A rum cake can make a great addition to your holiday table. Rum cake offers a unique alternative to traditional holiday desserts like pumpkin or pecan pie. If you're not sure how to go about making a tasty rum cake, read on as this guide will show you how to make an excellent rum cake your holiday guests will devour.

Rum cake is traditionally a yellow sponge cake that either contains rum in its batter or is coated with a rum-based glaze. The dessert can also be made with chocolate and served for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Rum cakes are typically made with dark rum.

To make rum cake and the glaze for the cake, you will need the following ingredients:

• One package yellow cake mix (18.25 oz.)
• One cup dark rum
• One package of 3.5 oz. vanilla pudding mix
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• Four eggs
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup water
• 3 tablespoons butter

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
2. Grease and flour a Bundt pan.
3. Add walnuts evenly to the bottom of greased pan.
4. Combine yellow cake mix, 1/2 cup rum, 1/2 cup of water, oil and eggs in a large bowl.
5. Add vanilla pudding mix and pour mixture over walnuts.
6. Bake for approximately one hour.
7. Melt butter in small pan.
8. Add 1/8 cup of water and 1/2 cup of sugar.
9. Bring mixture to a boil and stir continually to avoid burning.
10. Remove from heat and slowly pour 1/4 cup of rum into the mixture.
11. Remove cake from oven and let it cool, inverted, on a serving dish.
12. Take a toothpick and poke several holes in the cake.
13. Carefully pour glaze over the top of the cake; be sure to cover the entire cake, including the sides.

• Let rum cake sit at room temperature for approximately one day before serving.
• After serving, refrigerate any remaining cake.
• Pecans can be used instead of walnuts in the cake mixture.
• If a recipe does not specify what type of rum to use in a cake, use dark rum.
• To check if the cake is done, insert a toothpick into it. If the toothpick comes out clean, the cake is ready.