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Chocolate Rum Cake

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Chocolate Rum Cake that is a moist and decadent cake that tastes better the longer it sits. The chocolate rum syrup soaks into the cake and keeps the cake soft and tender. 

chocolate rum cake

I’ve heard that in Germany there is a tradition that each afternoon, you enjoy a cup of coffee and a slice of cake. Kaffee und kuchen. I feel like since I will be living in Germany this summer, I need to start embracing the German way of life as soon as possible. This tradition will begin today and every afternoon henceforth.

It sounds like a perfectly lovely thing to do to, doesn’t it? I like the idea of taking a break in the middle of the workday to refresh and regroup. And it doesn’t hurt that I really like coffee and cake. This is a win-win.

It isn’t a specific cake that is consumed, it can be any cake you like. If you are like me and like a boozy cake, my chocolate rum cake recipe is the one for you. Maybe this is less of a weekday workday cake and more of a lazy weekend cake?

chocolate rum cake

Regardless, this cake is incredible. It is a super moist (sorry, I know that is a polarizing word, but it is what it is) cake that actually gets better after it sits for a day or two.

This recipe is a little different than most cake recipes. You actually let this cake cool completely and put it back in its cake pan. You pour over a chocolate rum syrup and let it soak in overnight. You then turn the cake back out and dust it with powdered sugar before you serve it. It packs a (rum) punch and is an excellent cake to go along with a steamy cup of coffee.

chocolate rum cake
chocolate rum cake

Chocolate Rum Cake

Yield: 10 Slices
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

This rum cake has a chocolate twist and is incredibly moist with a nice kick from dark rum. It tastes best when the syrup is left to soak in overnight.

Ingredients

Cake

  • 2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups Dixie Crystals Extra Fine Granulated Sugar
  • 2/3 cup cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/4 cup dark rum
  • 3/4 cup coffee, hot

Chocolate Rum Syrup

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 3/4 cup Dixie Crystals Extra Fine Granulated Sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup dark rum
  • 2 tablespoons Dixie Crystals Confectioners Powdered Sugar

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 310°F. Butter and flour a 10-inch Bundt cake pan. Set aside.1
  2. In a large bowl whisk flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.2
  3. In another large bowl, whisk eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla. Add oil and whisk until smooth.3
  4. Add dry ingredients to egg mixture. Add rum and hot coffee. Mix until combined. Batter will be thin.4
  5. Pour into prepared cake pan. Bake for 60 to 70 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few crumbs. Let cool in pan for 30 minutes, then turn out and cool on a wire rack.5
  6. While cake is cooling, begin to make the chocolate rum syrup. Heat butter, water, sugar, salt, and cocoa in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce to low. Simmer for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and rum.6
  7. Wash and dry Bundt pan. Place over cooled cake and invert the cake back into pan. Pour syrup over surface of cake. Let soak for 8 hours, or overnight.7
  8. To serve, turn cake out onto a cake plate and dust with confectioners sugar.

Notes

  • *Spoon & Sweep method: Use a spoon to fill measuring cup with flour until required amount is obtained. Scooping measuring cup directly into flour bag will firmly pack flour resulting in too much flour required for recipe.


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    This post is sponsored by Dixie Crystals Sugar.

    Venti

    Sunday 11th of December 2022

    I hve made this cake number of times. The cake tastes awesome but I hve never been able to remove the cake whole from the Bundt after baking. Can u help me with that pls… would be helpful if u can the ingredients in grams pls.

    Chocolate Yogurt Cake with Chocolate Glaze | Baked Bree

    Friday 22nd of May 2020

    […] Simple Chocolate Rum Cake […]

    JH

    Monday 22nd of October 2018

    Would the cake stand up to doubling the amount of chocolate rum syrup, to increase the rum kick? I'd like to see how much extra rum I could get into the cake without over-saturating it.

    bakedbree

    Monday 29th of October 2018

    I don't think so. I think that it is pretty wet as written. I'm afraid it would fall apart with that much liquid.

    Joylan D'Souza

    Monday 1st of October 2018

    Hi Bree, this cake is super awesome. Tried it last week for my son's birthday. What I want to know is, after pouring the syrup and letting it soak, the cake was very moist and I couldn't take it out of the pan, I used an 8 inch square. Can I reduce some of the liquid in the syrup? Thanks

    bakedbree

    Monday 1st of October 2018

    You can reduce the amount of syrup but it probably didn't come out because it is supposed to be baked in a bundt pan.

    Sook Yuen Foo

    Saturday 31st of March 2018

    Thanks for the recipe Bree. Baking this cake for my daughter's 23rd birthday....

    bakedbree

    Thursday 5th of April 2018

    Hope she likes it!

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