CARIBBEAN Black Cake or Rum Cake Black cake is everywhere in the Caribbean especially during the holidays, and as many Caribbean Islands there are in the region is as many different variations you will find, every island nation seems to have their national pride recipe. Its all good! Although black cake is descended from the British plum pudding or Figgy pudding dates back to 16th century England but for Caribbean-born folks and their children, it evokes nostalgia for the islands, where the baking was a solemnly observed annual ritual. Basically black cake is a Rum-Saturated cake. Traditionally, dried fruit is soaked in rum for months and then added to dough prepared with sugar, which has been caramelized by boiling in water. The result, also known as black cake, is similar to a fruitcake, with a lighter texture. INGREDIENTS • 1 cup pitted dates • 1 cup dried figs • 1 1/4 cups port wine • 1 1/4 cups white rum, such as Appleton • 1/2 cup sliced almonds • 1/2 cup brandied cherries with their liquid (or substitute maraschino cherries) • 1/2 cup currants • 1/2 cup candied orange peel • 1/2 cup dried prunes • 1/2 cup dark raisins • 1/2 cup golden raisins • Juice of 1 orange • 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, plus more for greasing cake pans • 2 cups flour, sifted • 2 cups brown sugar • 1 teaspoon baking powder • 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg • Pinch of salt • 1 teaspoon molasses • 1 teaspoon browning 5 eggs DIRECTIONS Add the dates, figs, 1 cup of the port, 1 cup of the rum, the almonds, brandied cherries with their liquid, currants, candied orange peel, prunes and dark and golden raisins to a food processor. Process this mixture until the dried fruit is broken down into smaller chunks. Stir in the orange juice. Allow it to soak in the rum for at least 2 hours 30 minutes, but preferably for 2 to 3 days. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 2 cake pans and line them with brown or wax paper. In a stand mixer, combine the butter, flour, brown sugar, baking powder, allspice, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, salt, molasses, browning and eggs. Slowly add the rum-soaked fruit to the mixer a little at a time and mix to combine all of the ingredients. Divide the cake batter between the prepared cake pans. Bake the cakes in a water bath by filling a large roasting pan halfway up with water and then setting the cake pans inside. Bake for 1 hour 30 minutes. Sprinkle the remaining port and rum on top of the cakes and let them cool. These cakes will last for days stored in parchment paper and plastic wrap and for weeks when frozen.
Posted on: Mon, 22 Dec 2014 17:07:09 +0000
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