Having a slice of black cake is something that most Guyanese appreciate. This rum-soaked cake is packed with dried fruits and brown sugar which gives it a unique taste. Black cake is made for various occasions and events such as weddings and parties. Making black cake can be a tedious task, so oftentimes the whole family gets involved in making this delicious cake. How is a black cake made? This article will show you how to make a mouthwatering black cake – Guyanese style!
Black Cake – Photo By Jonathunder – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12572454
About Black Cake
Black Cake renowned for its dark, almost black colour, bold flavour and condensed texture. For someone who has never eaten Black Cake, it might be mistaken for chocolate cake. Black Cake is however much darker-the colour gotten from the rich, brown sugar and preserved fruit. Black Cake can last for months upon end, even years if preserved properly by dousing with alcohol. Spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves add to the aroma of this unique cake. While Black Cake is a special Christmas treat, it is also made for weddings, and layered with delicious icing or frosting.
Making Black Cake Guyanese Style
A good Black Cake is defined by its texture-one of its most important aspect. The recipe for Black Cake vary by country but a few fundamental ingredients like preserved fruit, sugar and rum remains the same. Sometimes the recipe is a familial tradition and well guarded but if you’re lucky to get your hands on one of these recipes, you can be certain you are in for a treat!
Fruit Mixture: The fruit mixture mainly consists of a variety of preserved fruit. In Guyana, many Guyanese make their “fruits” as we would call it by themself with cashews and carambola being the most common ones used. To top it off, sweet cherries and raisins are added. The fruits are typically blended together in a soft mixture in a traditional hand mill. The fruits may also be soaked in rum.
Oven: Since Black Cake is more of pudding (soft and dense) it is best baked on a low temperature. The cake may be placed in a container then into a pot of water to bake like some Guyanese do. The amount of time for baking will depend on the temperature of your oven but you can bake the cake anywhere between 275-300 degrees.
Black Cake Guyanese Style
Ingredients:
- 1 lbs fruit mixture
- 1 lb all-purpose flour
- 1/4 lb butter
- 1/2 lb brown sugar (this produces the colour)
- 3 eggs
- 1 tsp high-quality vanilla extract
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ground cinnamon
- grated nutmeg
- ground clove
- vanilla essence
- one orange peel
- cherry brandy (to pour over cake)
Optional: cherries, chopped nuts
Method:
- Preheat oven 275 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a large bowl mix butter and sugar until the latter is dissolved into the butter.
- Add egg, one at a time and mix thoroughly.
- Mix in flour, salt and baking powder.
- Add fruit mixture, spices, orange peel and vanilla essence, combine thoroughly with a mixer.
- If you’re adding nuts and cherries, add them at this stage.
- Bake for about ninety (90) minutes.
- Remove from oven and instant pour brandy over the cake.
- Allow to cook and enjoy with some festive gingerbeer.
Interesting Tip
- To know if the cake is done, take a toothpick and insert it into the center. If nothing sticks to it when you remove it, your cake is done!
Watch This: Guyanese Black Cake Recipe
Black Cake In Guyana
Black cake is cherished in Guyana; a lot of people make it and enjoy eating it. To make a good Black Cake, it must be heavy yet soft and doused in enough alcohol which brings out the embodiment of flavour. The taste of alcohol must be subtle, so you can enjoy the cake. IT is essential for Black Cake to have a good height so that you can get a satisfying bite of cake. Follow the recipe above and make your own Guyanese Style Black Cake which you are bound to enjoy!
Article References:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rum_cake
- https://www.guyanatimesinternational.com/guyanese-black-cake-an-age-old-christmas-tradition/
Last Updated: 2020-07-09
