The Best Rum Cake Recipe Ever - Life of Stacy (2024)

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This truly is the Best Rum Cake Recipe Ever!

It’s perfect for entertaining, incredibly easy to make, can be made up to 2 days ahead of time, and like a fine wine, it tastes better with age. The trifecta of entertaining.

It doesn’t matter what holiday or birthday it is, this cake always appears at our celebrations.

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This Post is All About the Best Rum Cake Recipe Ever

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Special Tools:

bundt pan – Nordic Ware is my favorite brand of bundt pans. But any 10-cup capacity bundt pan will work.

Ingredients:

Cake:

  • Pam
  • Flour for dusting pan
  • 1 Cup finely chopped pecans or walnuts
  • 1 box plain yellow cake mix
  • 1 small package of vanilla instant pudding mix
  • 1/2 cup rum
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 4 large eggs

Glaze:

  • 1/2 stick of butter
  • 2 Tbs water
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup dark rum
The Best Rum Cake Recipe Ever - Life of Stacy (2)

Instructions:

Cake

  • Preheat oven to 325° and place the oven rack in the center of the oven
  • Lightly spray the bundt pan with Pam
  • Dust bundt pan with flour and shake out excess
  • Sprinkle pecans or walnuts in the bottom of the pan and set aside
  • In a large bowl, add cake mix, pudding mix, rum, oil, water, and eggs.
  • Blend on low speed for 1 minute
  • Scrape down the sides
  • Blend on medium for 2 minutes – scraping the sides if needed
  • Pour batter into the prepared pan
  • Bake for about one hour – until the cake is golden brown and springs back lightly when pressed.
  • Cool on a wired rack for 20 minutes
  • Use a long knife to loosen the cake around the edges
  • Invert the cake onto a cake platter
  • Using a long skewer or toothpick, poke holes in the top of the cake

Glaze

  • Melt butter in a small saucepan over low heat
  • Add water and sugar
  • Stirring, increase heat to medium, and bring to a boil
  • Reduce heat slightly and let glaze simmer until thickened – 4 to 5 minutes – stirring constantly
  • Remove the pan from heat and stir in rum
  • Spoon the glaze over the warm cake allowing it to seep into the holes and drizzle down the sides and into the center
  • Cool completely before cutting

Tips for Making the Best Rum Cake Recipe Ever

  • You can use white rum if you don’t have any dark rum on hand. It will still be delicious.
  • Make sure to drizzle plenty of the sauce on the pecans. It makes the most delicious praline topping
The Best Rum Cake Recipe Ever - Life of Stacy (3)

This recipe is from The Cake Mix Doctor. I highly recommend this book. I’ve had it for years and everything I have made has been great.

What Kind of Rum is Best for a Rum Cake?

Dark rum is the best rum for a rum cake. It has a more complex flavor than white rum. You can still use white rum if that is all you have. Your cake just won’t have the same depth of flavor. Though it will still be delicious.

Can Rum Cake Get You Drunk?

Typically, no. When the rum is baked in the cake or simmered in the glaze, the alcohol is burned off.

If you are concerned about this, you can just omit the rum from the glaze.

History of the Rum Cake:

Although there is no clear consensus as to the exact origins of the rum cake, it is believed to have been first introduced in the Caribbean by the British colonists. It is now traditionally enjoyed all through Europe and America at Christmas as well as the winter months.

How do you make a box cake taste like a bakery cake?

I have made many deliciously doctored box cakes and the common ingredient is the addition of pudding to the box cake mix. The pudding adds an incredible texture to the cake that you just can’t get from a box cake – it really elevates it to more of a bakery-style cake.

This Post was All About the Best Rum Cake Recipe Ever

The Best Rum Cake Recipe Ever

This is the most incredible cake you will ever eat. Not only is it delicious but it is also super easy to make. With a little help from a boxed cake mix, you will have a moist and delicious cake that will delight everyone.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 12

Calories 235 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Cake

  • Pam
  • 1 tbs flour for dusting more if you need it
  • 1 cup finely chopped pecans or walnuts
  • 1 box plane yellow cake mix
  • 1 pkg vanilla instant pudding 3.4 oz
  • ½ cup rum
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • ½ cup water
  • 4 large eggs

Glaze

  • ½ stick butter
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ¼ cup dark rum
  • 2 Tbs Water

Instructions

Cake

  • Preheat oven to 325° and place the oven rack in the center of the oven

  • In a large bowl, add cake mix, pudding mix, rum, oil, water, and eggs.

  • Blend on low speed for 1 minute

  • Scrape down the sides

  • Blend on medium for 2 minutes – scraping the sides if needed

  • Lightly spray the bundt pan with Pam

  • Dust bundt pan with flour and shake out excess

  • Sprinkle pecans or walnuts in the bottom of the pan

  • Pour batter into the prepared pan

  • Bake for about one hour – until the cake is golden brown and springs back lightly when pressed.

  • Cool on a wired rack for 20 minutes

  • Use a long knife to loosen the cake around the edges

  • Invert the cake onto a cake platter

  • Using a long skewer or toothpick, poke holes in the top of the cake

Glaze

  • Melt butter in a small saucepan over low heat

  • add water and sugar

  • Stirring, increase heat to medium, and bring to a boil

  • Reduce heat slightly and let glaze simmer until thickened – 4 to 5 minutes – stirring constantly

  • Remove the pan from heat and stir in rum

  • Spoon the glaze over the warm cake allowing it to seep into the holes and drizzle down the sides and into the center

  • Cool completely before cutting

Notes

  • You can use white rum if you don’t have any dark rum on hand. It will still be delicious.
  • Make sure to drizzle plenty of the sauce on the pecans. It makes the most delicious praline topping.

Nutrition

Serving: 1pieceCalories: 235kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 2gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 72mgSodium: 105mgPotassium: 26mgFiber: 0.05gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 208IUCalcium: 11mgIron: 0.3mg

Keyword cake, dessert, holiday dessert, Rum cake

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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The Best Rum Cake Recipe Ever - Life of Stacy (2024)

FAQs

Which rum is best for cake? ›

Which rum is best for cake? You can use light or dark rum for this recipe. Dark rum tends to be more flavorful than milder light rum, and will add more complexity to the cake.

How long before rum cake goes bad? ›

Because of the rum in the cake, it can act as a preservative and can be stored in an air-tight container at room temperature, not in direct light. As a result of proper care and in excellent conditions, a rum cake can last up to 10 days. If you freeze it and store it correctly, the cake can last a couple of months.

Does rum cake have real rum? ›

A rum cake or black cake is a type of dessert cake which contains rum. In most of the Caribbean, rum cakes are a traditional holiday season dessert, descended from the holiday puddings (such as figgy pudding).

How long does vacuum sealed rum cake last? ›

Yes, our cakes have a shelf life of 6 months in their vacuum-sealed bags which makes them perfect for transport! How long does the cake last? They're good to the last bite! 😉 But, actually for 6 months in their vacuum-sealed bags at ambient room temperature.

Should rum cake be refrigerated? ›

Your cake will stay fresh for seven days without refrigeration. I recommend keeping it in an airtight container to keep it moist. It will last even longer if you keep it in the fridge or freeze it. Just let it come to room temperature before eating for the best flavor.

Can rum cake get you drunk? ›

An average rum cake has around 1/2 cup rum to bake the cake and eating two to three pieces of dry rum cake is too less to get you drunk. However, if you soak the cake in rum after baking and serve it after refrigeration, then eating too much cake can get you a little intoxicated.

Can kids eat Caribbean rum cake? ›

They contain less than half of 1% alcohol so appropriate for all ages and cultures. If you are feeling tipsy after enjoying our rum cake, you are simply high on our delicious taste of the islands.

Can you eat rum cake under 21? ›

There great for all ages. Yes the rum cakes have rum in them but you can't get drunk from them.

Can you eat 8 day old cake? ›

Plain Cake (like unfrosted Moist Vanilla Cake): About 5-7 days in the fridge. Cake with Buttercream, Whipped Cream or Custard (like Moist Chocolate Cake with Fluffy Chocolate Frosting): 4 days, since dairy spoils quicker.

Can kids eat Christmas rum cake? ›

Yes, they can. Desserts which contain alcohol usually contain such small amounts of it that it doesn't have any influence.

What do you eat with rum cake? ›

The bright, tropical flavors of fresh fruit are a brilliant match for a slice of rum cake. Serve skewers of fresh pineapple or mango alongside your drink. Or top the rum cake with a dollop of whipped cream and a few slices of pineapple or strawberry. Don't forget to serve a bit of history.

Can I use a 9x13 pan instead of a Bundt pan? ›

If your recipe is not for a Bundt pan, you can estimate. A typical recipe that makes 2 layers or a 13x9 sheet is good for a standard Bundt pan, but baking time will be longer due to the depth of the pan. How much longer? Test after the “normal” time and add 5–10 minutes at a time until done.

Is it OK to freeze rum cake? ›

Freezing: Rum cake can be frozen, wrapped twice in plastic wrap then aluminum foil and placed in a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator for at least 12 hours, or at room temperature. Do not unwrap until completely thawed.

How long can jamaican rum cake last? ›

Storing the Jamaican Black Cake

Wrap your cake in a layer of greaseproof paper and a layer of tin foil to prevent air getting in. Store the wrapped cake in an airtight container. The cake should keep for (at least) a month or even up to a year with this amount of booze going on in an air tight container.

Is rum cake for kids? ›

Can Kids Eat Rum Cake? This cake isn't completely alcohol-free, but it's on par with vanilla extract's alcohol content. Burning off alcohol at the beginning and baking the cake helps reduce a percentage of alcohol.

Which alcohol is good for baking cake? ›

Baking with booze—such as bourbon, rum, port and vodka—can add additional flavor, texture and even change the consistency of many baked goods.

Is white or dark rum better for baking? ›

Aged rum, he says, lends caramel notes to dishes, while white rums can give a pleasing alcohol bite, and spiced rum is a no-brainer for cakes.

Why is rum used in cake? ›

Most chefs like to soak dry fruits like cashews and raisins in RUM for a few days so that it absorbs a lot of flavour before they are used as part of the cake batter. If the cake is directly soaked in Rum or beer, it will just be liquidy gooey mess.

Can I use white rum instead of dark rum in cake? ›

If you use rum, never use “white” rum. Always use a brown or dark rum.

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