TRIPLE LAYER CHOCOLATE SPICE CAKE

• � cup Raisins
• 1/2 cup dark rum or orange liqueur
• 510 to 515 g pkg. devil's food cake mix

Ingredients called for on cake-mix package
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 3/4 tsp each ground nutmeg and ginger
• 1/4 tsp ground allspice
• 2 cups container whipping cream,
• 1 to 2 tbsp dark rum or orange liqueur
• 1 tbsp granulated sugar
• Chocolate curls (optional)

Preheat oven to 350F (180C). Lightly butter 3 (9-inch/23-cm) round baking pans. Line bottoms with parchment or waxed paper. To plump raisins, place in a small microwave-safe bowl and stir in 1/4 cup rum. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave on medium until warm, 1 minute Remove and leave at room temperature.

Place dry cake mix in a large bowl. Stir in spices. Prepare cake batter using ingredients listed and following directions on package, then stir in raisins and any liquid until evenly mixed. Divide among 3 pans. Smooth tops. Bake in centre of preheated 350F (180C) oven until a cake tester inserted into centre of cakes comes out clean and cakes pull away from sides of pans, 25 to 30 minutes. Place cakes on racks. Let cool in pans 10 minutes, then turn out on racks. Brush tops with 1/4 cup rum. Cool completely. Then, if cakes are domed or rounded and puffed in centre, trim to make flat before assembling. If baking cakes a day before assembling, wrap in plastic wrap and leave at room temperature overnight.

Before assembling cake, pour cream into a large bowl. Add 1 tbsp (rum and sugar. Using an electric mixer, beat on medium-high speed until soft peaks form when beaters are lifted. Taste and add remaining rum, a teaspoon at a time, as needed. To assemble, place 1 cake layer on a large plate. Spread one-third of cream overtop, just to edge. Cover with another cake layer. Top with half the remaining cream, spreading just to edges.