Trinidad Black Cake

TRINI'S FAVORITE DURING THE CHRISTMAS SEASON

Black cake brings back a lot of  memories like“bussing ah lime” by friends and family or going house to house paranging and  being served a delicious slice of black cake along with some homemade wine and you are enjoying yourself even though it is 1 o’clock in the morning and you’re trying not to eat too much at this house, because you have three more houses to parang in before you reach home.

TRINIDAD'S BLACK CAKE.  DO ENJOY!!!!

5 DAYS BEFORE:  Chop the following, mix well and leave to soak.

1 lb. prunes

1 lb. raisins

1 lb. currants

¼ lb mixed peel

½ lb. cherries

¼ lb. chopped almonds

1 bottle cherry brandy

¼ bottle rum

1 -2 tbsp. angostura bitters

On the day:

1 lb brown sugar

1lb butter (2 cups)

3 cups Flour

3 tsp baking powder

7 eggs

1tsp lemon essence, 2 tsp. lime rind, 2  tsp almond essence and 2 tsp. vanilla essence

½ tsp nutmeg

2 cups of browning (less browning may be used as desired)

METHOD

1.       Cream butter and sugar

2.      Add eggs one at a time beating well after each.

3.      Add lemon essence, lime rind, almond essence and vanilla essence to the mixture

4.      Add gradually flour, baking powder and grated nutmeg to the creamed mixture

5.      Mix in fruit and browning

6.      Pour into greased pans

7.      Baked at 250˚F  for 2 to 3 hours or until done