We're so in love with this easy Rum Cake recipe that's super soft, moist, and infused with the most delicious glaze. It's simple enough for beginners but impressive enough for guests.
Rum Cake hits the sweet spot.
Rum Cake hits the sweet spot.I love how a homemade rum cake feels a little more unique and special while still being incredibly easy. My version is basically a moist homemade yellow cake with a hint of rum flavor and a warm rum glaze poured on top of the hot cake so it soaks in and makes the rum cake extra moist and flavorful.
As far as the alcohol in rum cake I use Bicardi Gold or dark Myer's rum, but use any kind you like (the alcohol mostly evaporates during the baking/cooking process). If you want to make rum cake without alcohol, use one teaspoon of rum extract in place of the rum.
Don't miss my other unique cake recipes like Coconut Cake, Meringue Roulade, Biscoff Cake, Cookie Cake, or Cinnamon Roll Cake!
How to make Rum Cake:
Make Cake Batter: Whisk milk, sour cream, and rum and allow to come to room temperature. In a separate bowl whip butter then add sugar. Mix in vanilla then add eggs and egg yolks, one at a time. In a separate bowl combine cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add ⅓ of the dry ingredients to batter, mixing until combined. Add ½ of the milk mixture. Repeat with the dry ingredients and milk/sour cream mixture until incorporated.
Bake: Pour batter into a well greased 12 cup bundt pan and bake at 350°F (180°C) for about 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean or with few moist crumbs.
Make Glaze while cake is baking. Allow cake to cool in pan for 15 minutes, then invert onto a cool rack, wipe pan clean, and place cake back in pan. Poke holes all over the cake then gently pour most of the glaze over the cake, reserving a little for topping later. Allow homemade rum cake to soak up glaze, then invert onto a plate or serving platter. Spoon remaining glaze on top before serving.
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Recipe
Rum Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup milk (62g), room temperature
- 1/3 cup sour cream (76g), room temperature (light or regular)
- 1/3 cup rum (79g), Bicardi Gold or Dark Myer's rum, or your favorite kind
- 1 cup butter (227g), room temperature
- 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar (350g)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 large eggs , room temperature
- 2 large egg yolks , room temperature
- 2 1/4 cups cake flour (270g)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Glaze:
- ½ cup butter (113g)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (100g)
- ½ cup brown sugar (110g)
- ¼ cup rum (59g)
- ¼ cup heavy cream (57g)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (180°C) with oven rack in the center of oven.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: Whisk the milk, sour cream and rum together in a liquid measure and let come to room temperature.¼ cup milk, ⅓ cup sour cream, ⅓ cup rum
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl or stand mixer whip the butter on medium speed for 1 minute. Add the granulated sugar and beat for 3-4 minutes until light and fluffy. Add vanilla. Add eggs and egg yolks, one at a time, mixing just between additions. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.1 cup butter, 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 3 large eggs, 2 large egg yolks
- Mix Dry Ingredients: Combine the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.2 ¼ cups cake flour, 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder, ¼ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt
- Alternate Ingredients: Add ⅓ of the dry ingredients to the batter and mix just until combined. Add ½ of the milk/sour cream mixture and mix. Add another ⅓ of the dry ingredients, mixing just until combined. Add the last ½ of the milk/sour cream mixture and beat until just combined. Add the final ⅓ of the dry ingredients and mix just until combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl.
- Bake: Grease and flour bundt pan. (I use shortening, and make sure every crevice of the pan is coated. The lightly dust with flour). Pour batter evenly into the pan and bake at 350 degrees F for about 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, or with few crumbs.
- Glaze: Add glaze ingredients to a saucepan over medium heat. Stir well until butter has melted and mixture is smooth. Bring mixture to a boil, stirring, and boil for 2 minutes.½ cup butter, ½ cup granulated sugar, ½ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup rum, ¼ cup heavy cream, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Finish Cake: Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 15 minutes before gently inverting it. (I like to remove the cake first, to make sure to get it out easily). Then wipe the pan clean and put the cake back in it. Poke holes all over the cake and gently pour most of the glaze over the cake, reserving just a little.
- Serve: Allow the cake to soak up the glaze and then invert it onto a plate or serving platter. Spoon remaining glaze on top before serving.
- Store leftover rum cake covered in the refrigerator.
Notes
Nutrition
I originally shared this recipe August 2019. Updated April 2022 and May 2025.
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Best Rum cake recipe I’ve ever made!! Thank you for sharing!
My go to rum cake recipe! I add cinnamon for a little warmth and it goes great with the rum flavor. Thank you!
This cake was a hit with my co workers. They begged me to make more. I told them I would for Christmas.
I made this cake recipe and brought it to work. Everyone loved it and wants me to make another. I told them I will make another one for Christmas.
I made this cake for a bake sale. It was my first time making a rum cake, and it turned out beautifully. I love how tender and even the texture was, and the mild rum flavor was perfect. Thank you for a great recipe. It was my first rum cake, but it won’t be my last.
Love this recipe. I let the cake soak overnight with the glaze and it is perfection.
This turned out amazing! I’m always a little apprehensive making an American recipe living in the UK. Some ingredients are different and measures/temperatures but the built in conversion worked a treat! I used Barcardi Gold Caribbean Rum and Polish cake flour from Tesco. This cake was light & fluffy with the flavour of rum coming through nicely. The glaze was DELICIOUS! Buttery smooth and so yummy. I made this for a work gathering and everyone loved it! Many compliments given. We used the left over cream from the glaze to add to it when serving. DELICIOUS! Can’t wait to make again!! Thank you so much for the recipe 😊
I added a cup of rum, and a hellish amount of butter. As for the glaze, I used a cup of butter, a cup of sugar and at least a cup more of rum and soaked it until it wouldn’t accept anymore … then added MORE!
Followed this recipe to the T. It was moist and the taste of rum wasnt overpowering. Our new favorite cake and definitely a keeper.
The very best rum cake recipe I have ever made.
The cake was perfect!! Everyone agreed that this is a keeper. Thanks for the great recipe!!
Can this recipe be made with nuts (walnuts/pecans)?
I usually don’t comment but I must say… that Rum Cake recipe is the best ever. I did it exactly as your directions and when I tell you I was so pleased. I love it!!! It’s my new holiday dessert. Thank you.