Guyana Black Cake

Ingredients

• 1 lb raisins
• 1/2 lb currants
• 1/4 lb prune
• 1 cup rum
• 1 1/2 lbs brown sugar, packed (3 1/4 cups)
• 1/2 lb butter
• 6 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 lb flour (2 cups)
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon mixed spice (nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, allspice)
• 1/4 lb mixed peel
• 1/4 lb chopped nuts (optional)
• ICING FOR BLACK CAKE
• MARZIPAN
• 2 egg whites
• 1/2 lb ground almonds (2 cups)
• 1/2 lb icing sugar (confectioner's, 2 cups)
• 1/2 teaspoon almond essence (extract)
• ROYAL ICING
• 2 egg whites
• 1 lb icing sugar (confectioner's, 4 cups)
• 1 lemon, juice of