Until two weeks ago, I was a rum cake virgin.
I don’t know how I’ve lived on this earth for almost 26 years and never had rum cake before, but it’s true. So, when I was in St. Croix, I made it my personal mission to find and try it! I figured it couldn’t be that hard. I mean, Cruzen Rum is made in St. Croix so I was prepared to go straight to the source if I had to.
Then, on my last night there my traveling buddy, Julie, and I headed out to Rumrunners, a local dive seafood joint in downtown Christiansted. After a late night meal of yuca chips, fish tacos and shrimp cocktail I ordered la piece de la resistance….rum cake.
It was dense, rich and highly alcoholic….in other words, perfect.
I was so excited to recreate the cake when I got home, but the having a gigantic rum cake sitting on my counter for just me (cough cough), was a little daunting. It probably wouldn’t have made it through the night. Or the hour.
So instead, I bring you rum cake doughnuts!
Trust me on this that these are a reallyyyyyy good idea. Totally worth buying a doughnut pan for. I love perfectly portioned desserts like this, where there’s no fear of eating an entire cake by yourself at two in the morning in a nightgown and fuzzy slippers.
Not that that has ever happened to me or anything like that.
Purely hypothetical.
And the glaze! Oh, the glaze. This sinful concoction of rum, butter and sugar is what dreams are made of.
Have I convinced you yet?
Rum Cake Doughnuts
makes about 3 dozen doughnuts
from Bacardi
Ingredients:
for doughnuts:
1/2 box yellow cake mix (eyeball it)
2 eggs
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup rum
1/2 cup chopped pecans (or walnuts)
for rum glaze:
1 stick butter
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup rum
1/4 cup water
Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Grease doughnut pan and then scatter pecans along the bottom. Since this recipe makes a lot of doughnuts, you’ll need to work in batches.
In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix, oil, water, 1/4 cup rum and eggs. Whisk well to get rid of all clumps.
Using a spoon, carefully drizzle cake batter into doughnut molds, filling up about 3/4th of the way full. Bake for 15 minutes until golden and springy.
While doughnuts are baking, make the glaze. Melt the butter in a small saucepan and add the sugar and water. Bring to a boil and then simmer for five minutes. Remove from heat and add the rum, stirring well.
Carefully remove doughnuts from the pan and prick the non-nutty side over and over with a fork. Pour glaze over doughnuts and serve!
**Doughnuts will keep up to three days in the refrigerator. If you don’t want to make doughnuts, you could also pour batter into muffin tins and make rum cake muffins or cupcakes.
Time:
40 minutes
{ 68 comments… read them below or add one }
These look joyous.
I’m not even a donut person (I know!!) but I would totally eat these. Delicious. 
Oh My Gosh! These look amazing! I would eat them all
Wow Jenna – incredible! This makes me sad I didn’t win your donut pan giveaway! So delicious.
Oh rum cake as doughnuts sounds perfect! And my first rum cake experience was a year ago, on a cruise where rum cake was at the tip of your fingers
And the glaze…I’d probably be ok with pouring that on everything.
Liv, I agree with you about the glaze!!! I don’t think I’ve ever had rum cake either, must give it a try!
Wishing these were my breakfast!
I’ll take two dozen please!
Wow.. these look so good!! The thing I like most is that it’s an easy recipe which is always nice!
How are you not 500 pounds with all of the amazing treats and dishes you make?! seriously lol.. do you have a strong will-power, or do you send your treats over to the neighbours house?! i’m curious..
Eating and drinking all rolled into one step. I maybe shouldn’t eat this before work, no?
I seriously think I’m going to bring them to work on Friday!
ohh, these make me smile.. I would like one now please!
I had never seen Cruzan rum before your shrimpies post & then I saw it that day at the liquor store. I may or may not have bought some of the mango!
this just made my morning! i love rum, and rum cake at that, and these sound perfect!
Rum cake is so stinkin’ good! I remember in the Caymans that most every little shop had samples of rum cake, and I pretty much ate my body weight
I have a sour cream pound cake with rum glaze that I think I have to make now!! These donuts are such a great idea!
I’ve never had rum cake doughnuts before but I really don’t see how they wouldn’t be amazing. Great recipe
All of a sudden I’m on a bit of a doughnut kick so this post is looking especially appealing! Love the idea of a nicely portioned cake
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Looks delicious! I’ve had it only once before and it was gooood.
I’m still a rum cake virgin – time to change that
ummm yeah when you use the three words RUM CAKE and DOUGHNUTS
it really doesn’t matter what the recipe is!
Okay, these look easy enough for me to make!
I’ll have to de-gluten them though. But Yum-YUM!
Yep, you convinced me with the title! I think I need a donut pan.. like asap.
So there’s cake, there’s rum…AND they’re donuts?? Um. Yes. We would like these. Like a LOT.
I love the idea of these portioned cake-donuts. Awesome idea. These seem like they’d be really good for a party (a boozy one!)
I LOVE rum cake. It’s so moist and flavorful – and I finally got a donut pan, so this is perfect timing
boy oh boy, does that sound scrumptious! rum + cake = nice combo!
I’m going to send this link to Jason who I KNOW will want me to make these. They look delicious!
Well that just looks like a perfect match of deliciousness!
Alcohol + dessert? I’m not sure it could get any better!
You had me at rum
I need to get a donut pan immediately.
I’m a big fan of rum and rum cake. Although, when I’ve tried people’s recipes at potlucks and such it has been a little hit of miss. Either you love rum cake or you hate it. These are a great take on it! Looks like I’ll finally need to buckle down and invest in a donut pan.
Yum! I can’t remember the last time I had doughnuts!
I seriously need to get myself a doughnut pan. These look fantastic!
So summery! I don’t even like rum, I don’t even drink, and besides, alcohol is illegal here…and I STILL want to make these. That is quite the accomplishment, Jenna!
Those look way too good. I almost wish I hadn’t read your blog this morning, now I’m going to be thinking about these donuts all day!
YUM. That’s all I can say.
I definitely agree about having pre-portioned desserts. An easy way to treat yourself but not over-do it
I finally found a donut pan this morning on Amazon and ordered it…thank god! After seeing this, I may have a first recipe in mind.
I need a doughnut pan NOW! I love rum-y desserts!
Best.Idea.Ever!
I guess I’m going to the market to pick up a donut pan
I LOVE rum cake. Can’t wait to try this.
Wow, my mouth just watered. These look incredible!
I LOVE rum cake! I always request it for my birthday cake. Mmm, with pecan pieces baked into the top of the cake? divine
I love how you made them yourself after trying them!!! They really do sound awesome!
My step mother’s one redeeming quality is that she makes a good rum cake. Rum cake is pretty delish. Hard to deny.
I tried a rum cake once and it was delicious! But these look really tasty too!
Hope you have a great Tuesday Jenna!
I have to admit, I really hate the word moist, so that box mix of “Super Moist” almost turned me off completely. Then I decided it would be totally acceptable to sample the Bacardi ahead of time, buy the cake mix, sample some more, and whip these up.
How does that game plan sound?
I used to make the famous Bacardi Rum Cake recipe for holidays that everyone raved about–but adapted it–except now don’t remember what the changes were–but it was delicious. Those were the Silver Palate salmon mousse recipe + champagne and black lace dress days.
I AM GETTING A DOUGHNUT PAN.
Doughnuts out of cake mix? Genius!
Anything involving rum and doughnuts sounds like a win to me! I see a doughnut pan in my (very) near future!
You’d never had rum cake?! That’s insane! Glad you enjoyed it & these doughnuts look wonderful!
Love this! Rum cake is so good, and in donut form sounds perfect! Yum!
Jenna I love rum cake and the first time I had it was about 10 years ago in St Thomas. I was lured in to a local shop for a sample of one of those Tortoga brand cakes (yellow box) and realized after the fact that they spike!! the samples with even MORE rum…let’s just say it was the best buzz ever. Rum + cake = perfect!
I recreated No Bake, Vegan, Rum Cake Donut Holes about 18 mos ago on my blog. They are a fave of mine. People that have never had rum cake I don’t think are very tempted to make them, but I happen to love rum cake. Glad you are on the rum cake bandwagon now.
Your donuts look…amazing!!
Yeah you see in theory that would work. Making the doughnuts instead.
But realistically – what’s stopping me from just going back for more? Nothing. It’s not like after 1, there’s no more.
Ellen said that one time on her talk show – she didn’t get the “Snack Pack” things like puddings. She would just go back and get another and another after the 1rst.
If you want it and it’s there, you’ll eat it.
Well, if your me. The rest of the world actually has normal self-control
They look wonderful though – marbley! !
Yowza…these look divine! I have a feeling I will score major points with my husband if I made him these
Holy jeez…these look ridiculous (in a good way).
yum! I’ve never had one either. & perfect – I have recently scored a doughnut pan, yay!
Heidi xo
Wow these doughnuts look amazing!!! Love the rum in there. Looks so delicious! I definitely need a doughnut pan asap!
My husband makes a great rum cake. the first time you make it, it always seems like there is too much glaze. but trust me, use it. and it helps to have a 2nd person around.
We made a 2-part video about how to bake a rum cake…
cake: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSzwpMhkS8o
glaze: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmaavbJb8po
AMAZING!! I can’t wait to make these!
Come to mama! Those look amazing
Love this! This was always the biggest seller at my high school’s annual bake sale. Well rum and/or Kahlua cake. I love the idea of doing it for donuts, little bites of yumminess.
Must. Get. Doughnut Pan.
I was in Jamaica a few years ago and had rum cake for the first time. It was from Tortuga Rum Company. It was gloriously boozy and sugary! Plus, they used different kinds of their flavored run. Think pineapple, banana, etc. And thanks for sharing a recipe I can make at home!
Cakey doughnuts and rum? YES!
OMG. I bought a doughnut pan just to make this recipie on “baking tuesday” AMAZING. These are AMAZING!!!!!
OMG. I bought a doughnut pan just to make this recipie on “baking tuesday” AMAZING. These are AMAZING!!!!!
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