Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Jamaican Black Cake & Plum Pudding

From Plum Pudding to Jamaican Black Cakes



Plum Pudding
Plum Pudding

                                     
Plum pudding is a steamed or boiled pudding frequently served at holiday times. Plum pudding has never contained plums. The name Christmas pudding is first recorded in 1858 in a novel by Anthony Trollope.



Also known as Christmas pudding, this dessert originated in England. Traditionally the pudding was made up to two months before Christmas, either on or after the Sunday before Advent.That day each family member would stir the pudding before boiling. Everyone would partake in "Stir up Sunday".

  The pudding is almost black, made from a mixture of fresh or dried fruit and nuts.  Then it is saturated with brandy, dark beer, or other alcohols. Back then the pudding was boiled in a piece of cloth called pudding cloth. Today you can use a baking pan.

Many households stirred silver coins (for wealth), tiny wishbones (for good luck), a silver thimble (for thrift), a ring (for marriage), or an anchor (for safe harbor) into the mixture, and when served, whoever got the lucky serving, would be able to keep the charm.  
After the pudding has been steamed, it is kept in a cool dry place for several weeks or longer. Many families present the pudding in the dark or bring it to the table ceremoniously, where it is met with a round of applause.

One of Sweet T's loyal customers submitted an authentic Jamaican rum cake / Plum pudding recipe that she used to make cakes for her co-workers and family. In her recipe she used Sweet T's Smooth Fruit Mixture and saved time and money on the fruit soaking process. 
Here is the Jamaican plum pudding Recipe from scratch:
Casey used 3 1/2 cups Sweet Ts Soaked Fruit Mix
OR make your own Fruit Mix
Remove the seeds and stems before soaking.
Blend as smooth as you like or leave it chunky.
The fruits should be soaked for at least 4 months up to one year 
3 c Raisins
1 1/2 c. currants, 
2 c chopped prunes, 
3/4 c mixed peel, 
1 c glace cherries, 
2 c red wine or port wine, 
1 1/2 c Jamaican rum.
Remove the seeds and stems before soaking.
Blend as smooth as you like.
The fruits should be soaked for at least 3-4 months up to one year or buy Sweet T's Fruit Mix that has been soaking for over 8 months.
Cake Batter:
1 1/2 c flour
1/2 c bread crumbs (unseasoned)
1 c D. Brown sugar packed
1 ts Baking Powder
1/2 ts Salt
1/4 ts nutmeg
1/2 ts cinnamon
1/2 ts allspice
1 c butter
6 eggs
Zest of half a lime
3 tbs Burnt Sugar, browning (dark Food Color)
Make The Pudding:
Sift: flour, salt, bread crumbs
Cream: butter, brown sugar
Add: the eggs one at a time till incorporated
Add: Vanilla, lime, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice , mix.
Add: 2 1/2 c soaked your fruit mix, or Sweet T's fruit mix, Browning
Pour into buttered 9 inch bunt pan or mini bunt pans or molds
Get large enough  pot to hole the cake mold with a tight fitting lid 
Pour enough water to fill half way up the sides of the cake pan, 
 cover with the lid,  when the water is boiling carefully add the pudding and cover with lid.
Reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for 5-6 hours or until the pudding pulls from the sides.
Remove from the water and let cool completely. This was her finished result using Sweet T's Fruit Mix!


Jamaican Black cake, rum cake

Jamaican Black cake is derived from the centuries old recipe of plum pudding. The Jamaican rum cake contains Jamaican rum and Wine and is not set aflame before consuming. You could however light it after adding some brandy to the out side of the cake creating a flambe effect. 



Jamaican Black cake, rum cake
Sweet T's Jamaican Black cakes are smooth textured, extremely moist and full of rum, wine and aromatic spices such as allspice, cinnamon, and nutmeg. They are slowly steamed and baked to perfection. Chef Sweet  T also prepares her own Candied citrus and burnt sugar coloring. She uses organic fruits and raw cane sugar to masterfully create each rum cake. The plums, currants, raisins, cherries and citron are soaked in Jamaican White over proof rum and sweet Red Label wine for 8 months or more. This process allows the fruit to absorb all the rum and wine and give the black cake a rich, thick yet melt in your mouth smooth texture. 
Jamaican Fruit & Rum cake 3per order

Every cake is expertly custom made to your specifications. Choose your favorite white icing  flavor to accompany your decadent rum cake. Sweet T has the best customer service and offers FedEx or USPS 2-3 day delivery options. Why not try a sample cake from Chef Sweet T before buying a larger cake. This you way you can try the cake exactly like you always imagined it to be. Now you can send a Deluxe Jamaican Rum Cake Gift Basket with customized rum cakes to anyone you care about for whatever occasion arises.


 Order Sweet T's Luxury Jamaican Rum, Coffee & Cakes Gift Basket Here!


Order Jamaican Rum black cakes here!