Food

Jamaican Christmas Cake Recipe (Black Cake) with Royal Icing

Story of Origin:

In Jamaica, Christmas just wouldn’t feel complete without a slice of rich, dark, and moist Jamaican Christmas Cake, often called black cake. This tradition dates back to British colonization, where plum pudding was a holiday staple. Jamaicans took that recipe and made it their own—infusing dried fruits with Red Label Wine and white overproof rum, adding aromatic spices, and deepening the cake’s rich color with Grace Browning. What makes this cake extra special is that it’s not just food—it’s a celebration of heritage, family, and festivity.

Each household has its own version, but one thing remains the same: the cake is soaked with love, time, and (sometimes) a generous splash of Jamaican rum!

Ingredients

For the Cake

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 cup cake flour

  • 1 ½ cups soaked raisins, cherries, and currants (combined, soaked for 1 month in Red Label Wine)

  • 1 cup brown sugar

  • 1 ½ tsp baking powder

  • 7 large eggs

  • 1 tbsp vanilla

I prefer to use Benjamin vanilla extract. Available on Amazon or at most Jamaican food stores in the USA.

  • ¼ cup room-temperature water

  • 1 grated lemon zest (mix with the dry ingredients)

  • ½ tsp nutmeg

  • 1 tsp cinnamon powder

  • ½ tsp allspice

  • 3 tablespoons butter (softened)

  • 2 tablespoons shortening

  • 2–3 tablespoons Grace Browning (for rich dark color)

  • Optional: 2–4 tablespoons Jamaican white rum (for extra flavor and moisture)

For the Royal Icing

  • 3 egg whites

  • 4 cups powdered sugar (sifted)

  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice or lime juice

  • Food coloring (optional, traditionally red and green for Christmas décor)

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Fruit

  1. A month before baking (or at least 2 weeks if short on time), soak your raisins, cherries, and currants in Red Label Wine. You may add a splash of white rum for more kick.

  2. On baking day, puree about half of the soaked fruits for a smoother cake texture, and leave the rest whole for a bite.

Step 2: Prepare the Dry Ingredients

  1. In a bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, cake flour, baking powder, nutmeg, cinnamon, and allspice.

  2. Stir in the grated lemon zest. Set aside.

Step 3: Cream Butter, Sugar & Eggs

  1. Cream the butter, shortening, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.

  2. Beat in the eggs one at a time until fully incorporated.

Step 4: Combine and Add Browning

  1. Slowly fold the dry ingredients into the butter mixture, alternating with the blended fruits and water.

  2. Mix until smooth.

  3. Add Grace Browning one spoon at a time until the batter reaches a rich, dark brown color.

  4. If desired, add 2–3 tablespoons of Jamaican white rum for depth of flavor.

Step 5: Bake the Cake

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

  2. Grease and line a 9-inch round or square cake pan with parchment paper.

  3. Pour batter into the pan and smooth the top.

  4. Place a pot of water on the rack below the cake in the oven (this keeps the cake moist while baking).

  5. Bake for 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Step 6: Cool and Store

  • Let cake cool completely before removing from the pan.

  • For extra moisture and flavor, brush the cake with more wine or rum while cooling.

  • Wrap in plastic wrap and foil to keep fresh until icing.

Royal Icing Instructions

Royal icing adds a festive, snowy finish to the cake—perfect for Christmas.

  1. In a large bowl, whisk the egg whites until foamy.

  2. Gradually beat in the powdered sugar, one cup at a time.

  3. Add the lemon juice and continue whisking until the icing is smooth, glossy, and holds stiff peaks.

  4. Spread evenly over the cooled cake.

  5. Decorate with festive colors, maraschino cherries, or silver sprinkles if desired.

Serving & Storage

  • Jamaican Christmas Cake is even better after a few days as the flavors deepen.

  • Store in an airtight container, and if you like, keep brushing with wine or rum every few days until serving.

Pro Tip: Both Red Label Wine and Grace Browning can easily be purchased on Amazon if you don’t have access to Jamaican grocery stores.