Old-School Boozy Rum Cake #SundaySupper

by Anne Papina on January 20, 2013

Bacardi Rum Cake

When remembering the foods of your childhood, what stands out the most? I’d say it’s a tough call. I never really thought of my mom as having a signature dish, but if she did, it would likely be this classic Bacardi rum cake. Of course, here on Webicurean, most of the recipes are similarly old school. For me, there’s nothing like a trip down memory lane, especially if it’s in the kitchen. So when the #SundaySupper crew announced this week’s theme–retro recipes–I was all over it!

anne in kitchen

Trouble? Who me?

This rum cake falls squarely in the semi-homemade category, but no one can really tell the difference. I remember my mom bringing this to many parties, and it was always such a hit. Sometimes she’d bring it to Italian-Catholic Federation events, and the chapter president would squirrel it away for his board meeting instead. He was funny that way.

Anyway, the cake is super moist and the glaze makes it extremely boozy (should I mention the slight buzz I got from licking the batter off the bowl? nah) According to the notes in my copy of Best Recipes, this was the first cake ever to incorporate pudding into the recipe. Good call, I’d say!  Since the recipe first appeared, the box of cake mix has lost a couple of ounces, so this recipe has been adjusted accordingly. If you’d rather not use a box, you can try adding in this yellow scratch cake.

Let’s get baking!

nuts in pan

Since my bundt pan is non-stick, I just sprayed it with cooking spray. If you have an older pan that’s not non-stick, you should grease and flour the pan first. Then spread the chopped nuts evenly on the bottom.

rum cake batter

In a large bowl, beat the eggs with a fork, then stir in the water, oil, and rum.

rum cake batter

Then add in the dry cake mix and pudding and whisk or beat with a hand mixer until completely blended.

rumcake5

Pour into the pan, and bake for about 50 minutes until golden brown and toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let this cool for a few minutes.

Melted butter

Meanwhile, let’s get the glaze together. First you’ll need to melt the butter in a small pan.

rum glaze

Stir in the sugar and water, then bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil for about 5 minutes, then stir in the rum and remove from heat.

Bacardi Rum Cake

While the cake is still warm, invert onto serving plate, then prick the top and sides with a fork.

Bacardi Rum Cake

Spoon the hot glaze over the top and sides, and continue spooning over the cake until mostly absorbed. Enjoy!

5.0 from 2 reviews
Old-School Boozy Rum Cake
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Adapted from the classic Bacardi rum cake recipe, this cake is super boozy, super moist, and sure to be a hit.
Author:
Recipe type: dessert
Cuisine: american
Serves: 12
Ingredients
Cake
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts
  • 3 eggs
  • ½ cup cold water
  • ⅓ cup canola oil
  • ½ cup Bacardi Gold rum
  • 1 package Duncan Hines Classic yellow cake mix
  • 1 (3¾-oz.) package Jell-O vanilla instant pudding and pie filling
Glaze
  • 1 stick butter
  • ¼ cup water
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup Bacardi Gold rum
Instructions
Cake
  1. Preheat oven 325.
  2. Spray 10-inch tube or 12-cup Bundt pan with non-stick cooking spray.
  3. Sprinkle nuts evently on the bottom of the pan.
  4. In a large bowl, beat the eggs with a whisk. Stir in the water, oil, and rum. With the whisk or a hand mixer, add in the dry cake mix and the dry pudding.
  5. Pour batter into pan, and bake for 50 minutes, or until done.
  6. Cool cake for about 10-15 minutes, then invert onto serving plate and prick the top and sides with a fork.
  7. While the cake is still warm, spoon the hot glaze over the top and sides, and continue spooning over the cake until most of the glaze is absorbed.
Glaze
  1. Melt the butter in a small saucepan.
  2. Stir in sugar, water and rum, and bring to a boil, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes.
  3. Remove from heat.

 

Let’s see what others in the group have cooked up!

Sunday Supper Retro Appetizers:

Sunday Supper Retro Salads:

Sunday Supper Retro Breads and Sandwiches:

SundaySupper Main Dishes:

Sunday Supper Retro Sides and Veggies:

Sunday Supper Retro Desserts and Cocktails:

 

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{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }

Jennifer @ Peanut Butter and Peppers January 20, 2013 at 7:41 am

Your adorable! Love the rum cake! it’s gorgeous!!

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Jen @JuanitasCocina January 20, 2013 at 8:01 am

This may be semihomemade, but it’s 100% delicious!

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Katie January 20, 2013 at 9:47 am

I am cracking up over your “a bowl of cereal and an evil grin” caption. So funny!

You had me at the title with this one. Boozy rum cake…sign me up for a slice, please!

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Paula @ Vintage Kitchen January 20, 2013 at 9:50 am

This is an amazing cake, with our without the box! Love the caramelized nuts!

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Tara January 20, 2013 at 10:12 am

Now you have brought back a memory for me. My mother was not a cook/baker but she made this so many time. I would help her in the kitchen and remember using a big long super skinny knitting needle and poking the cake many times. I have also made this cake but not for many years. I wonder how much rum Bacardi sold in just making this cake alone!!

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BusyWorkingMama January 20, 2013 at 10:24 am

Love the evil grin – AND the recipe! Yummy!

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Heather @girlichef January 20, 2013 at 10:50 am

I absolutely could NOT wait to see this recipe…and now I absolutely cannot wait to make it. Oh. My. Gawsh. YUM.

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Sarah January 20, 2013 at 11:53 am

Hoooeee! Can’t go wrong with a good shot of booze!

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Erin @ Dinners, Dishes and Desserts January 20, 2013 at 1:29 pm

Love the cake, and the booze are just perfect!

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Jenne January 20, 2013 at 1:38 pm

I love RUM! I make a Barbadian rum cake that is killer. Might have to test this one out 😉

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Karen Hartzell January 20, 2013 at 1:43 pm

I love that you baked the nuts right into the top of the bundt! Genius! I am totally trying that for my next bundt (PB & Choc swirl) with peanuts! Gorgeous photos!

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Nicole @ The Daily Dish January 20, 2013 at 3:05 pm

Oh yum! I love rum cake! This looks fantastic.

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Alaiyo Kiasi January 20, 2013 at 3:39 pm

Your cake looks so moist. I’ll bet your family is enjoying eating this delectable-looking treat.

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Emily @ Life on Food January 20, 2013 at 4:56 pm

My mom makes this every year at Christmas. It is so good. We always fight over the last piece. Lovely!

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Liz January 20, 2013 at 5:24 pm

Oh, yeah!!! I love these doctored up cake mix cakes! Definitely retro and definitely delicious!!!

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Conni Smith January 20, 2013 at 11:03 pm

Beautiful! You can’t go wrong with rum cake! How very vintage 🙂

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Wendy (The Weekend Gourmet) January 21, 2013 at 12:42 pm

I could eat a huge slice of that yummy cake…I had a friend who used to bring them to work every Christmas for our office party. Everyone was in SUCH a great mood all afternoon after our potluck was over :)!

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Donna January 21, 2013 at 11:42 pm

Oh yeah! I make a similar rum cake at Christmas. So good!

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Laura Hunter | Small Wallet Big Appetite January 22, 2013 at 1:28 am

Oh my goodness this looks so moist. I have actually never had rum cake but I need to change that. Maybe I will request it as my birthday cake this year. 🙂

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Brandie (@ Home Cooking Memories) January 22, 2013 at 4:00 am

My husband LOVES Barcadi…also quite the fan of cakes…he would love this! I pinned for safe keeping, gonna have to try soon.

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Bea January 22, 2013 at 9:08 pm

Rum cake – oh, yum!!! It sounds so good. Btw – I very much like the picture of you in the kitchen. Nice 🙂

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Renee January 23, 2013 at 8:50 am

Cheers to rum cakes! Pass me a big slice please!!!

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Nancy @ gottagetbaked January 23, 2013 at 5:05 pm

Anne, I adore rum cakes! An ex employer of mine used to get up at 4 in the morning (we started work at 630) to bake them up fresh for us – it was one of her specialties. Boxed cake mix is definitely retro. I haven’t used one in a while but they’re fabulous when you want a delicious cake FAST 🙂

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Hezzi-D January 25, 2013 at 6:37 pm

Bicardi and cake? Delicious!

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Kim Bee January 25, 2013 at 8:58 pm

Okay boozy and cake together, brilliant. Just loving this recipe.

Reply

monisa June 25, 2019 at 7:37 am

Ohh dear, It looks so yummy.
thanks for sharing this. I am gonna try this soon today itself.

Reply

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