Your Ultimate Guide To Barbados

Bajan Black Cake/Great Cake/Rum Cake

This delicacy in Barbados is mostly seen around the Christmas season. The black cake was once referred to as the British Plum Pudding or Christmas Figgy Pudding but with the inclusion of Barbados' rum and the substitution of some ingredients to a more Caribbean nature, it has now been transformed to a truly memorable product known as a Bajan Black Cake.

This cake is made for special occasions such as birthdays, weddings and anniversaries. The cake comprises of fruits especially cherries, raisins, prunes, orange rind and as the name suggest rum. Differences with the original recipe are the use of Barbados' rum replacing the brandy. Preparations for this local delicacy are done 2 - 3 weeks in advance, where as the British Plum Pudding was done 24 hours in advance.

The ingredients are mixed, left to soak in good ole Bajan Rum for this lengthy duration to give the cake a nice strong but unforgettable flavor. Along with soaking the ingredients, the finished product is usually showered with blessings of a nice Falernum, (an alcoholic syrup used in the Caribbean) Brandy or Barbados' rum to give it a nice moist exterior. As you may have guessed, the level of duration for soaking and the quantity of alcohol used should change depending on the consumer.

Fine wine enthusiasts or social drinkers would use a complimenting amount of any liquor of their choice to satisfy their friends, family or guests. Done correctly these cakes can make for a great gift or lovely dessert. Two advantages of this cake are that it can be stored for as long as 2 months in a cool place and this cake is well known for creating a very nonchalant ambience among those partaking in its "unique" flavor. Happy Baking!