In every home during the festive season, there’s a familiar debate over the choice of dessert. Rum cake, despite not being as rich as death by chocolate or as traditional as apple pie, should undoubtedly be a contender. Besides the standard cake ingredients such as flour, eggs, and butter, the key ingredient that sets this dessert apart is rum.

Turning this into a moist, spicy delight is achieved by marinating the fruit in rum for several months in advance. Known alternatively as black cake, it is a popular choice for celebrations such as holidays and weddings in Jamaica. A fitting custom, considering the cake’s liquor content. Contrary to the rum cake myth stating that it can induce intoxication, the rum does indeed introduce a unique blend of spices, unlike other holiday desserts. If you are considering a unique gift for your dear ones, this is a great choice. The long-standing tradition of sending food via post during holidays is given an unexpected twist with rum cake, offering an exciting alternative to the customary Christmas cookies. With its robustness against shipping hazards, it’s an ideal choice.

Further reading: Cake Hacks Every Baker Will Wish They Knew Sooner

Whether sharing the celebration at home with your family or enjoying it by oneself, rum cake is a welcome addition. The blend of spices it introduces adds a unique flavor of holiday cheer that many other festive delights lack. While you could send typical desserts through the mail, rum cake offers more value. When sending food through the post, it’s essential to be aware of specific regional shipping regulations. This is especially true for food, given the regulations in place. Postal services like the United States Postal Service have rules to ensure the stable shipping of food. But, there’s no need for concern with rum cake as it highly unlikely to spoil.

The inherent jubilation found within the ingredients is precisely what gives the cake such a lengthy shelf-life. The alcohol from the fruit doubles as a preservative for the dessert. Other desserts, like the classic American icebox cake, demand instant refrigeration. Conversely, the rum cake boasts the admirable ability to endure an extended journey away from the comfort of the kitchen. Thus, when friends or family receive a rum cake gift this year, you will be gifting them a fully matured treat that bears no risk of decaying during transportation.

To let your recipient appreciate the fruits of your culinary efforts, the present needs to reach them in tip-top condition. Guaranteeing your rum cake is appropriately packaged and delivered marks the initial step. A metal container, such as a tin, renders the perfect option for shipping any type of food item. The use of this material helps the cake retain its shape during transit. Once it has safely reached its destination, it can be enjoyed in several ways. The rum cake is lauded for its versatility as it can be served chilled or taste just as scrumptious at room temperature. It stays fresh owing to its lack of refrigeration requirement. In effect, it may last up to 10 days provided it is stored in a container that is hermetically sealed.

This feature greatly contributes to why it has enjoyed relentless popularity through the centuries. The beginnings of the cake can be traced back to the days of colonization. As a redefined version of British figgy pudding, Caribbean bakers incorporated rum and tonka beans to concoct the black cake. The technique of soaking ingredients in sugar and alcohol ingeniously served as a preservation method. In fact, if the cake is doused in alcohol on a weekly basis, it can last upto several months. Generations later, these traditions are still upheld to yield a lasting cake which is perfect for gifting.

Static Media is the proprietor and operator of Daily Meal and Mashed.

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