How many calories are in one queen cake?

November 6, 2025 •

4 min read

The calorie count for a queen cake can vary significantly, with store-bought versions often falling between 100 and 120 calories per serving. This number changes based on factors like size, recipe variations, and whether it's store-bought or homemade. A standard 27-gram Madeira queen cake from Tesco, for instance, provides 107 kcal.

Quick Summary

The calorie content of a queen cake is not fixed, with figures ranging widely based on ingredients and portion size. Factors like added fruits, icing, and whether it's a commercial or homemade product all influence the final count.

Key Points

Variable Calories: The calorie count for a single queen cake varies significantly based on its size, recipe, and whether it's plain, fruity, or iced.
Average Commercial Value: Most store-bought queen cakes, like those from Tesco or SuperValu, contain between 100 and 120 calories per unit.
Homemade vs. Store-Bought: Homemade queen cakes can have a higher calorie count if made with richer ingredients, while store-bought ones are typically more standardised and controlled.
Macronutrient Breakdown: Calories are primarily sourced from carbohydrates (sugar and flour) and fats (butter or margarine), with a low protein contribution.
Calorie Reduction Tips: To reduce calories, consider decreasing sugar, substituting some fat with low-fat alternatives, and controlling portion sizes by baking smaller cakes.
Ingredient Impact: Additions like dried fruit or icing will increase the total calorie and sugar content of the cake.

What Determines the Calorie Count of a Queen Cake?

Understanding how many calories are in one queen cake is not as simple as it sounds, as the final number is dependent on several key variables. A queen cake, a traditional, small, and simple bun, has roots in 18th-century English and American baking. Its caloric value is influenced by the specific recipe used, the portion size, and any additions like fruit or icing.

The core ingredients of a queen cake are typically flour, butter or margarine, sugar, and eggs. The ratio of these ingredients is the primary driver of the calorie content. A recipe using more butter and sugar will inevitably be higher in calories than a lighter, plainer version. Moreover, the weight of the finished cake is a crucial factor. A larger, denser cake will have more calories than a smaller, airy one. Commercial products, such as those from SuperValu or Tesco, are standardized, providing consistent nutritional data per cake. However, homemade versions can vary dramatically depending on the baker’s method and ingredients.

Recipe Variations and Their Calorie Impact

Different recipe choices directly affect the final calorie count. Consider the difference between a traditional recipe and one with modern modifications.

Plain vs. Fruity: Many traditional recipes include dried fruits like currants or sultanas. While these add a small number of calories, the primary difference often comes from the sugar and fat content. For example, a plain Tesco queen cake contains 108 kcal, while a fruit version from Matt Reilly contains 378 kcal per 100g, indicating significant recipe differences beyond just the fruit.
Icing and Decoration: Adding icing, sprinkles, or other decorations significantly increases the sugar and calorie load. An iced queen cake from SuperValu has 120 kcal for a 28g cake, whereas a plain version might be slightly lower.
Homemade vs. Commercial: Homemade cakes give the baker full control over ingredients. Using less sugar or opting for a lighter fat alternative can lower the calorie count. Conversely, a rich, butter-heavy homemade recipe can easily exceed the calorie count of a standard store-bought bun.

Calorie Comparison: Store-Bought Queen Cakes

Commercial brands offer a convenient benchmark for understanding the calories in a queen cake. It is important to note that even within the commercial space, brands differ based on their specific recipes and portion sizes. The table below compares the nutritional information for a single queen cake from various vendors, based on available data.


Feature	Tesco Madeira Queen (27g)	SuperValu Madeira Queen (28g)	Typical Homemade Queen Cake
Energy (Calories)	107 kcal	120 kcal	186 kcal
Total Fat	4.8g	6.4g	9g
Saturated Fat	0.5g	1.5g	5g
Carbohydrate	14.4g	14g	24g
Sugars	8.5g	7g	0.3g*
Protein	1.4g	1.4g	3g

*Note: The exceptionally low sugar content for the homemade cake in the source may indicate a transcription error or an unusual recipe. For a typical homemade cake, the sugar content would be considerably higher.

Breakdown of Macronutrients

Calories in a queen cake are primarily derived from carbohydrates and fats. Protein contributes the least to the total energy.

Carbohydrates: This is the largest calorie source in most queen cakes, coming primarily from flour and sugar. Refined flours and high sugar content mean a higher number of simple carbs, leading to quick energy release and subsequent crashes.
Fats: Butter or margarine is a significant source of fat, and therefore calories. The table shows a clear difference in fat content between a store-bought cake and a typical homemade one, which often uses more butter for flavour and texture.
Protein: The protein content from eggs and a small amount from flour is typically low and makes up a minor portion of the overall calories.

How to Make a Lighter Queen Cake

For those who love queen cakes but want a lower-calorie option, making them at home is the best approach. By adjusting certain ingredients, you can significantly reduce the calorie and sugar content without sacrificing too much flavour.

Tips for Reducing Calories:

Reduce Sugar: Use less sugar than the recipe calls for, or substitute some of the sugar with a natural alternative like stevia or erythritol. Many modern baking recipes offer reduced-sugar variations.
Use Less Fat: Margarine or butter can be reduced. Some recipes suggest substituting a portion of the fat with a low-fat alternative like applesauce or a low-fat yoghurt, though this can alter the texture. Start with a small substitution to see how it affects the final product.
Add Extra Fibre: Incorporating whole wheat flour or adding extra fruit, like grated apple or puréed pear, can add bulk and fibre, making the cake more satisfying and nutrient-dense without relying on extra fat or sugar. Fibre also aids in regulating blood sugar levels.
Control Portion Size: Using smaller cupcake or muffin tins can naturally reduce the portion size and calorie count per cake. This is one of the most effective ways to manage caloric intake while still enjoying a treat.

To see some ingredient alternatives, you can explore recipes on nutrition tracking sites like Eat This Much.

Conclusion

While a definitive answer to how many calories are in one queen cake is impossible without specifying the recipe, most commercially available plain queen cakes fall within the 100-130 kcal range. Homemade versions, however, are highly variable and can be significantly higher, depending on the richness of the ingredients. By understanding the factors that influence the calorie content—primarily the ratio of fat, sugar, and flour—bakers can control the nutritional profile of their treats. Opting for a lighter homemade recipe with reduced sugar and fat, or simply choosing a smaller portion, allows one to enjoy this classic confection without overindulging.

Frequently Asked Questions

Queen cakes are generally simpler and smaller than most modern cupcakes, which often have thick, sugary icing and rich frosting, making them typically lower in calories. However, a heavily iced queen cake could have a similar calorie load to a plain cupcake.

Yes, you can substitute some or all of the sugar with a non-caloric or low-calorie sweetener. Keep in mind that this can affect the cake's texture, so it's best to research specific baking-friendly alternatives and adjust accordingly.

Adding dried fruit does increase the calorie count, but not drastically compared to other ingredients like butter and sugar. Some brands show a higher calorie density in their fruit queen cakes, but this is often due to an overall richer recipe rather than just the fruit.

While both are small cakes, queen cakes are typically baked in fluted tins or paper cups, and are traditionally flavoured with vanilla, lemon, or mace, often with currants. Madeleines are distinctly shell-shaped, usually with a buttery, citrus flavour, and have a sponge-like texture.

Burning off the calories depends on your body weight and activity level. As an example, burning off around 139 calories from a luxury queen cake could take about 17 minutes of jogging or bicycling.

A traditional queen cake is made using a creaming method with butter or margarine, sugar, flour, eggs, and baking powder. Many recipes also call for vanilla extract, milk, and dried fruits like currants or sultanas.

According to one recipe, queen cakes are meant to have a dense texture. To make a queen cake lighter and less dense, you can increase the amount of milk in the recipe, which will give the batter a dropping consistency.