A Traditional Jamaican Christmas Cake Recipe To Try

I may have been compensated for this post. Please keep in mind that it affects you in no way financially. If an item is being reviewed, I am not obligated to give a positive review and always use my own words. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. If you would like a review done contact Dannelle at op40k@aol.com

This Christmas Cake is a popular dessert enjoyed during the Christmas season. It is a dense, spiced cake that is usually served with rum butter or Jamaican rum cream. This recipe has been passed down from generation to generation and continues to be a favorite among Jamaicans both young and old.

If you are looking for a delicious and festive dish to serve at your next Christmas party, then look no further than our Jamaican Christmas Cake Recipe! I know you will love this as much as we do and it will be served more than just at Christmas time.

Where is Jamaica?

Jamaica is one of the Caribbean islands located in the Caribbean Sea. It is known for its white-sand beaches, warm weather, and vibrant culture. Jamaican Christmas Cake is one of many traditional Jamaican recipes that are popular during the holiday season.

History of Jamaican Christmas Cake

Jamaican Christmas Cake dates back to the late 1800s when Jamaicans began baking their own cakes for the holiday season. This tradition of preparing Jamaican-style cakes became popular as Jamaicans wanted to share a taste of Jamaican household culture with family and friends. Jamaican Christmas Cake is made using a variety of spices, dried fruits, and Jamaican rum.

The cake is then covered in Jamaican marzipan and allowed to age before being served. With its warm spices and festive appearance, Jamaican Christmas Cake is sure to be a hit at your next gathering!

So if you’re looking for something unique and delicious to serve at your holiday party, look no further than Jamaican Christmas Cake. The dense texture of the finished product makes this Jamaican cake a stand-out treat and sure to make your celebration a memorable one!

How to Serve our Jamaican Christmas Cake Recipe

Jamaican Christmas Cake is best served warm with Jamaican rum butter or Jamaican rum cream. You can also add some fresh fruit, such as oranges and bananas, to the top of your Jamaican cake for a little extra flavor! To really give your Jamaican Christmas Cake that Jamaican flair, why not serve it with a generous dollop of Jamaican rum cream? Enjoy!

What is Jamaican Rum Cream?

It is a sweet, creamy liqueur made from Jamaican rum. It has a smooth, velvety texture that pairs perfectly with this Christmas Cake. Jamaican Rum Cream adds an extra layer of flavor to the already delicious Jamaican cake and is sure to be a hit at your next gathering!

How to Make Jamaican Christmas Cake

This recipe will make you a 9-inch cake that is 2 layers tall. It is a decadent treat – and a nice switch from a traditional holiday fruit cake.

Ingredients for your Jamaican Christmas Cake

Dried fruits:

This is where I like a combination of fruits – it almost makes it a Jamaican fruit cake! The blended fruit creates a nice variety of flavors that adds well to the rum. It really is a personal preference here on what you are adding to this rum cake.

• 1 cup dry prunes, chopped
• 1 cup raisins – feel free to mix up the gold with traditional colored raisins
• 1 cup sultanas
• 1 cup dried cherries
• ½ cup dried cranberries
• 1 ½ cup merlot wine – a port wine would work well too, any nice red wine.
• 1 ½ cups dark rum – I go with the best rum I can find.

Cake:

• 2 sticks butter, room temperature
• 1 ¼ cups dark brown sugar
• 5 eggs
• 1 lime, juiced, and the lime zest
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or almond extract
• 1 teaspoon orange juice
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon allspice
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon orange peel zest
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 4 tablespoons molasses

Preparation Instructions:

Stir all fruit mixture ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat so the soaking of the fruits helps infuse the flavors.

Bring to a low boil then reduce the heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes.

Remove the soaked fruit from the heat and let it cool completely.

Preheat oven to 250 degrees and prepare 2 round cake pans by spraying them with non-stick baking spray in each cake pan.

In a medium mixing bowl cream butter and brown sugar until creamy, then add 1 tablespoon of flour.

Add the eggs to the butter mixture, one at a time.

Next mix in the lime juice and zest along with the vanilla and orange juice.

In a separate bowl combine the cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, orange zest, salt, and flour – whisking the dry ingredients until they are evenly mixed.

Add the flour mixture to the liquid mixture.

Lastly, stir in the molasses and cooled fruit blend.

Split the cake batter between the 2 prepared pans and bake on the middle shelf of the oven for 2 hours until a toothpick or cake tester in the center comes out clean.

Cool for 10 minutes in the pan before inverting it onto a serving plate. Soak each layer with 2 tablespoons of rum before you stack them. This helps add that last zip of flavor and gives you a moist cake besides just being a delicious cake.

Serve, share, and enjoy!

Jamaican Christmas Cake Recipe FAQs

Q: How can I make Jamaican Christmas Cake even more Jamaican?

A: Add Jamaican Rum Cream to your Jamaican Christmas Cake for a real Jamaican twist!

Q: What type of rum should I use in Jamaican Christmas Cake?

A: Jamaican dark rum is the traditional choice for Jamaican Christmas Cake. Jamaican dark rum is full-bodied, with a smoky and earthy flavor that pairs perfectly with the warm spices in Jamaican Christmas Cake! When in a pinch though? Even white rum would work.

Q: How long will Jamaican Christmas Cake keep?

A: Jamaican Christmas Cake will keep up to one week when stored in an airtight container. Enjoy

Print off our Jamaican Christmas Cake recipe card here: