Madeirans started to develop a tradition of manufacturing products and sweets that, combined with some of the region's most exotic fruits, resulted in winning recipes that have endured to this day, leaving a profound mark on traditional Madeira food.
Sugar cane molasses, a product made from sugar cane in the region, is a great asset in Madeira's confectionery. It gives many recipes their distinctive flavour. The honey cake and the honey biscuits are probably the best-known Madeiran sweets.