Jamaican Fruit Cake also known as Black Cake, Rum Cake or Christmas Cake, is a rich dark rum soaked fruits cake.
It is a very popular cake during the Christmas Holiday, for Weddings, Birthdays and even Easter.
Actually, Black Cake is eaten right throughout the year because there are always fruits soaking in some rum the year before.
However, this Fruit Cake is mostly baked during Christmas time.
Yes, every Jamaican household has a Fruit Cake or three to eat right throughout the holiday.
For Weddings and Birthdays, it is normally covered with royal icing with beautiful decorations.
I am not a big fan of the royal icing, but I would still eat the cake.
A slice of this cake and a glass of Sorrel is the best thing during Christmas time.
Whether you can bake it yourself or buy it or beg a slice, it is surely a favorite during the Christmas Holiday.
What kind of fruits are used in the Fruit Cake
The fruits that are used in a fruit cake is what you choose.
Some persons prefers to only use raisins and prunes in their cake.
However, too much prunes can be too bitter.
You can use any of these fruits:
- Raisins
- Prunes
- Currants
- Mixed Peels
- Cranberries
- Cherries
For this recipe, I used a combination of cherries, raisins, prunes, mixed peels and cranberries.
To blend or not to blend soaked Fruits
For this recipe, I choose to blend my soaked fruits because I don’t like to taste pieces of fruits when I am enjoying a slice of this delicious cake.
Others like to eat pieces of fruits in their cakes so they choose not to blend it.
I have come to realized over the past years that American Fruit Cake vs Jamaican Fruit Cake is quite different.
When I first came here in America, I went on a train ride with my hubby and dessert was Fruit Cake.
However, it was nothing close to the Jamaican Fruit Cake.
You could taste every piece of fruits in the cake, which was very awkward for me.
But there is no wrong or right way about it.
It is just a personal preference to blend or not to blend.
What is the best rum to soak fruits in for fruit cake
The best rum for fruit cake or black cake is white rum or fruit wine.
Traditionally, the rum that almost all Jamaicans used are Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum and Red Label Wine.
I have seen others using Cherry Brandy and Spiced Rum.
You can use your favorite white rum or wine, it’s your choice.
How do you soak fruits for black fruit cake
To soak your fruits for your fruit cake, it depends on your preference and the time you have on your hands.
Fruits are soaked in rum for up to a year or for at least a week.
Check out this post for more information on soaking your fruits.
Can fruit soaked in alcohol go bad
Fruits that are soaked in alcohol will not go bad.
The alcohol is a preservative.
It may lose the flavor or color, but it will not go bad.
In fact, the longer the fruits are soaked, the better it is when baking.
Traditionally, fruits are soaked in alcohol from the January (after Christmas) to December, almost an year.
How to store Jamaican Black Fruit Cake
You can store this Jamaican Black Fruit Cake on the counter top in an air tight container tightly wrapped with plastic wrap or aluminum foil paper for about 3 to 5 days (if it stays that long).
Then place it in the refrigerator for up to a week.
With the rum in the cake, it helps to preserve much longer than the regular cake.
I let it stay on the cake stand that’s in the pictures.
It can also be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
I always slice up the cake and individually wrap each slice before freezing it.
This makes it easier when you are ready to enjoy it.
How to make Jamaican Fruit Cake from scratch
Firstly, sift and whisk all the dry ingredients in a medium bowl and set aside.
Secondly, cream the sugar and butter together. Add the eggs one at a time. Then add the rose water, vanilla extract, almond extract, lime juice and lime zest and mix together.
Thirdly, add the blended fruits, browning sauce and molasses. Stir until fully combined.
Fourthly, little by little, add the flour mixture until all is combined. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking pan.
Finally, bake for 2 to 2 1/2 hours or until a wooden toothpick or a dinner knife is inserted in the middle and it comes out clean.
Pour some rum on the top of the cake as soon as it is finish baking. This helps the cake to be moist.
Allow to cool and then cover with aluminum paper or plastic paper and let it continue to soak until you are ready to slice and serve.
Enjoy!
Jamaican Fruit Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) Unsalted Butter
- 2 cups Brown Sugar
- 8 large Eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon Lime Zest
- 1 1/2 teaspoon Lime Juice
- 1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
- 2 teaspoon Rose Water
- 1/2 teaspoon Almond Extract
- 3 cups Blended Fruits
- 4 to 6 Tablespoon Homemade Browning Sauce
- 3 Tablespoon Molasses
- 2 3/4 cups All Purpose Flour
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon Powder
- 1 teaspoon Nutmeg
- 2 teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Mixed Spice
Instructions
- Prepare the Blended Fruits. Set aside.
- Grease a 10 inch Baking Pan with butter. Line the baking pan with parchment paper around the sides and bottom too. Set aside for later.
- Preheat the oven to 300 Degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare a water bath by pouring some boiling water in a baking pan and put it at the bottom rack of the oven. This will ensure the cake do not dry out.
- Sift and whisk together the dry ingredients: all purpose flour, salt, baking powder, cinnamon powder, nutmeg and mixed spice in a large bowl.
- In a mixing bowl, add the unsalted butter and brown sugar and cream together, until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time. Then add the lime zest, lime juice, vanilla, rose water, almond extract and mix together.
- Add the blended fruits, molasses and browning sauce and mix together.
- Gradually fold in the dry ingredients half cup at a time into the wet ingredients. If you want the mixture to be much darker, then add more browning sauce after adding the dry ingredients.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared baking pan and place in the oven on the middle rack.
- Bake for about 2 to 2 1/2 hours or until a dinner knife or wooden toothpick is inserted in the middle of the cake and it come out clean. Please check cake from time to time, as baking times varies due to different ovens.
- Remove the cake once it is baked and pour a little Red Label Wine or Wray & Nephew White Rum or even both on the top of the cake.
- Allow to cool, then slice and serve.
Notes:
- Prepare a water bath to prevent the cake from burning or drying out.
- The rum you used is your choice.
- You can choose to blend the soaked fruits or leave them just as.
- To get a much darker fruit cake, depends on the amount of Browning Sauce you use in the cake.
- Make sure to check the cake from time to time, since each oven varies with heat.
- Pour some Red Label Wine or Wray & Nephew White Rum over the cake after taking it out of the oven. This help to keep the cake moist.
Additional Jamaican Recipes
- Jamaican Cornmeal Pudding
- Coco Bread
- Jamaican Beef Patty
- Cornmeal Porridge
- Jamaican Fried Dumpling
- Turn Cornmeal
- Jamaican Easter Spice Bun
Please let me know what you think about this Jamaican Fruit Cake in the comment section below.
Thanks for stopping by and please come back again.
Blessings and Love always, as you carry on, on your YouNique Journey!
Jamaican Fruit Cake
Jamaican Fruit Cake also known as Black Cake, Rum Cake or Christmas Cake, is a rich dark rum soaked fruits cake. It is a very popular cake during the Christmas Holiday, for Weddings, Birthdays and even Easter.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) Unsalted Butter
- 2 cups Brown Sugar
- 8 large Eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon Lime Zest
- 1 1/2 teaspoon Lime Juice
- 1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
- 2 teaspoon Rose Water
- 1/2 teaspoon Almond Extract
- 3 cups Blended Fruits
- 4 to 6 Tablespoon Homemade Browning Sauce
- 3 Tablespoon Molasses
- 2 3/4 cups All Purpose Flour
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon Powder
- 1 teaspoon Nutmeg
- 2 teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Mixed Spice
Instructions
- Prepare the Blended Fruits. Set aside.
- Grease a 10 inch Baking Pan with butter. Line the baking pan with parchment paper around the sides and bottom too. Set aside for later.
- Preheat the oven to 300 Degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare a water bath by pouring some boiling water in a baking pan and put it at the bottom rack of the oven. This will ensure the cake do not dry out.
- Sift and whisk together the dry ingredients: all purpose flour, salt, baking powder, cinnamon powder, nutmeg and mixed spice in a large bowl.
- In a mixing bowl, add the unsalted butter and brown sugar and cream together, until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time. Then add the lime zest, lime juice, vanilla, rose water, almond extract and mix together.
- Add the blended fruits and browning sauce and mix together.
- Gradually fold in the dry ingredients half cup at a time into the wet ingredients. If you want the mixture to be much darker, then add more browning sauce after adding the dry ingredients.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared baking pan and place in the oven on the middle rack.
- Bake for about 2 to 2 1/2 hours or until a dinner knife or wooden toothpick is inserted in the middle of the cake and it come out clean. Please check cake from time to time, as baking times varies due to different ovens.
- Remove the cake once it is baked and pour a little Red Label Wine or Wray & Nephew White Rum or even both on the top of the cake.
- Allow to cool, then slice and serve.
Notes
- Prepare a water bath to prevent the cake from burning or drying out.
- The rum you used is your choice.
- You can choose to blend the soaked fruits or leave them just as.
- To get a much darker fruit cake, depends on the amount of Browning Sauce you use in the cake.
- Make sure to check the cake from time to time, since each oven varies with heat.
- Pour some Red Label Wine or Wray & Nephew White Rum over the cake after taking it out of the oven. This help to keep the cake moist.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 342Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 128mgSodium: 1025mgCarbohydrates: 66gFiber: 2gSugar: 41gProtein: 8g
The nutritional information that is provided, is computer generated and therefore it is an estimate. Please do your own research with the ingredients that are listed here, if you have any concern about any specific diet or your health.
Patrick Clarke
Monday 18th of November 2024
Hi how does one make home made browning ? thank you
Yanique Vincent
Thursday 28th of November 2024
Hi Patrick, here is the link to my homemade browning sauce: https://ayouniquejourney.com/homemade-browning-sauce/ Thank you.
Raquel Donaldson
Thursday 14th of December 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ recipe Yanique. About to make again, I’m out of Molasses. What can I substitute for same or should I just leave it out completely.
Raquel Donaldson
Thursday 14th of December 2023
@Yanique Vincent, 5⭐️ Review left!
Raquel Donaldson
Thursday 14th of December 2023
@Yanique Vincent, Gratitude for the timely reply. I’ll definitely keep you posted on what I decide.
Yanique Vincent
Thursday 14th of December 2023
Hi Racquel, Thank you for the 5 star. Molasses serves 2 purpose... to add some color (darkness) and sweetness. You could leave it out (it's up to you) or maybe use some honey or maple syrup. If you don't mind, please add the 5 star in the review section. Once you are on that recipe and click on Jump to recipe, then it should be right before you see the list of ingredients. I really appreciate it and please let me know what you end up doing. Thanks again for giving it a try.
Pep
Saturday 3rd of December 2022
Yanique would you mind telling what “browning sauce “ is please? I’m in the Uk, thank you
Yanique Vincent
Saturday 3rd of December 2022
Hi Pep, Not a problem. Browning Sauce is a dark sauce that is used to add flavor to gravy, stew and cakes. It is made from burning brown sugar. I made a post about making your very own. Here is the link: https://ayouniquejourney.com/homemade-browning-sauce/ Go to that page and you will get more information on it and how to make your very own. Plus in the next few hours I will be posting a video of it on my YouTube page. I hope this helps.
Rose
Thursday 6th of January 2022
I have to tell you. I made this for Christmas to honor my late father. I been hesitating since October. it was a hit! I now have to make another. it was sooooo good! everyone loved it!!! I really don't know what to say... it was an emotional experience, because i really miss my dad. But between making and eating this, it brought back so many forgotten but wonderful memories of my childhood with him. Thank you for putting this out there. I'm always on your website looking for new things to try
Yanique Vincent
Thursday 6th of January 2022
Hi Rose, I am so sorry to hear that your Dad passed away. May his soul continue to rest in peace. My heart goes out to you and sending big hugs to you Rose. Thank you so much for making it and I am so glad it turned out good. Continue to keep his memories alive. Again, so sorry.
Denise
Saturday 27th of November 2021
Made this cake in vegan version came out fantastic!
Yanique Vincent
Saturday 4th of December 2021
Hi Denise, I am glad it turned out fantastic and happy you made it your own. Thanks for giving it a try.