Delicious Rum Cake Recipe for Every Celebration

A buttery, golden rum cake can brighten any celebration. It’s also perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth with something truly decadent. This recipe offers a full-size classic rum bundt cake or cute mini rum cakes. Both options are packed with rich flavor, a soft crumb, and a delicious rum-soaked finish.

What’s So Special About Rum Cake?

It’s moist, flavorful, and has just the right kick. Originating from the islands, this dish is popular during holidays like Christmas. Its rich flavor and long shelf life have made it a global favorite.

Best Rum for Rum Cake

For that signature flavor, go with:

• Dark rum or gold rum – adds deep, caramel-like richness
• Jamaican rum like Wray & Nephew, Appleton Estate, or Myers’s Rum for bold flavor
• You can also use spiced rum like Captain Morgan for a warm, fragrant twist

Avoid white rum—it’s too light and doesn’t offer the rich depth that makes rum cake so delicious.

Rum Cake Ingredient List

For the Cake

• All-Purpose Flour –Provides the structure of the cake. Gluten development helps the cake hold its shape while staying tender.
• Baking Powder-Acts as a leavening agent. It helps the cake rise and become light and fluffy.
• Salt – Balances the sweetness and enhances the overall flavor of the cake.
• Unsalted Butter – Adds richness, moisture, and flavor. Butter also helps to create a tender crumb. Unsalted allows you to control the salt level.
• Granulated Sugar- Sweetens the cake and contributes to moisture and browning during baking.
• Eggs – Bind ingredients, add moisture, and help the cake rise. Eggs also contribute to the structure and richness.
• Vanilla Extract – Enhances the cake’s aroma and flavor profile. Works well with the rum.
• Almond Extract- Adds a nutty depth and subtle complexity to the flavor. Pairs beautifully with rum.
• Dark or Gold Rum – The star flavor! Adds warmth, richness, and a touch of boozy sweetness. Also helps with moisture.
• Heavy Cream / Milk / Buttermilk – Adds moisture, tenderizes the cake, and reacts with baking powder for rise. Heavy cream gives extra richness.

The Rum Butter Glaze (Soak)

• Unsalted Butter – Gives a rich, velvety glaze that soaks into the cake, boosting flavor and moisture.
• Water –Helps dissolve the sugar and make the glaze pourable without being too thick.
• Granulated Sugar – Sweetens the glaze and forms a slightly sticky finish as it cools. Helps create that signature rum cake texture.
• Rum – Adds bold flavor to the glaze and gives the cake its boozy, Caribbean personality. Soaks into the cake for a moist, aromatic bite.

Make Rum Bundt Cake Recipe

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease and flour a bundt pan.
• Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well.
• Stir in extracts, then alternate flour mixture and cream + rum.
• Pour batter into pan and bake.
• Cool 10 minutes before inverting.
• For the glaze:
• Melt butter, add water and sugar. Bring to a simmer until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in rum.
• Poke holes in each mini cake and spoon glaze evenly over warm cakes.

Tips & Variations

• No milk or buttermilk? Heavy cream works perfectly and gives a rich texture.
• Want a stronger rum flavor? Add 1–2 tablespoons extra rum to the glaze or drizzle a bit over the cooled cake before serving.
• Make it festive: Add chopped pecans to the pan before pouring in the batter for a nutty topping.
• Flavor twist: Add orange zest or ground cinnamon to the batter for extra warmth.

Optional Add-Ins & Garnishes:

• Powdered Sugar (for dusting)- A light dusting adds a finished look and a touch of sweetness to the presentation.
• Chopped Pecans (for base of bundt pan)– They add crunch to the cake. They also provide a nutty contrast to its soft texture.
• Orange Zest or Spices (cinnamon, nutmeg)– Adds warmth and complexity. Great for holiday versions.

Why Mini Rum Cakes Make the Perfect Gift

Mini rum bundt cakes are the ultimate homemade gift. They’re easy to package, stay fresh for days, and look elegant when wrapped in cellophane with a ribbon. Perfect for:

• Holidays
• Birthdays
• Housewarming gifts
• Weddings or bridal showers

Often Asked Questions: Rum Cake Edition

Can I make rum cake without milk or buttermilk?

Yes! You can substitute heavy cream for milk or buttermilk in this recipe. It actually adds extra richness and moisture to the cake. Just be sure to mix it well with the rum before adding to the batter.

What rum is best for rum cake?

For the best flavor, use a dark rum or gold rum like:

• Appleton Estate
• Wray & Nephew (Gold)
• Myers’s Rum
• Spiced rum (for a warm twist)

Avoid white rum—it’s too light and lacks the depth needed for baking.

Do I make these mini rum bundt cakes in muffin pans?

Yes! You can use a standard muffin tin if you don’t have 4-inch bundt pans. Grease each cup well, fill ⅔ full, and reduce baking time to about 18–22 minutes. They’ll still soak up the rum glaze beautifully.

 Can I make this recipe alcohol-free?

Yes, for an alcohol-free version:

• Replace rum in the batter with rum extract (1–2 teaspoons) and extra cream or milk.
• In the glaze, use water or apple juice + rum extract instead of real rum.

The flavor won’t be the same but will still be delicious!

How do I store rum cake?

• Store at room temperature (wrapped or in an airtight container) for up to 4 days.
• Refrigerate for up to a week—just bring to room temperature before serving.
• Rum cake freezes well! Wrap in plastic, then foil, and freeze for up to 3 months.

Why is my rum cake dry?

Common reasons for dry cake:

• Overbaking (check early and use a toothpick)
• Not enough liquid (don’t skip the cream + rum mixture)
• Skipping the glaze (the butter-rum glaze soaks into the cake and keeps it moist)

 Can I make rum cake ahead of time?

Absolutely! Rum cake tastes even better the next day as the glaze soaks in and the flavors deepen. Make it up to 2–3 days ahead for best flavor.

How much batter should I put in a mini bundt pan?

Fill your 4-inch mini bundt pans about ⅔ full to prevent overflow while giving the batter room to rise.

Do I need to poke holes in the cake before glazing?

Yes. Use a skewer or toothpick to poke small holes in the cake. This helps the rum glaze fully absorb for maximum moistness and flavor.

What’s the difference between mini rum cakes and a regular one?

The recipe is nearly the same, but mini cakes bake faster (25–30 minutes) and are perfect for:

• Gifting
• Individual servings
• Holiday dessert trays The mini version soaks up the glaze more evenly. It delivers more edge-to-center texture in each bite.

More Cake Recipes You’ll Love

Jamaican Black Rum Cake

Hummingbird Cake

Jamaican Toto Cake (Coconut Cake Recipe)

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

John 14:6 NKJV

Wisdom

Jesus is the only Son of the true and living God. God the Father created himself in the flesh through the Virgin Mary. He placed His holy spirit in her egg and birthed Jesus. Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God.

God sent Jesus into the world to save us from our sin. He was the ultimate sacrifice for sins. Anyone who believes in Him will not die. Instead, they will have eternal life and go to heaven, where the Father is. For the blood that he shed, once we believe, will wash us clean.

He would remember our sins no more. But if you don’t believe you are condemned to hell. For you have no one to atone for your sins. For we sin against God alone, because it is He who made us all and not we ourselves.

We will all be judged by his rules. His rules show us that we are all sinners. We need a savior because no flesh can follow all his Laws for their whole life. An if we say we have no sin we make Him a liar and truth is not in us.

Wisdom cont..

Jesus alone was capable of living this life with no sin. He died on the cross. He buried the laws of sin in himself. Then he came back to life to free us from those laws. Finally, he ascended into heaven. It is by grace through faith in Him that we are saved.

When we truly believe and confess that he is Lord, he will seal us with the Holy Spirit. This gift helps us walk in his spirit, not in our sinful nature. Get baptized. Our baptism reflects his death, burial, and resurrection into new life.

Dying to our old life of sin and coming into new life where we dedicate ourselves to serving Him. He alone has the power to save. His name alone is the only name by which we can be saved, nothing or no one else.

No other god, no other being, no other person. He died to free us. He holds the keys to death and hell. He decides who lives and who dies. As he himself said, No one can come to the Father except through Him.

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