Jamaican cake is a deliciously spiced, warming bake that is perfect for the colder months. Try this instead of your normal Christmas cake and you'll never look back. But remember, the key is steeping the cake in plenty of rum during the run up to the festivities!
HOW TO MAKE JAMAICAN CAKE
Find more Christmas cake recipes
Ingredients
- 250g (9oz) dried ready to eat prunes
- 200g (7oz) dried ready to eat dates
- 450g (1lb) raisins
- 250g (9oz) sultanas
- 200ml (7floz) port
- 6 tbsp rum or brandy
- 100g (4oz) unrefined cherries
For the cake mixture:
- 250g (9oz) butter
- 250g (9oz) dark muscovado sugar
- 5 size 3 eggs, beaten
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 250g (9oz) self raising flour
- 1 tbsp mixed spice
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 100g (4oz) glace cherries to decorate if liked
You will need:
- 9in 23cm round , deep cake tin, greased and lined with baking parchment
Method
Chop the prunes and dates with scissors and place in a mixing bowl with the raisins and sultanas. Pour over the port and rum or brandy and cover with cling film. Leave for 1 day or up to a week to soak, stirring occasionally. Do not soak the cherries.
Set the oven to 160c, 140c, fan, gas 3. Place the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer until light and creamy, then gradually beat in the eggs until smooth, adding a little flour if the mixture curdles. Stir the flour, spices and 100g glace cherries into the creamed mixture with the soaked fruit. Mix well, then spoon into the cake tin and level the top
Bake for 30 mins, then reduce the oven temperature to 150c,130c fan, gas 2 for a further 1 1/2 –1 3/4 hours until a skewer comes out clean. Allow to cool for 1 hour then turn out and cool on a wire rack. Decorate with extra cherries if liked. This cake will keep for 2 weeks in a cake tin, but as it is very moist should not be kept for any longer. If liked, slice and freeze.
-
Christmas Cake Tray Bake
For a quick and easy alternative to Christmas cake, try out this Christmas Cake Tray Bake. It's packed with all the delicious fruit you'd expect and is so quick!
By Samuel Goldsmith • Published
-
Simnel cake recipe
Make this Simnel cake recipe up to a week ahead of when you want to eat it for a quick and easy pudding when you're hosting
By Samuel Goldsmith • Published
-
Easter carrot cake recipe
Our Easter carrot cake recipe makes a four-layered cake packed with fruit, nuts, and coconut. We think this might just be the best carrot cake ever!
By Jane Curran • Published
-
Raspberry madeleines
These petite cakes are made even prettier with bottlegreen raspberry cordial icing and a sprinkle of dried rose petals
By Jessica Ransom • Published
-
Pomegranate and elderflower semifreddo
The subtle flavours in this frozen Pomegranate and elderflower semifreddo loaf are perfect for a summer dinner al fresco
By Jessica Ransom • Published
-
Eton mess tart
We’ve turned a traditional British pudding into a gorgeous white chocolate tart. Summer puddings don’t get any better than this Eton Mess tart.
By Rosie Conroy • Published
-
Bake Off fans shocked by erotic cake on Stand Up To Cancer celebrity special
Fans of The Great British Bake Off were shocked by the erotic cake made by actor Blake Harrison
By Laura Harman • Published
-
Royal fans are convinced this sweet floral creation is Lilibet's first birthday cake
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry celebrated their daughter's birthday last week
By Sarah Finley • Published
-
The sweet hidden detail on Duchess Camilla's 75th birthday cake you may have missed
The royal celebrates her big birthday this Sunday...
By Sarah Finley • Published