Stay up-to-date with all that's new at My-Island-Jamaica, Click Here to subscribe for my updates and don't miss a thing!

GrandMa's Traditional
Jamaican Christmas Cake 
The Recipe

Sharing Is Caring! Share this awesome content with your friends now.

start_here_if_new_image_link

New! For Authentic Jamaican products, from my very own hands, visit my Etsy store here.

Custom Search





Jamaican Christmas Cake (Jamaican Christmas Pudding)Traditional Jamaican Christmas Cake | Jamaican Christmas Pudding

You feel it in the air - the weather changes (it gets nicer), the blossoms and even the fresher, gentler breeze, Christmas is coming baby! And that means it is time to prepare the fruits for the the most treasured cake of the year, the Jamaican Christmas cake - laced with fruits and rum!


Watch!  See the real Jamaica in VIDEOS

Click Here to watch my latest videos on my fun YouTube channel - you'll love it!

I have the recipe for you, but just before I share it, how about a bit of history of Christmas pudding in Jamaica? 

Ready?

Great... let's go!

CLICK HERE  to scroll to the Jamaican Christmas Cake Recipe

Jamaican Christmas Cake - The History

According to Donaldson, our local Christmas Cake is actually a reworking over the centuries of the traditional English plum pudding.

The dried fruit ingredients are put to soak for weeks and even months in advance of baking in December.

And actually, speaking of baking, the ingredients were actually steamed instead of baked! 

In some Jamaican homes, fruit is kept soaking all year round  always ready for use! At minimum though, the fruits for the pudding are soaked at least one month before use.

Historically, they are made the first week in December to allow them time to ‘ripen‘ or mature for the Yuletide season.

The fruits traditionally used are ground raisins, currants, dates and prunes soaked in rum and port wine. Spices and citron may also be added.

It is traditionally served cold with hot brandy sauce or rum butter. The cakes (puddings) were keep for several months, and were often sent to relatives and friends overseas.

And now... here is the recipe (below)!

Traditional Jamaican Christmas Cake Recipe

Jamaican Christmas cake - a slice from my sister's baking :-)Sliced Jamaican Christmas cake - from my sister's baking :-)

This recipe make a 4 pound cake


INGREDIENTS

  • 1/2 pound butter
  • 1 teaspoon almond flavoring 
  • 6 ounces bread crumbs
  • 1/2 dozen eggs
  • 1 tablespoon mixed spice
  • 1/2 pound granulated sugar
  • 4 cups mixed fruits (raisins, currants, prunes, citron, cherries, dates)
  • 6 ounces flour 
  • 2 cups port wine
  • 1 cup white rum
  • 1/2 cup chopped nuts
  • 1 tablespoon browning 
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 2  teaspoons vanilla
  • 2 teaspoons lime (or orange) rind
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

 

METHOD/ INSTRUCTIONS


  1. Prepare tin by lining sides with 2 thicknesses of paper and the bottom with 4 thicknesses of brown paper and 1 of grease-proof paper.
  2. Grease with shortening
  3. Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy
  4. Mix in the browning, vanilla and almond flavoring, lime juice and rind
  5. Add eggs, one at a time, and beat in well
  6. Add soaked fruits, cherries, dates and nuts
  7. Mix breadcrumbs, flour, baking powder, salt and mixed spice
  8. Add alternately with rum and port wine
  9. Pour into the prepared baking tin
  10. Bake at 250°F for approximately 2 hours. 
  11. Remove and cool.

We have another version as well, titled, Jamaican Fruit Cake. Pick your choice, 'all a dem nice'!

I Should Tell You....

  • This same recipe is used for the traditional Jamaican wedding cake, which is covered with a layer of marzipan (almond paste) and decorated with royal icing.

If not yet done, be sure to check out our mouth-watering Sweet Potato Pudding and Cornmeal Pudding Recipes, right here.

Watch Video! Jamaican Christmas Cake

Maisie, from Grace Kitchen, shows off her version of our Christmas cake via YouTube. Click the Play Button below to watch!

Get More Free Jamaican Recipes here

Now over to you! Please be sure to share a comment below to let me know how you did :-)  HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!

You might like these as well

Return to Food From Jamaica from Jamaican Christmas Cake 
Return To My Island Jamaica Homepage from Jamaican Christmas Cake

Other Pages Related To Jamaican Christmas Cake

References

  • Senior, Olive, Encyclopedia of Jamaican Heritage, Published 2003
  • Spence, Wenton, Recipes From Old Jamaican Grandmothers, Published 2015
  • Donaldson, Enid, The Taste Of Jamaica, Published 1993

Sharing IS Caring... Its now YOUR turn to...


If you found this page useful, please consider subscribing to my weekly newsletter, My Island Jamaica Digest here. 

It tells you each week about the new information that I have added, including new developments and great stories from lovers of Jamaica!

Back To The Top Of This Page

New! Talk To Me
Was the information helpful? Something needs changing? I welcome your feedback here.

Read More ...

-

New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.

Recommended For You ...

Other Great Articles You Might Have Missed

data-matched-content-rows-num="2" data-matched-content-columns-num="3"

Please help me get the message out by sharing this article with your friends on social media (links below). Thnx ;-)

Also connect with My-Island-Jamaica.com on Social Media: 

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube
Thank You!

P.S. Didn't find exactly what you were looking for? Still need help?

Click Here to try our dependable and effective Site Search tool. It works!

Or, simply click here and here, to browse my library of over 500 questions and answers! Chances are someone already asked (and got an answer to) your question.

About The Author

wellesley gayle - booking link

A patriotic Jamaican who adore its culture, Wellesley has been using this medium to share what he calls 'the uniqueness of Jamaica with the world' since April 2007.  

To date, he serves over 9,300 unique readers / viewers per day.

His efforts have earned this site featured positions in local publications, including the Jamaica Gleaner's Hospitality Jamaica, Carlong Publishers, as well as recognition from numerous prestigious international agencies and universities. Read more about him here.

He invites you to subscribe to this site to stay updated on all the latest and check out his unique Jamaican products on his Etsy store.  

If you are on social media, here are the links to follow his latest posts

You are also invited to join his exclusive JAMHearts community where like-minded Jamaican enthusiasts discuss all things Jamaican. 

copyscape
Back To The Top Of This Page