Rum Cake

This Classic Rum Cake uses a boxed yellow cake mix, instant pudding mix, and two different types of rum to create an incredibly tender, moist cake that’s soaked in a sweet rum glaze! 

Coconut Rum Cake and Bananas Foster also use rum to create a boozy, sweet treat that is just as delicious!

This Rum Cake uses two different types of rum, spiced and dark, to create a delicious dynamic of flavor! The dark rum creates a strong, distinctive flavor while the spiced rum brings a sweet, spice to the cake.

Since this recipe uses a boxed cake mix and an instant pudding mix it makes it super easy to make! However, the rum glaze and tender buttery cake will leave everyone thinking you spent a ton of time making it! 

Why I Love This Recipe!

1. Rum cake has been a holiday staple in my family for as long as I can remember. It’s not the holidays unless my great aunt makes one!
2. This recipe takes my great aunts and amplifies it using two different types of rums and adding pudding for a more tender crumb.
3. It’s really delicious, but definitely not a cake for everyone. A good deal of the rum is added after baking and therefore gives a strong (but sweet) flavor to the cake.

Classic Rum Cake Ingredients Notes

This cake starts with a box of yellow cake mix and a box of instant vanilla pudding mix. Then you’ll need eggs, water, vegetable oil, dark rum, and spiced rum, the batter is then poured over chopped pecans.

Salted butter, water, granulated sugar, spiced rum, and dark rum come together to make the boozy, sweet rum syrup! 

How To Make This Rum Cake Recipe

Prepare by preheating the oven and grease and flour the bundt pan. Afterward, add chopped pecans evenly to the bottom of the pan. 

Sift the cake mix and pudding mix together in a large bowl or stand mixer.

Beat in the eggs, water, oil, and rums until fully incorporated, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.

Pour the batter over the pecans. 

Bake for an hour. 

Combine butter, water, and sugar in a saucepan to bring to a boil over medium heat to prepare the glaze, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in the remaining rum. 

Poke holes all over the warm cake with a skewer while it’s still in the pan. Then pour the rum sauce all over it while the cake and glaze are both still hot in the pan. 

Cool the cake, allowing it to soak before removing it from the pan. Once cooled, run a small rubber spatula along the sides of the cake and gently invert it onto a serving dish. 

Serve it plain, dust it with powdered sugar, or top it with icing and toasted pecans! This cake is best served warm or at room temperature with Whipped Cream.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Will Rum Cake Keep?

This rum cake will last up to 5 days in the refrigerator wrapped tightly in plastic. 

Can I Freeze Rum Cake?

Yes, but I recommend waiting to make the glaze and soaking the cake until you’re ready to serve. First, bake just the cake then let it cool completely before wrapping it tightly in plastic wrap and foil. The cake can then be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. 

When ready to serve, you can make the glaze and pour over warmed slices instead.

What Kind Of Rum Goes In Rum Cake?

I prefer making this cake with two types since it really adds such a wonderful flavor dynamic!

I like using dark rum because the syrupy molasses flavor is so perfect for desserts – it’s what you’d make Bananas Foster with.

Then a spiced rum adds those extra spicy notes that I think make this dish extra cozy and delicious.

You can use just one or the other if you’d like but it will alter the taste of the final cake. 

Can Rum Cake Get You Drunk?

There is a total of 1 cup of rum in this recipe and it serves about 12 people. Half of the rum is baked into the cake and the other half is poured into the baked cake. Therefore, you would likely have to eat 1/4 to 1/2 of the cake to equal a drink’s worth of alcohol. So no, rum cake cannot get you drunk.

I love enjoying a thick slice of this cake with a mugful of my favorite tea! Try pairing another one of my cakes with your own favorite coffee or tea to start your day!

• Strawberry Cake – Filled with fresh strawberries, finished it off with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream! 
• Cream Cheese Pound Cake – Enjoy it plain or serve it with fresh fruit, whipped cream, strawberry sauce, or chocolate sauce! 
• Blackberry Brown Sugar Coffee Cake – Bursting with sweet, tart blackberries with a buttery crumb topping!
• Hummingbird Cake – Made with mashed bananas, crushed pineapple, and shredded coconut!
• Cranberry Cake – A single layer cake baked right in a skillet!

Let’s Connect!

If you’ve tried this recipe, please let me know how you liked it in the comments below and leave a review. I love hearing from you!

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