Easy Rum Cake Recipe {Make Ahead Cake with Buttery Rum Glaze} (2024)

This easy rum cake starts with a butter flavored cake mix. Vanilla pudding keeps the cake moist. There’s rum in both the cake and the glaze!

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Easy Rum Cake Recipe {Make Ahead Cake with Buttery Rum Glaze} (1)

Easy Rum Cake Recipe

Rum cake is a classic, old fashioned recipe that has been made often over the years. This easy version starts with a cake mix and a homemade glaze that you drizzle over the top of the baked cake. It has a strong rum flavor and is perfect for an evening dessert alongside a scoop of ice cream or cup of coffee.

Butter Rum Cake Recipe

One rich flavor combination is butter and rum. This recipe tastes best if you start with a butter golden cake mix. If you can’t find a butter cake mix, use yellow cake and add ½ teaspoon to 1 teaspoon of butter extract to get the same flavor. This cake has a rich, warm flavor that many love!

Does alcohol cook off in baking?

Alcohol actually doesn’t cook off as much as you might think during cooking. It takes a long time of simmering in order for most of the alcohol to burn off. Will you get drunk off of rum cake? Not likely. But you may want to think twice if you are serving this cake to someone who is sensitive to alcohol. If you’d like to do more reading on this, I found this article very informative.

What can I use instead of rum?

The rum in this cake gives it the flavor it has so there is not a good substitution for the rum. If you’d like you can use a fruit juice, ginger ale or lemon-lime soda. But just please know that it will not really be a rum cake then. If you don’t like rum, you could try a 7up cake or our butter pecan cake.

How do you make a rum cake?

Because this cake is made with a cake mix, it’s not hard at all to mix up. Here are some tips:

  • Grease and flour the bundt cake pan. Grease it with shortening…or use our cake release for perfect cakes every time!
  • Sprinkle walnuts in the bottom of the pan. Then your cake will look so pretty as the batter bakes around the walnuts.
  • Make the rum glaze while the cake is baking.
  • While the cake is still in the pan, poke holes in the top using a fork or toothpick. Drizzle the warm glaze over the cake and allow it to soak down in the holes.
  • Let the cake sit for 30 minutes, then turn it out onto a plate to cool completely.

Easy Rum Cake Recipe {Make Ahead Cake with Buttery Rum Glaze} (2)

How do I make a glaze for rum cake?

To make the glaze for rum cake, boil together sugar, water, butter and rum. Allow it to boil gently for only about 5 minutes. All the sugar crystals will melt in giving you a nice simple syrup to pour over your cake. Buttery glaze makes the cake taste so rich!

Does rum cake need refrigerated?

This easy rum cake is ok at room temperature. Just make sure it is in an airtight container. The rum acts as a natural preservative.

Can you freeze rum cake?

Rum cake can easily be frozen! Store the cake in a zippered freezer bag, or wrap it tightly with several layers of plastic wrap. Store the cake in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you are ready to defrost it, remove the cake from the freezer. Don’t unwrap the cake until it is completely thawed out. All of the moisture will stay in the cake that way. You can defrost the cake slowly in the refrigerator (this will take at least 12 hours) or if you need it more quickly, defrost it at room temperature.

Easy Rum Cake Recipe {Make Ahead Cake with Buttery Rum Glaze} (3)

Other Bundt Cake Recipes

WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE THIS CAKE

  • Bundt Cake Pan: This is a classic, must-have kitchen tool.
  • Bundt Cake Carrier: Store your cake in this carrier to keep it fresh and easy to transport!
  • Cake Plate: I have this cake plate and everyone loves it! It comes with the cute server too.

Easy Rum Cake Recipe {Make Ahead Cake with Buttery Rum Glaze} (4)

Easy Rum Cake Recipe {Make Ahead Cake with Buttery Rum Glaze} (5)

Easy Rum Cake

4.10 from 31 votes

This easy rum cake starts with a butter flavored cake mix. Vanilla pudding keeps the cake moist. There's rum in both the cake and the glaze!

Servings 12

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1 box butter golden cake mix
  • 1 small box vanilla pudding (3.5 ounces)
  • ½ cup rum
  • ½ cup water
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 4 large eggs

Glaze:

  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup water
  • ½ cup butter
  • ¼ cup rum

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

  • To prepare the pan, grease and flour a 10” bundt cake pan. Sprinkle the chopped walnuts in the prepared pan.

  • Combine the cake mix, pudding mix, rum, water and oil. Beat well.

  • Add eggs one at a time, beating between each addition.

  • Pour the batter into the prepared bundt pan.

  • Bake for 60 minutes.

  • While the cake is baking, prepare the glaze. In a saucepan over medium low heat, mix together the sugar, water and butter. Bring this to a low boil and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in the rum. (If you'd like to cook the rum, you can! That will remove a very slight amount of the alcohol.)

  • Prick the top of the cake with a fork and while the cake is still in the pan, pour the glaze over the cake. Give it at least 30 minutes to sink into the cake.

  • Turn the cake out onto a plate to cool completely.

  • This cake is best when it has time to sit. Store it in an airtight container and serve it the next day.

Video

Notes

The calories shown are based on the cake being cut into 15 pieces, with 1 serving being 1 slice of cake. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information.**

Nutrition

Calories: 475kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 82mg | Sodium: 406mg | Potassium: 86mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 325IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 112mg | Iron: 1.5mg

Author Julie

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Calories 475

Keyword cake mix recipe, cake with alcohol, cake with rum, easy cake, easy cake recipe, rum cake

Have you tried this recipe?

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Easy Rum Cake Recipe {Make Ahead Cake with Buttery Rum Glaze} (6)

Easy Rum Cake Recipe {Make Ahead Cake with Buttery Rum Glaze} (2024)

FAQs

How long will a rum cake stay fresh? ›

Storage: The rum cake can be stored, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, at room temperature for up to 5 days. 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.

Do you put rum cake in the fridge? ›

Does rum cake need refrigerated? This easy rum cake is ok at room temperature. Just make sure it is in an airtight container. The rum acts as a natural preservative.

How long does rum cake last in fridge? ›

How long will my cake last? Rum acts as a natural preservative providing a long “shelf-life” for our cakes. In the original, unopened packaging, the cakes will last for 5-6 months at room temperature, or a year in the freezer. Once opened, the large, 32 oz, cakes are best consumed within two weeks.

How do you store rum cake overnight? ›

You can also store rum cake in an airtight plastic cover if you know that you will be consuming it shortly. This applies to all rum cakes that come with no frosting and in single layers. If your rum cake comes in several layers, cover it by putting it under an inverted bowl. Then store the rum cake inside the fridge.

Can I make a cake 3 days in advance? ›

Un-iced: If you don't need to ice your cake until the day, you can bake your cake at least 2-3 days ahead of time. But you will need to store it carefully. Wrap it and seal it in an airtight container so it doesn't lose moisture.

Which rum is best for rum cake? ›

What is the best rum for rum cake? Captain Morgan is dark rum and will bring a spicier, more complex flavor to your cake. Buy on Drizly! Angostura 5 years has flavors of toffee and caramel with hints of warm spices.

How do you store a cake the night before? ›

An unfrosted cake will store at room temperature, wrapped in plastic wrap, for 24 hours. You can refrigerate it for up to 3 days. To freeze unfrosted cakes, tightly wrap the individual layers in foil for up to 1 month.

Can you leave cake in fridge overnight before decorating? ›

Instead of simply trying to frost it at room temperature, wrap the layers in plastic and put them in the refrigerator for at least a couple of hours or even overnight. In fact, the layers can be kept in the refrigerator for up to a week if you need to space out your cake baking project.

How do you refrigerate a cake without drying it out? ›

How to refrigerate cake
  1. Unfrosted: Before refrigerating, wrap the cake or cake layers in plastic wrap to protect them from drying out or absorbing refrigerator smells.
  2. Frosted: Chill the cake uncovered for 15 minutes to harden the icing, then loosely wrap it in plastic wrap.
11 Oct 2022

Does a rum cake get better with age? ›

The longer this cake sits, the better the taste. Enjoy it plain, or top it with vanilla ice cream. And for an extra special treat for adults, drizzle some more rum over the ice cream. It's also the perfect cake to send as a gift through the mail because the rum acts as a preservative.

Can you get drunk eating rum cake? ›

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.

Does alcohol evaporate in rum cake? ›

FAQs. Does the alcohol cook out of rum cake? Yes, it does, especially during the baking/heating process.

Does refrigerating cake make it dry? ›

Refrigeration dries sponge cakes out. It's that simple. Even if you refrigerate a cake in a perfectly sealed container and only for a short amount of time, it will dry out.

How do you store a cake overnight without plastic wrap? ›

If you don't have plastic wrap, opt for a plastic zip-top bag. Store these wrapped cakes on the counter at room temperature, and they'll keep for about a week before starting to stale on you. Oil-based cakes tend to keep a day or two longer than butter-based ones.

Is it OK to bake a cake 2 days in advance? ›

Cakes can be baked up to two days in advance, stored tightly wrapped with plastic wrap in the fridge or at room temperature. Cupcakes can be baked one day in advance and stored (frosted or unfrosted)s in an airtight container in the fridge or at room temperature.

Can I decorate a cake 2 days in advance? ›

Yes, just make sure to cover the cake well until you serve so that it doesn't dry out. If the cake has perishable frosting or filling, then you'll need to store it in the fridge, but if it doesn't, it's likely fine to remain at room temperature, covered well. Can I decorate a cake two days in advance?

Can I bake a cake 5 days in advance? ›

Although the most cake is best baked and eaten fresh, you can bake cakes in advance. Sponge cakes only tolerate a day or so in advance, but butter cakes will last for three days and fruit cakes for five months. You can freeze baked, cooled sponge and butter cakes for a month and a fruit cake for up to a year.

Does the rum bake out of rum cake? ›

Does Rum Cake Contain Alcohol? Though there is rum in both the cake and sauce, a lot of it cooks off during the baking/heating process. That being said, the conventional saying that “all” of the alcohol cooks out during baking isn't completely true.

What brand of rum is good for baking? ›

Bacardi Gold

The gold standard for sweet but dry white rum that works well in many applications including beverages and desserts such as baked goods, puddings, ice cream, and cakes. Bacardi Gold offers a very sweet, smooth rum that doesn't overpower the other flavors in your recipe.

Can I use rum instead of water in cake mix? ›

Baking with booze—such as bourbon, rum, port and vodka—can add additional flavor, texture and even change the consistency of many baked goods. Take pie dough for example, adding a splash of vodka produces a super flakey dough and develops less gluten in the dough than water. For tarts and shortbread dough—same thing!

Should you place your cake in the refrigerator before the second coat? ›

"Prepare, bake, and cool the cake completely. Then, wrap each cake layer in cling film, nice and tight, and place in the fridge for at least two hours," he says. That's right, you won't be frosting your cake at room temperature; a chilled cake is essential before applying any frosting. "This step is the most important.

Should I wrap my cake in cling film? ›

Always wrap sponges, cupcakes or cake slices well in cling film. This is to create a protective barrier and to prevent them from drying out. Ensure all cut sides are completely covered to prevent the sponge from going dry.

Can a cake sit out overnight uncovered? ›

An uncut frosted cake that's been frosted with buttercream, fondant, or ganache can last at room temperature for up to five days. Keep it covered with a cake keeper or a bowl to protect it from dust or other particles.

Is it better to frost a cake the night before or day of? ›

Q: Can I frost a cake the day before? A: You sure can! An unsliced, frosted cake will be just as delicious the next day. The only exception would be a cake frosted with any fresh whipped cream frosting.

How far in advance can you stack a tiered cake? ›

How far in advance can wedding cakes be stacked? It's best to leave the icing to dry overnight before stacking. However, place all the dowelss in before the icing dries to prevent cracking when the dowel are pushed in. Hope this helps and that I've understood your question.

Why you shouldn't Put cake in the fridge? ›

Drying out cake is the reason why you shouldn't store the dessert in the refrigerator, if at all possible. If your cake is frosted, Allrecipes suggests just finding a nice cover for the cake and leaving it out at room temperature.

How do you keep a cake moist all day? ›

How to Keep Cake Moist in Storage?
  1. Icing your cake is an easy and delicious way to seal in your cake's moisture. ...
  2. Using an air-tight container is the best and easiest way to keep your cake from getting exposed to air.

How do you keep a cake moist the next day? ›

How do you keep a cake moist for days? If the cake is unfrosted, then you can wrap it in plastic wrap and store it on the counter for five days or in the freezer for weeks. If frosted, the shelf life shortens a bit, but it also ensures that the cake stays moist as frosting seals the cake and keeps the moisture inside.

Do cake domes keep cakes fresh? ›

CAKE DOMES

There is a reason you see cake domes in restaurants and bakeries, covering the beautiful desserts and pastries. They keep any breads, muffins or pastries completely fresh for days, and the bonus is they look beautiful too.

Can you drive after eating rum cake? ›

While the amounts of alcohol in these foods, drinks, or medications are not enough to impair your driving, the alcohol content can be high enough to cause a test failure. These can include: Rum cake.

Can rum cake make you fail a drug test? ›

Flavoring extracts, such as vanilla or almond extract, and liquid herbal extracts could result in a positive drug test for alcohol. Foods cooked with wine should be avoided, such as cherries jubilee, baked Alaska, rum cake, burgundy chicken, and flambé dishes.

How much alcohol can you put in a cake? ›

Alcohol improves the flavor of a cake in two ways.
...
How to Bake with Alcohol.
Type of Alcohol% Alcohol by VolumeAlcohol Addition
Liquor20-952-12 Tablespoons
Liqueurs15-304-12 Tablespoons
Wine and Fortified Wines10-208-16 Tablespoons
1 more row
15 Dec 2015

Does alcohol burn off when baked in a cake? ›

It is true that some of the alcohol evaporates, or burns off, during the cooking process. “Some” being the operative word. Exactly how much depends on many factors.

What happens if you put too much alcohol in a cake? ›

It could ruin the taste of the recipe, so add alcohol with caution. Too little alcohol and you may not taste it in the dish, but too much will overpower your recipe and ruin it. Always check alcohol levels with the recipe given.

How do you moisten a cake with alcohol? ›

Poke holes in your just-cooked cake with a skewer and spoon over 2 tbsp alcohol until it has all soaked in. Leave the cake to cool completely in the tin.

How long does it take for alcohol to cook off of a cake? ›

The longer you cook, the more alcohol cooks out, but you have to cook food for about 3 hours to fully erase all traces of alcohol. A study from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Nutrient Data lab confirmed this and added that food baked or simmered in alcohol for 15 minutes still retains 40 percent of the alcohol.

At what temperature does alcohol bake off? ›

SaveWhen cooking with wine or liquor, does all the alcohol burn off? SaveThe answer is no. It's true that alcohol boils at a much lower temperature than water (173 degrees Fahrenheit compared with 212 degrees Fahrenheit), so in a sauce, for example, the alcohol will begin to evaporate before the water does.

How long does cake last in an airtight container? ›

Un-iced whole cakes: If you've made a cake and plan to decorate it later, place it inside an airtight container and cover with a lid. This will not only help lock in freshness and moisture but also prevent dust and other air particles from getting to it. Store in a cool, dry place for 4-5 days.

Does wrapping cake in foil keep it fresh? ›

Fruit cakes, sultana loaves and anything with a high acid content will corrode the foil if it comes into direct contact with it. This will lead to mould, and will give a metallic taste to your cake. Instead, wrap your cake in a double layer of greaseproof paper and then a layer of foil to ensure it is kept at its best.

How do you keep a cake fresh for 3 days? ›

How to Keep Cakes Fresh and Flavorful
  1. Store when completely cooled. Cakes with frostings or fillings containing dairy products should be refrigerated.
  2. Store under cake cover or large bowl. ...
  3. Freeze unfrosted cakes. ...
  4. Freeze cakes with frosting. ...
  5. Thaw cakes at room temperature.
28 Jun 2017

Does wrapping a cake keep it moist? ›

If you wrap the cake as soon as it is cool enough to touch, it will stay moist. As long as you keep your unfrosted cake parts from touching the air, they will stay moist.

Can rum cake be left out? ›

As far as stable cakes go, a rum cake is one of your best options. It doesn't have to be refrigerated and the rum and sugar do a lot to increase the shelf life. Also, a glaze is much less likely to be damaged than frosting.

How long will a cake stay fresh without refrigeration? ›

Room Temperature Storage: Most birthday cakes can last a few days at room temperature, roughly around 3 days before the moisture evaporates. Keep your cake in a cake tin or an airtight container for best results.

How long can a cake stay unrefrigerated? ›

Frosting acts as a protective barrier for the cake, so there's no need for plastic wrap here. Cover it with a cake keeper or an overturned bowl to protect it from dust, pet hair, and other things in the air. A frosted cake can be kept at room temperature for four to five days.

Will a cake stay fresh for 2 days? ›

Typically, a cake will only stay fresh for up to three or four days before the moisture is drawn out and the texture becomes drier. A cake can last in a fridge for a little bit longer if it has been frosted as the frosting keeps the moisture in the sponge.

Can you get tipsy from rum cake? ›

It is possible to become intoxicated from consumption of an excessive amount of rum cake, and some rum cakes contain even more than five percent of certain grain alcohols, though some are made to consistently contain less than 0.5% alcohol.

Can you get a buzz from eating rum cake? ›

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.

How long is sealed rum cake good for? ›

Each Cayman Island cake is vacuum packed and heat-sealed with a shelf life of 12 months. Refrigerated or frozen, they'll last indefinitely. Keep an extra Tortuga Rum Cake in the pantry or freezer for spur of the moment celebrations!

How far in advance can I decorate a cake? ›

Can I decorate a cake two days in advance? Generally yes, as long as you store it properly. Make sure that it's a freshly baked cake and that you didn't bake it days before you decorate it though. A cake generally needs to be served within 3-4 days from it being baked, or it's just not very fresh.

Is it better to put a cake in the fridge or leave it out? ›

Should You Refrigerate Cake? You should avoid refrigeration in most cases. Unless your cake features perishable materials that could spoil—like cream frosting, fresh fruit, ice cream, mascarpone, or whipped cream—it's actually better off at room temperature.

Does refrigerating cake dry it out? ›

Refrigeration dries sponge cakes out. It's that simple. Even if you refrigerate a cake in a perfectly sealed container and only for a short amount of time, it will dry out.

How do you keep a cake moist after baking? ›

How to Keep Cake Moist in Storage?
  1. Icing your cake is an easy and delicious way to seal in your cake's moisture. ...
  2. Using an air-tight container is the best and easiest way to keep your cake from getting exposed to air.

Can I ice a cake the day before? ›

Q: Can I frost a cake the day before? A: You sure can! An unsliced, frosted cake will be just as delicious the next day. The only exception would be a cake frosted with any fresh whipped cream frosting.

How to make a cake ahead of time? ›

Making Cakes Ahead of Time
  1. After you've frosted your cake completely, freeze the cake for about 30 to 60 minutes to set the outer coat of frosting.
  2. Once the frosting is set, wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap.
  3. The night before you want to serve your cake, move it to the refrigerator (still wrapped).
30 Nov 2022

When should I bake a cake for a party? ›

Cakes can be unfrosted until the day of the event. If you don't intend to frost your cake until the big day, then you can bake it up to a few days in advance. An unfrosted cake that's tightly wrapped should last for up to a week.

Is cake good in the fridge for 3 days? ›

Refrigerating your cakes

Kept in the fridge, cake with buttercream or ganache topping will last for 3-4 days. If the cake has custard, cream, cream cheese or fresh fruit it will last 1-2 days at most.

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