Caribbean Rum Cake Recipe – Moist decadent Rum Cake, with coconut and pineapple. This is the perfect bundt cake for any occasion!

Slice of Caribbean rum cake on a colorful plate.

Rum Cake for Every Occasion!

Today’s Caribbean Rum Cake brims with treasures from the islands.

Coconut, almond, pineapple, vanilla, and of course spiced rum infuse their opulence into this cake.

Our Caribbean Spiced Rum Cake’s fragrance rivals its flavor. This is one exceptional cake.

Rum cake (bundt cake) with shredded coconut sprinkled on top.

Caribbean Rum Cake Recipe… from Grandma

It is truly a special occasion when Caribbean Rum Cake graces your table. My sweet little T-totaling grandmother had a special rum cake she would make for Christmas every year.

She would have her neighbor secretly buy the rum for her, so she wouldn’t be seen in the liquor store.

Spiced rum cake ingredients

I remember one family reunion at her house all of the cousins were putting away dishes after the meal.

We discovered her hiding place for the bottle of booze she reserved for her cake. We were shocked to discover her secret and had quite a good laugh about it!

Hand pouring milk into a mixing bowl with rum and eggs.

Best Rum Cake Recipe

This Caribbean Rum Cake is a made-from-scratch, in-it-to-win-it, committed for the long haul, seriously delicious cake.

It is not a quickie box mix version. However, that doesn’t mean it is difficult to make.

On the contrary, it is really quite simple to follow the steps. The challenge is in the waiting.

Yes, waiting is the hardest part… Waiting through the hour-long baking process as luscious aromas waft through the air. Waiting for the buttery pineapple spiced rum syrup to absorb and saturate the golden, fragrant, Caribbean Spiced Rum Cake.

Hand poking holes into the bottom of the rum cake still in the cake pan.
Pouring spiced rum over the top of the cake in the budnt pan.

Jamaican Rum Cake Recipe Secrets

Since patience is a virtue, we must be virtuous and patiently resist the urge to prematurely pop it from its pan and dig in.

Dusting the pan with an almond meal serves a dual purpose to help it release easily from the pan, and add additional almond flavor.

It is best to keep the oven door closed and let the cake bake for at least 50 minutes before checking on it.

I assure you, there is no way this cake will be dry after saturating it with buttery spiced rum syrup.

Pouring a glaze over the top of the Jamaican rum bundt cake.

Topped with pineapple rum glaze, sprinkled with toasted coconut, all of your patience will be rewarded, and the wait forgotten, as you savor your Caribbean Spiced Rum Cake.

Thanks for the inspiration grandma!

Hand sprinkling coconut over the top of the rum bundt cake.

Rum Cake Ingredients

Here’s what you will need for the spiced rum cake, rum syrup, and glaze…

  • All-purpose flour
  • Corn starch
  • Powdered milk
  • Baking powder
  • Salt
  • Unsweetened shredded coconut
  • Granulated sugar
  • Unsalted butter
  • Unsweetened coconut milk
  • Extra large eggs
  • Dark spiced rum
  • Vanilla extract
  • Almond extract – Just a teaspoon
  • Crushed pineapple – Save the juices
  • Almond meal – For dusting the pan
  • Nonstick cooking spray
  • Powdered sugar
Overhead shot of the best rum cake recipe.

How to Make Rum Cake

Instructions – makes about 18 slices

  1. Preheat the oven. Spray a 12-cup bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray and dust with almond meal.
  2. Beat. With an electric mixer or stand mixer, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar in a mixing bowl. In a separate bowl mix all the dry ingredients together, including the shredded coconut. Then beat the dry mixture into the butter mixture. It will be crumbly.
  3. Whisk in the wet: coconut milk, eggs, rum, extracts, and drained crushed pineapple together, and add to the mixer. Beat until the cake batter is combined.
  4. Bake. Pour the batter into the pan and bake until golden. Insert a toothpick into the center of the cake, to test if it’s done.
  5. Simmer the syrup. On medium heat, bring the alcohol mixture to a simmer and cook until it begins to thicken slightly. This rum sauce will be poured over the cake. 
  6. Poke. With a wooden skewer, poke holes throughout the cake. Then slowly pour the syrup over it, allowing it to absorb until all the syrup is gone.
  7. Cover. Cover the pan loosely with plastic wrap and let it sit at room temperature for 6-8 hours.
  8. Remove From Pan. When ready to serve, gently slide a thin knife between the cake and the edges of the pan to loosen. Cover the cake with a cake plate and carefully flip. Once your cake has released, remove the pan.
  9. Make the glaze. Mix the glaze ingredients, adding more powdered sugar to reach your desired consistency. It should be very thick, and pour over the cake. Make sure to use any remaining glaze for better taste. 
  10. Toast the coconut in a small dry skillet, over medium heat. Stir until the coconut is golden-brown. Sprinkle over the top of the cake.

Get the Full (Printable) Caribbean Rum Cake Recipe Below!

Slice of pineapple rum cake on a plate with a fork.

Tips & Tricks

  • Don’t over mix the batter! For a tender and soft cake, make sure you don’t over mix the cake batter. Mix the ingredients until just combined after you add the flour!
  • Be sure to thoroughly spray the bundt cake pan with non-stick spray and dust with almond meal to make sure that the cake doesn’t stick in any crevices!
  • While the cake is cooling, you can flip it onto a wire rack to let it slowly release from the pan.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Caribbean rum cake?

It is a cake that is traditionally enjoyed during the holidays in the Caribbean. It is a buttery and soft bundt cake that is soaked with rum for lots of flavor and moisture!

What is the best rum to use for rum cake?

For the most flavor, it is best to use a dark, spiced rum. Dark rum has a more sweet and complex flavor than white rum does!

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Caribbean Rum Cake Recipe

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
rest time: 6 hours
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Caribbean Rum Cake Recipe – An ultra moist and decadent classic rum cake with pineapple, toasted coconut, and rum glaze dripping down the sides.
Servings: 18 slices

Ingredients

For the Spiced Rum Cake:

For the Spiced Rum Syrup:

For the Glaze:

For the Topping:

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Spray a 12-cup bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray and dust with almond meal.
  • For the Cake: With an electric mixer, beat 1/2 cup of softened butter with 1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar. In a separate bowl mix all the dry ingredients together, including the shredded coconut. Then beat the dry mixture into butter mixture. It will be crumbly.
  • Whisk the coconut milk, eggs, rum, extracts, and drained crushed pineapple together, and add to the mixer. Beat until combined.
  • Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 55 minutes. Insert a toothpick into the center of the cake, if it comes out clean the cake is done. If not, bake for 5-10 minutes longer, then test again.
  • While the cake is cooling, prepare the spiced rum syrup. In a sauce pan combine all ingredients. On medium heat, bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 8-10 minutes until it begins to thicken slightly. Remove from heat.
  • With a wooden skewer, poke holes throughout the cake and slowly pour the syrup over it, a quarter cup at a time, allowing it to absorb until all the syrup has been applied.
  • Cover the pan loosely with plastic wrap and let it sit at room temperature for 6-8 hours.
  • When ready to serve, gently slide a thin knife between the cake and the edges of the pan to loosen. Cover the cake with a cake plate and carefully flip. Once your cake has released, remove pan.
  • Mix the glaze ingredients starting with 1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons of pineapple juice, and rum. Whisk and add more powdered sugar or juice to reach your desired consistency. It should be very thick, yet still be able to slowly drip down the sides of the cake.
  • Toast the coconut in a small dry skillet, over medium heat. Stir until the coconut is golden. Then sprinkle on top of the glaze.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice, Calories: 419kcal, Carbohydrates: 56g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 16g, Saturated Fat: 11g, Cholesterol: 65mg, Sodium: 226mg, Potassium: 256mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 42g, Vitamin A: 410IU, Vitamin C: 5.8mg, Calcium: 79mg, Iron: 1.4mg
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Caribbean
Author: Sommer Collier
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