Trinidad black cake

Ingredients

• Dried fruit

Fruit:

• 1/2 pound golden raisins
• 1/2 pound black raisins
• 1 pound dried prunes
• 1/2 pound glacé (candied) cherries
• 1 pound dried currants
• 1/4 pound candied mixed peel
• 1 stick cinnamon
• 1 bottle dark rum
• 1 bottle cherry brandy

Cake:

• 8 large eggs
• 1 pound butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup white granulated sugar
• 1 cup demerara sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• grated peel of 1/2 a lime and 1/2 an orange
• 1/2 pound chopped almonds (optional)
• 1/2 cup Caribbean browning
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons mixed essence
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• Additional rum for brushing the cakes