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How To Make
Jamaican Rum Cake From Scratch

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jamaican_rum_cake_pineappleJamaican Rum Cake From Scratch

by Sheree-Anita Shearer | Associate Writer

Jamaican Rum cake, not to be confused with the delicious Jamaican Black Cake or Christmas Cake is equally as tasty. As the name suggests, the dense spongey Bundt cake is not for those avoiding alcohol at the moment.

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If you would love to add this cake to your dessert collection, here is a very simple recipe.

Let’s take a look at the ingredients first.

Jamaican Rum Cake Recipe

INGREDIENTS

Cake

  • 2 1/4 cups flour
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 3 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 1/4 cups sugar
  • 1/2 cup soft butter
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup rum (any rum you like will do but we highly suggest J. Wray and Nephew)

Syrup

  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/2 to 3/4 cup rum
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

PROCEDURE

  1. First, you must preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit (165 degrees Celsius)
  2. Grease and flour your bundt or funnel pan and set aside.
  3. Add flour, butter, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, sugar and oil to your bowl and begin mixing on low speed until the butter and oil are fully incorporated in the dry ingredients. Your mixture should look crumbly at this point.
  4. As soon as you have achieved a crumbly, sand-like texture, individually crack and mix in the eggs as well. If you are using a standing mixer, you may need to scrape the sides after adding each egg.
  5. Finally, mix in the rum and vanilla extract until the batter is smooth.
  6. Pour your batter into the pan you have prepared and spread level with a spatula.
  7. Bake for an hour or until ready.
  8. Completely cool the cake on a wire rack.

While your cake bakes, you can add syrup to it after it's done and cool.

  1. Add butter, water and sugar to a small saucepan and bring to a slow boil for no more than 8 minutes. Your syrup is ready when it thickens slightly.
  2. Remove your saucepan from the heat and allow it to cool down entirely before adding the rum and vanilla extract.
  3. You can decide on the amount of rum you want to use.
  4. When your cake is done and cool, place it back into the bundt pan.
  5. Use a skewer to poke holes in the top of the cake through to the bottom before slowly spooning the syrup all over the cake. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and allow it to sit overnight. If you don’t have that much time to wait, leave it for at least 5 hours. This will allow the cake to soak in all the syrup.
  6. Serve with hot coffee or tea. The cake is very moist, fragrant and potent.

What should You Do If your cake gets stuck in the pan?

Sometimes the cake can get stuck in the pan because of the syrup. If this happens, place it in the oven to warm so the syrup softens. This will make it easier to release the cake.

How to check if your cake is ready

A wooden toothpick inserted in the centre is always a good method to check if your cakes are ready. If it is, then your toothpick should come out clean. If it doesn’t then it needs some more time. You can also use a cake tester if you have one, or an uncooked strand of uncooked spaghetti.

How to store Jamaican Rum Cake?

Store in an airtight plastic cake container at room temperature.

How Long Does Jamaican Rum Cake Last?

Wrap securely (or place under a cake cover) and store at room temperature for up to 5 days. Freeze for longer storage, up to 1 month.

Is Jamaican Rum Cake Vegan?

No, it isn’t but you can make substitutions for the non-vegan ingredients to make it vegan. You must substitute the flour, butter, sugar and eggs.

Can Jamaican rum cake make you drunk?

It is unlikely that one slice will get you drunk, but if you have an excessive amount it might. The amount of alcohol you add to your cake also plays a part.

Is Jamaican rum cake alcoholic?

Yes, just as the name suggests rum cake contains alcohol.

Can I drive after eating rum cake?

If you have a slice or two, then you should be ok. But if you feel as though you are unable to drive then don’t.

Can rum cake make you fail a drug test?

It is advised that all dishes cooked with rum, should be avoided should you have a drug test.

There are other ways to make a Jamaican rum cake with simpler methods. You can also add different flavours to your cake as well. Here's the recipe for a delicious Chocolate Rum Cake.

Watch Video! Simple and Easy Jamaican Rum Cake

Kayann's Christmas Cake was so delicious she had to come back to show us how to make the Jamaican Rum Cake as well.

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References & Sources For Jamaican Rum Cake From Scratch

  1. Parsons, B.C. (2020) Jamaican rum cake. the best recipe I've tried in 30 years of baking!, Rock Recipes. Available at: https://www.rockrecipes.com/jamaican-rum-cake/ (Accessed: December 14, 2022).
  2. Rapone, S. (2022) Jamaican rum cake recipe, Tasting Table. Tasting Table. Available at: https://www.tastingtable.com/816893/jamaican-rum-cake-recipe/ (Accessed: December 14, 2022).
  3. Recipe by MaryJane Robbins and Hamel, P.J. (no date) Caribbean-style Rum cake, King Arthur Baking. Available at: https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/caribbean-style-rum-cake-recipe (Accessed: December 14, 2022).

Jamaican Rum Cake From Scratch | Written: December 14, 2022

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