Black fruit cake

An integral part of Caribbean cuisine in festive times, especially around Christmas, black fruit cake is a unique dessert filled with nuts, dried fruits, warm spices, and burnt sugar syrup - giving it a rich and bitter chocolate flavor and a typical deep black color. Although the cake has numerous variations regarding the ingredients, rum is always mandatory. Black fruit cake has roots throughout the Caribbean, dating back to the 17th century when English settlers brought over their tradition of the English pudding, which was modified by the slaves and their descendants into a decadent rum cake over the years. Preferences are variable - some people like it wet and moist, others like it drier and nutty, but regardless of the texture, it is a staple at most Caribbean celebrations.