe?
We think less is more regarding the amount of sultanas to add. Of course, if you want more, go ahead!
We used ½ cup (80g), which as seen in the pictures, gives a lightly fruited cake. Feel free to double or even triple it if you want.
How to make Sultanas plump and juicy?
Put sultanas in a saucepan with enough water to cover them and bring to a boil. Then, turn the heat off and allow them to sit for 10 minutes whilst you prepare the sponge mix.
Beat the sugar and butter until creamy (we used a mixer to help speed it up).
Add three eggs and stir to combine.
Add Vanilla Extract
Make a cornflour slurry using 1 tablespoon cornflour with 1 tablespoon of water, stir until no lumps and then add another 2 tablespoon of water. Pour into cake mixture and stir.
Sift flour into the bowl and finally add baking powder.
Mix all together.
How to stop sultanas from sinking into a cake
After the sultanas have been plumped from the boiling method and had 10 minutes to swell, drain the sultanas. Add a tablespoon of flour and toss the sultanas to be coated in flour.
Fold the sultanas into the mix. Place in a greased springform cake base I used a 20cm / 8inch round one and flatten the mixture as best you can.
Cook in a preheated oven at 160C (fan) /320F for 1 hour.
There you have it, a perfectly well-made Classic Sultana cake. Best served with a nice cup of tea!
Add a sprinkle of more sugar to the cake before serving it to your guests! Demerara sugar is best. However, this time, I did not have it to hand, so I used granulated sugar, which was still good!
Luke chose this for me to cook him for his birthday cake this year. Wonderfully scrumptious! We love a classic British Bake, our Madeira cake recipe is another of our favourites!
How to store Sultana Cake?
This cake keeps well. Store in a large airtight container or wrap well with cling film/ foil (ensure completely covered air will dry it out) at room temperature for up to 7 days.
That's if it will last that long before it gets eaten!
Looking for another fruit-filled recipe? Check out our classic British recipe for Bread Pudding.
More Cake Recipes
If you're looking for a delicious cake to wow your guests, we have a variety of cakes from Parkin Cake, chocolate Victoria sponge or a lemon drizzle cake or small chocolate chip cupcakes to choose from.
- Easy Fairy Cakes with Sprinkles
- Queen Cakes - Raisin Cupcakes
- Giant Cookie with Chocolate Chips
- Parkin Cake - Lancashire Gingerbread Cake
Hope you enjoy this Manor House Sultana cake as much as we do, please let us know in the comments how you get on.
Chichi | Air Fryer Yum says
I love sultana cake. They remind me of light fruit cakes. So moist and delicious.
Kay says
Thank you Chchi
This sultana cake is lovely, it Lukes Favourite lol
Let us know what you think when you make it?
Enjoy!!
Katherine says
Oooh wow, how amazing to have a copycat Mr Kiplings! Looks perfect.
Kay says
Thanks, Catherine
Really glad you liked the manor house cake 🙂
Toni says
This is the first time I tried it and definitely not the last!! It was so good and amazing! Everyone love it.
Kay says
Thanks, Toni
Really glad everyone enjoyed our sultana cake 🙂
Helen says
I love sultanas so this is right up my street! It looks like it would be perfect with a nice cup of tea 🙂
Kay says
Thank you for the comment and rating
This manor house cake goes perfect with a good cup of tea 🙂
Enjoy!!
Lisa Huff says
The perfect cake to have with afternoon tea. Although I'd probably eat it for breakfast or dessert too!
Kay says
Thanks, Lisa
This cake perfect for afternoon tea but t are so right this can be eaten anytime of the day lol 🙂
Liz says
Made this cake twice both times came out perfect had to give it an extra 10 minutes but tasted just like Manor cake delicious
Kay says
Hi Liz, Thank you for your message, we love to hear people are enjoying our recipes as much as we do! This is one of our favourite cakes to bake and eat too! This weekend we created another homemade cake which was a huge success, we hope to share it on here this week!
Pat says
I had to leave it on for another 10 minutes on160F as it was a bit moist and it's a new oven
Pat says
I had to leave the cake on for another 10 minutes I had it on 160F it was still a little bit moist and it's a new oven
Kay says
Thank you Pat for letting us know, hope you enjoyed the cake?
Rona Gregory says
it should be 160C! If you are Farenheit like me you should have it on 320F 🙂
Neil Ellis says
Great recipe which worked a treat. I found that 45mins was enough time to bake - now I have read the recipe again I had set the oven to 180 not 160. I substituted the fresh eggs for dried powered egg which I had bought during the first lockdown when fresh eggs were as rare as hen's teeth in London. I find dried powdered eggs works really well in cake baking, which were used during the 2nd WW, so I have carried on using it. The cake looked great and makes the perfect centre piece for afternoon tea in the garden. Thanks for this recipe and clear instructions.
Kay says
Hi Neil
Thank you so much for the comment and rating, it really is appreciated 🙂
Never tried this recipe with dried powdered egg but I will have to give it a try
Really glad you liked the manor house cake recipe, always great for afternoon tea 😉
Matt says
Never seen a cornflour slurry added to cake before whats it do improve texture?
Kay says
Hi Matt Thanks for your question
We added the cornstarch to the cake mixture as it helps give the manor house cake a crumbly and tender texture
Hope this helps and you enjoy the recipe 🙂
Beth Sachs says
What a classic this is! I love simple fruit cakes like this. So comforting and reminds me of my Gran.
Kay says
Hi Beth
This is a classic cake, which I had round my Nans as a kid always brings back great memories 🙂
Hope you enjoy the cake!!
Claudia Lamascolo says
This Manor House Sultana Cake recipe looks really mouthwatering! I love all the ingredients!
Kay says
Thanks, Claudia, for the kind words 🙂
Hope you enjoy the cake!!
Neli Howard says
This looks wonderful and I’d love to have a piece alongside my iced coffee in the morning.
Kay says
Hi Neil
That sound really good, trying this with iced coffee, will have to give that one a go 🙂
Enjoy!!
Catherine says
My goodness the batter alone is beautiful! It's so whipped and creamy...what a gorgeous cake. I have to make this soon...perfect with tea!
Kay says
Hi Cathrine, you are spot on with this comment, this is the best cake to have with a cup of tea lol
Hope you enjoy the cake and thanks for the comment!!
Michelle says
This sultana cake looks absolutely light and delicious! Can't wait to try it!
Kay says
Thanks, Michelle
When you do try this cake, it goes perfect with a good cup of tea 🙂
Enjoy!!
Gilly says
Made this cake for my husband and daughter who love Manor house cake , They said delicious 10/10, it was very easy to make.I sprinkled golden caster sugar on mine before I put into the oven.
Kay says
Hi Gilly
Thank you so much for the comment and rating, it's much appreciated 🙂
So glad you liked this recipe, this is Luke favourite cake, always goes lovely with a cup of tea!
Enjoy