Caribbean Christmas Cake / Wedding Cake 🎄🍰
Cook Time: 4 minutes
Prep Time: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour and 34 minutes
Description:
This Caribbean Christmas Cake, also known as a Wedding Cake, is a versatile treat perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re celebrating the holidays or tying the knot, this cake fits the bill. You can customize it to your taste, swapping out ingredients like strawberry jam for marmalade or adjusting the level of alcohol for flavor. It can be served plain or adorned with icing, making it suitable for any palate. This recipe yields enough cake to fill a set of three graduated wedding cake pans, offering a total weight of about 11.5 lbs. Each cake stands about 2 inches tall, making it ideal for slicing into elegant servings. Depending on portion size, it can serve anywhere from 100 to 150 people, ensuring there’s plenty to go around.
Ingredients:
| Quantity | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 1 3/4 | Raisins |
| 2 | Seedless raisins |
| 2 | Currants |
| 2 | Dates |
| 2 | Maraschino cherries |
| 2 1/2 | Brandy |
| 2 | Crushed pineapple |
| 1 | Sugar |
| 1/2 | All-purpose flour |
| 1 | Cinnamon |
| 2 | Ground cloves |
| 1 | Allspice |
| 4 | Salt |
| 2 | Baking soda |
| 1/2 | Butter |
| 1/2 | Sugar |
| 1 | Eggs |
| 1 1/2 | Strawberry jam |
| 2 1/4 |
Instructions:
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Preparation: On the first day, measure out the nuts, raisins, currants, and citron peel into a large bowl. Drain the cherries, reserving the juice. Chop the cherries and add them to the fruit mixture. Stir in the brandy and let it soak overnight. For a richer flavor, consider soaking the fruit weeks in advance in the fridge. If preparing the day before baking, cover the mixture with plastic wrap and leave it at room temperature.
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Preheat and Prepare: Preheat the oven to 275°F. Grease the cake pans and line them with a double thickness of heavy brown paper or foil, leaving an inch of space at the top. Set aside.
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Prepare Pineapple Mixture: In a heavy Dutch oven or large saucepan, simmer the crushed pineapple with 2 cups of sugar until thickened (about 30 minutes). Stir frequently and ensure the heat is moderate. Once cooled, stir in the reserved cherry juice and strawberry jam. This mixture should be cool before adding it to the cake batter.
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Combine Dry Ingredients: Sift or stir together the flour, spices, salt, and baking soda until well mixed. Sprinkle a cup of this mixture over the fruits and nuts, tossing until coated.
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Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large measuring bowl, cream together the butter and 2 1/4 cups of sugar. Beat in the eggs one at a time.
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Combine Ingredients: Stir in the dry ingredients alternately with the pineapple mixture, making three dry and two liquid additions. Mix until well combined.
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Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared pans, filling them about one inch from the top. Bake in the preheated oven for 3 to 3 1/2 to 5 hours, depending on the size of the pan. You can add a shallow pan of water on a lower rack for added moisture if desired. The cake should be firm in the center, and a skewer inserted should come out clean.
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Cool and Store: Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 5 minutes before removing them and peeling off the paper. Let them cool completely on a rack. Once cool, wrap each cake in cheesecloth soaked in your choice of liquor or fruit juice, then wrap in tin foil. You can freeze the cakes if not using them immediately. For optimal flavor, periodically re-soak the cheesecloth in liquor and re-wrap the cakes.
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Serve or Decorate: Once ready to serve, you can decorate the cake with almond paste or icing, or simply serve it plain.
This Caribbean Christmas Cake/Wedding Cake is a labor of love that promises rich flavors and festive cheer for any celebration! Enjoy creating memories with this cherished recipe. 🎉
