Caribbean Christmas Cake (Known As Black Cake)

Lennie's Note:

I have never made this recipe; posted in response to a request. I worked with a woman from Guyana many years ago, and she brought a Black Cake to a Christmas party one year; it was fabulous!

• Total Time: 1 hrs 50 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 12

• 1/2 lb butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons browning sauce (helps to darken the cake, especially if you don't use dark rum in the cake) (optional)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup dark rum (brandy can be substituted, as can red wine)
• 1/4 lb mixed peel
• 1/4 lb cherries
• 1/4 lb mixed nuts (unsalted) or 1/4 lb nuts, of your choice
• 1/2 lb prune, chopped
• 1 lb raisins
• 1 lime, zest of, freshly grated
• 1 lemon, zest of

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325°F; spray a nine-inch cake pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
2. In a mixing bowl, beat together the butter, sugar, vanilla and browning until soft and creamy.
3. In a separate bowl, sift together the dry ingredients.
4. In a third bowl, beat the eggs with the rum.
5. Add egg mixture to butter mixture and thoroughly combine, then stir in zest, fruit and nuts.
6. Fold in flour mixture; do not overbeat.
7. Put batter into prepared pan and bake in preheated oven for approximately 90 minutes, or until cake tests done; may need longer.
8. Remove cake from pan when cool.

Reviews

[Country Bumpkin]

Loved it! I do not understand why everyone waits for Christmas to make these delightful concoctions, I do them year round, though sometime I cheat and have them in form of steamed pudding (very similar). Didn't have any browning sauce so I used a TBSP of chicory coffee instead. Super recipe.

[sandra burgher]

well what can i say,it was absolutely wonderful.It didn't last long.Now all the family want one for christmas.Thankyou so much.I guess i will be baking to christmas eve ha ha,I would change nothing about the recipe,i found it just perfect.

[Chef #1475068]

I love black cake, but I can't say that I'm the best baker. In the past, when I couldn't get it from family during Christmas, I would even order it online from websites like Aunt Eulie's. But I tried your recipe and I was so excited that it came out good. I am practicing so that I can feel confident to share my black cake with others.