Mam's Black Cake - A Traditional Caribbean Christmas Delight

Mam's Black Cake is a traditional Caribbean dessert that is commonly enjoyed during Christmas celebrations. It is a rich and moist cake, filled with flavor from the combination of rum-soaked fruits and warm spices. This recipe captures the essence of this beloved treat and brings it to your home, making it perfect for the holiday season. With just a little time and effort, you can create a masterpiece that will impress your family and friends.

Ingredients

• 1 pound dried mixed fruits (raisins, currants, prunes, cherries)
• 1 cup dark rum
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1/2 cup browning sauce
• 1/2 cup mixed fruit jam
• 1/2 cup finely chopped almonds
• 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts
• 1/2 cup finely chopped cashews
• 3/4 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup rum (for soaking the cake after baking)

Directions

1. Place the dried mixed fruits in a large bowl and pour the dark rum over them. Cover the bowl and let the fruits soak overnight.
2. Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C). Grease and flour a 10-inch round cake pan.
3. In a separate large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
4. In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves. Gradually add this dry mixture to the butter mixture, alternating with the molasses, browning sauce, and mixed fruit jam. Mix well after each addition.
5. Fold in the soaked fruits along with any remaining rum in the bowl. Add the chopped almonds, walnuts, cashews, and breadcrumbs. Stir until well combined.
6. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake for about 2 to 2 1/2 hours, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
7. Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then, transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
8. Once the cake has cooled, poke several holes in the top with a skewer and drizzle the 1/4 cup of rum over it. Let the cake sit for at least 24 hours to allow the flavors to develop before serving.
9. Slice and serve the Mam's Black Cake, either plain or with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Enjoy!

Interesting Facts