Expert: Aruna Dismont - 1/28/2009

Question
Dear Aruna,

My husband and I have traveled to Bermuda a few times and absolutely love the Bermuda Rum Cakes sold at the Royal Naval Dockyard.  We were wondering if you know of any recipes that may be similar, or if you can recommend a Bermuda rum cake recipe so we can try to experience the delicious taste of the island at home during this long, cold winter.  Thanks so much!

Answer
I'm so glad you like the Rum Cakes, they are absolutely to die for! I have found a recipe that you can use;

Bermuda Bacardi Rum Cake Ingredients
CAKE   1/2 c Dark rum (80 proof)
1 c Chopped pecans or walnuts    GLAZE
1 Box yellow cake mix (18 1/2   1/4 lb Butter (or marg)
1 pk Vanilla instant pudding &   1 c Sugar
4 Eggs   1/4 c Water
1/2 c Cold water   1/2 c Dark rum
1/2 c Cooking oil
Instructions for Bermuda Bacardi Rum Cake
Source: Goslings, Bacardi Intl Recipe Card Cake: Preheat oven to 325F. Grease and flour 10" tube or 12 cup bundt pan. Sprinkle nuts over bottom of pan using a spoon to gently push them up the sides of the pan a little. Mix all cake ingredients. Pour batter over nuts. Bake 1 hour (check at 45-50mins). Cool. Invert on serving place. Prick the top with a skewer or fork. Spoon & brush glaze evenly over top & sides. Glaze: Melt butter. Stir in water and sugar. Boil 5 minutes while stirring constantly. Remove from heat & stir in rum. Glaze application: You want the glaze to be soaked as far into the cake as possible. You have to be patient. I have two methods I find work. First i push a fork in about 1 1/2 inches and gently pry open the hole - then i dribble glaze down the fork and let the cake soak it up as i go. The second method is much more successful - i use the fork the same way but i use a childs medicine dropper (the kind with the bulb on the end) and inject the glaze right into the cake. Notes: Kahluha can be substituted for rum. If using yellow cake mix with pudding already in it; omit instant pudding, use 3 eggs instead of 4, 1/3 c of oil instead of 1/2. This cake is best left to sit for a day before consumption.

There is a way that you can order the cakes:

http://www.dockyardcompany.com/rc/order.htm
http://www.hortonsbermudarumcakes.com/hortonsproduct2.htm

There are two companies who make them, they're both delicious though.

Also, you can find Goslings Black Seal rum, in case you don't want to use Bacardi rum, in some liquor stores in the states, Canada, Cayman Islands, etc.

If you go to their site

http://www.goslingsrum.com (it's a flash site, otherwise I would have taken you right to the page!) you can search and find where you can find some.

I hope this was helpful!

Aruna