Merry Christmas to one and all!
On this day of giving, you deserve a treat.
And we’ve got one for you: it’s a holiday favorite in Caribbean countries known as black cake.
This is a sweet cake filled with seasonings as well as dried fruits.
That sounds a lot like fruitcake, and there are a few similarities.
In both cases, people soak the dried fruit in liquor, usually rum, well ahead of the holiday.
Sometimes the fruit starts soaking for next year’s cake while you’re eating this year’s.
But black cake has its own flavors, its own ingredients and its own traditions.
While the pieces of fruit in fruitcake usually stay intact after soaking, the pieces of fruit in black cake can be partially or fully ground up.
And the signature flavor (and color) of black cake comes from what’s known as browning.
It’s a caramelized brown sugar sauce that’s similar to, but not the same as, molasses.
The sauce is used for savory recipes as well as for baking.
Like so many other treats at this time of year, black cake can take a while to prepare, but it goes quickly once it’s served.
That’s why some households make a bunch of them, some to be given away as presents, others to be served and shared with family, friends and neighbors who come to visit on or around Christmas Day.
Sometimes they’re served with a tart glass of sorrel drink, made with the hibiscus plant, cloves, allspice, fresh ginger and maybe some additional rum.
While the cakes are meant to be shared, like so much of the season, don’t fret if you miss your slice at Christmas.
You won’t necessarily have to wait until next year, because black cake is also popular at birthdays and weddings.
Christmastime in Budapest, Hungary means a chance to ride the Light Tram.
The city covers some of its streetcars and buses with festive strings of LED lights, which brightens each ride for passengers and passersby alike.
In the Caribbean, It’s Not Christmas Without Black Cake (HowStuffWorks)
Long Exposure Photos of Budapest Trams Lit Up with 30,000 LED Lights (Colossal)
Photo by mswine via Flickr/Creative Commons
