Babados Dark Cake
Barbadians make Black Cake for weddings, birthdays and at Christimas time. Indeed, no Christmas holiday is felt to be complete without black Cake. People from many of the islands make a similar cake. This Black Cake derived from the British Plum Pudding which is a must on their Christmas menu.
Yield
16 servingsPrep
Cook
Ready
Ingredients
Amount | Measure | Ingredient | Features |
---|---|---|---|
1 | pound |
raisins, seedless
seedless dark |
|
1 | pound |
raisins, seedless
seedless, golden |
|
1 | pound |
currants
|
|
½ | pound |
candied cherries
|
|
½ | pound |
mixed candied peel
|
* |
½ | pound |
prunes
pitted |
|
½ | pound |
dates
|
|
1 | pound |
almonds
skin removed |
|
½ | teaspoon |
salt
|
|
½ | pint |
rum
dark Barbadian |
* |
1 | bottle |
stout beer
eg. Guiness® |
* |
1 | cup |
port wine
|
* |
1 | pound |
butter
sweet |
|
¼ | pound |
butter
irish style |
|
½ | pound |
sugar
|
|
12 | large |
eggs
seperated |
|
1 | pound |
cake flour
|
|
½ | teaspoon |
salt
|
|
1 | teaspoon |
baking powder
|
|
1 ½ | teaspoons |
cinnamon
ground |
|
1 ½ | teaspoons |
allspice
ground |
|
¼ | teaspoon |
nutmeg
fresh ground |
|
¼ | teaspoon |
cloves
ground |
|
¼ | teaspoon |
mace
ground |
|
½ | pint |
molasses
|
* |
1 | lime |
limes
fresh, juice of |
* |
1 | tablespoon |
lime zest
grated |
|
1 | teaspoon |
almond extract
|
* |
1 | teaspoon |
essence
|
* |
Ingredients
Amount | Measure | Ingredient | Features |
---|---|---|---|
453.6 | g |
raisins, seedless
seedless dark |
|
453.6 | g |
raisins, seedless
seedless, golden |
|
453.6 | g |
currants
|
|
226.8 | g |
candied cherries
|
|
226.8 | g |
mixed candied peel
|
* |
226.8 | g |
prunes
pitted |
|
226.8 | g |
dates
|
|
453.6 | g |
almonds
skin removed |
|
2.5 | ml |
salt
|
|
237 | ml |
rum
dark Barbadian |
* |
1 | bottle |
stout beer
eg. Guiness® |
* |
237 | ml |
port wine
|
* |
453.6 | g |
butter
sweet |
|
113.4 | g |
butter
irish style |
|
226.8 | g |
sugar
|
|
12 | large |
eggs
seperated |
|
453.6 | g |
cake flour
|
|
2.5 | ml |
salt
|
|
5 | ml |
baking powder
|
|
7.5 | ml |
cinnamon
ground |
|
7.5 | ml |
allspice
ground |
|
1.3 | ml |
nutmeg
fresh ground |
|
1.3 | ml |
cloves
ground |
|
1.3 | ml |
mace
ground |
|
237 | ml |
molasses
|
* |
1 | lime |
limes
fresh, juice of |
* |
15 | ml |
lime zest
grated |
|
5 | ml |
almond extract
|
* |
5 | ml |
essence
|
* |
Directions
Wash raisins and currents, add cherries, mixed peel, prunes, dates and almonds. Mix together and grind in a food processor. Place in a clay crock and soak in rum, stout and wine for a mininum of one week. (May soak as long as a year. Add more rum and stir occasionally if you do).
Cream the sugars and butter until light and fluffy, beat in egg yolks from the separated eggs, and add essences.
In a separate container sift together the flour, baking powder, spices and salt. Place the steeped fruit mixture into a large mixing bowl, stir in molasses. Add butter mixture to fruit mixture and then add dry ingredient gradually to the wet mixture, stirring well after each addition. Fold in beaten egg whites and lime juice.
Spoon the mixture into cake pans which have been lined well with greaseproof paper. Place a pan of boiling water on the bottom shelf of a 325 degree, and place pans with cake on top shelf.
Bake for approximately 2 hours or until tester comes out clean.
Cool in pan before removing. When completely cool, place in an airtight plastic container.
This cake will last for as much as a year without refrigeration. Pour rum or wine over cake from time to time to keep it moist. If you prefer to refrigerate, may slice and warm before serving.