Tradition Thursday | West Indian Wedding.. Black Cake is a Must!

Photo: Tony Cenicola / The New York Times

The Black Cake or rum cake is traditionally served during the Christmas season and a must have at any traditional West Indian / Caribbean wedding. The "Black Cake" derived from the English Plum Pudding. It is made with dried fruits (soaked in wine or rum from 2 weeks to a year), flour, brown sugar, butter, and eggs. Some islands also add an ingredient called "browning". In some families the receipt is handed down from mother to daughter for generations to come. People say black cake is to American fruit cake, like dark chocolate is to milk chocolate.  But it's not! It just does not compare.

Traditionally during the cake cutting the bride and groom refrains from cutting the top of the cake.  That's because the tradition of the black cake continues into the next year. The top of the black cake is saved and stored away in the freezer for the bride's and groom's first year anniversary. Isn't that just the sweetest thing you have ever heard! Reliving the moment all over again with an "Irie" feeling too. The cake is heavily soaked in rum, which acts as a preservative.  So it is safe to consume the cake many months later. 

Cake by: Caribbean Cake Connoisseurs

Today, modern island brides have strayed away from tradition because of the limitations in decorating the black cake.  Traditionally the icing of the black cake is a hard white sugary covering, made from confectioner sugar. But there is an alternative to this problem.  Yes, you can have your "Black Cake" and eat it too, in a cute and classy way.  It is called fondant. I know it alters the tradition.  But I think it is better to have a part of the tradition then no part of the tradition. You can order an already baked cake from a company like Caribbean Cake Connoisseurs, find a local confectionist or bakery that is willing to decorate your already baked cake and viola, problem solved. Another cute and classy event is created. 

Photo Credit: blog.islandbridejamaica.com

Helpful tip: I recommend finding the confectionist first.
Disclaimer: Another Cute and Classy Event is not endorsing any companies or organizations mentioned or linked in this blog post.