I am not a fan of fruit cake. There, I said it. I know it is a tradition, especially at Christmas time, but I find fruit cake heavy and cloying and overbearing. I once made a Christmas cake from scratch, spending the GDP of a small nation on pricey dried and glace fruit. It went pretty much untouched on Christmas Day, and after storing in the pantry for a month or so I ended up throwing it out.
Never again.
This easy, from scratch, rum and raising cake makes the prefect festive alternative to a traditional Christmas cake. It has the basic component of alcohol-soaked fruit but it is lighter in texture and colour.
Rum and raisin cake would be perfect at any time of the year, not just Christmas. If you have no raisins you could use currants, which would also plump up nicely after being soaked in rum.
I love dark, spiced rum – Kraken, in particular – and it is ideal for this recipe. Only use dark rum, not white rum, in this cake recipe.
If you are thinking Christmas I think Santa would love a slice of this cake on Christmas Eve as he goes about his work…
GATHER:
half a cup of raisins
4 tablespoons dark rum – I like a dark, spiced rum plus 2 teaspoons, extra
185 gram butter, chopped, at room temperature
½ cup caster sugar
3 eggs
1 ½ cups self-raising flour
4 tablespoons milk
LET`S GET TO IT:
Soak raisins in rum overnight in a dark cool place.
Preheat oven to 180C and grease and line a deep, round 20cm cake pan with non-stick baking paper.
Place butter, sugar, eggs, flour and milk in bowl of electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and beat to combined.
Increase speed and beat until colour has changed, then scrape down sides with a spatula. Turn off beaters then use a silver spoon stir in raisins and any excess rum.
Pour into pan, smooth the top with a spatula and bake for 45-50 minutes / until a skewer comes out clean.
While cake is still warm pour over a the extra rum.
After ten minutes remove from tin and place on wire rack to cool completely. When cold dust with sifted icing sugar before serving.
the hungry mum 
I believe fruitcakes are in the past in American homes, probably phased out in the early eighties. Your cake looks like one I’ve had, baked by a friend’s husband who was an Australian. Looks yummy!
Thanks! Fruit cakes are a dying breed here too, my sister in law bakes one each year but she is a traditional baker. And a more patient woman that I 🙂
Rum and raisins is such a wonderful match. The cake looks so tasty! 🙂
Cheers – it is a modern classic combo 🙂
I’m very confident that Santa would be just as happy with a big slice of this as he would with traditional cake. This is a lovely, lighter substitute.
Thanks Amanda! I will leave Santa a slice out on Xmas Eve and will report back 🙂
Having never tried Kraken it is in my list of ‘to drink.’ What a nice festive cake Mrs H. Have a beautiful Chrissy. X
Thanks Lisa! I never used to like any rum – in fact, I despised it – but the Hungry Dad introduced me to this and it is great. Hope your Chrissy is fab x
I don’t mind Christmas cake but this looks lighter and much better for a hot Christmas. I think we forget that a lot of traditional Christmas recipes come from countries where they are having a white Christmas, give me a cold buffet any day!
Yes, the English especially do love their heavy puds and hot, cooked meals! Give me some prawns and a glass of bubbles on Xmas Day and I am happy as can be :0
How delicious 😋! I’m glad I found your blog because your desserts are delicious!! I’m doing a countdown on my blog if you want to follow: https://bernbakes.wordpress.com/2016/12/19/countdown-to-christmas-dec-18th-2016/ 😊 Happy Holidays!
Thanks Bernadine, your marshmallow treat looks soooooo good!
Thanks! Glad you like them 🙂🙂
Happy Christmas Hungry Mum – this cake reminded me of my mum who loves rum & raisin ice cream – I’m sure she’d love your cake too! 😄
And to you Laura 🙂 I blogged rum and raisin ice cream last year – it is so quick and easy to make: https://thehungrymum.com/2015/12/29/no-churn-rum-and-raisin-ice-cream/
Wow – I’ll be checking out that recipe!
🙂
omg it looks so delicious! need to try them asap!)))
btw your blog is so inspiring) thanks for sharing
Oh, what a lovely comment! Thanks, am off to check out your blog.
Now this is more like it. Something for my sweet tooth and a little surprise for my liver, too. Now you’re just trying to spoil me. Keep it up! 🙂
All kidding aside, this does sound like a winner and perfect for the holidays. 🙂
Reblogged this on the hungry mum and commented:
An easy and delicious Christmas cake recipe.