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Black Cake

A dense and fragrant Caribbean holiday cake made with soaked fruit puree, warm spices, dark browning, and rum.

150 minMediumServes 12420 cal/serving

CaribbeanDessertOvenStandardNut-FreeSoy-FreeSesame-FreeLow-SodiumPork-FreeNightshade-Free

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Ingredients

  • 3 cups rum-soaked dried fruit puree, blended
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup dark brown sugar
  • 4 large eggs, beaten
  • 1/4 cup burnt sugar browning
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon and nutmeg
  • 1/4 cup dark rum

Instructions

  1. 1

    Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a springform cake pan.

  2. 2

    In a large bowl, cream 1 cup softened unsalted butter and 1 cup dark brown sugar together until light and fluffy.

  3. 3

    Gradually beat in 4 beaten large eggs until fully incorporated.

  4. 4

    Stir in 1/4 cup burnt sugar browning and 3 cups blended rum-soaked dried fruit puree.

  5. 5

    Sift in 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking powder, and 1 tsp ground cinnamon and nutmeg, stirring gently until mixed.

  6. 6

    Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 2 hours until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.

  7. 7

    Drizzle 1/4 cup dark rum over warm cake immediately after removing from oven.

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Questions

How long does Black Cake take?

As written, 150 minutes: 30 of prep and 120 of cooking. The longest single stretch is step 6 (2 hours): "Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 2 hours until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean."

What should Black Cake look like when it is ready?

Go by the cues in the method rather than the clock. Step 6: cook until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.

Do I need any special equipment for Black Cake?

Beyond a knife and a board, the method uses a springform pan (step 1) and skewers (step 6).

What can I use instead of baking powder in Black Cake?

The entry for Black Cake calls for 1 tsp baking powder. In its place: For each teaspoon, use a quarter teaspoon of baking soda plus half a teaspoon of cream of tartar.

Can I make Black Cake dairy-free?

Yes. The dairy in Black Cake is 1 cup unsalted butter, softened. Swap the butter for olive oil where it melts, or a plant-based block butter where it is creamed. The richness shifts slightly, but the method does not change.

Can I make Black Cake gluten-free?

Yes. The gluten in Black Cake is 2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted. Swap the flour for a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking blend (where it only thickens a sauce, half as much cornstarch also works). Everything else proceeds as written.

Does Black Cake contain eggs?

Yes: 4 large eggs, beaten. The full allergen list for this entry is gluten, dairy and eggs. Packaged ingredients vary by brand, so check labels if the allergy is serious.

Serve it with

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