← BlogJune 29, 2026

How to Make the Perfect Rum Cake

Caribbean · Easy · 65 min · 12 servings

vegetarian
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Rum Cake

This moist and indulgent Caribbean rum cake is made completely kid friendly by replacing the rum with orange juice so children can enjoy the same rich buttery flavor that everyone loves. Parents find this recipe wonderfully simple to bake and it always impresses at family celebrations without requiring any advanced baking skills.

Why this recipe works

This Rum Cake recipe has been crafted to deliver restaurant-quality results in your home kitchen. At just 65 minutes from start to finish, it fits perfectly into a busy schedule without sacrificing flavor. Each serving comes in at 340 calories with 4g of protein, making it a balanced choice for any meal.

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What you will need

This recipe uses 7 simple ingredients that you can find at any grocery store:

  • 1 box yellow butter cake mix
  • 3 large eggs
  • 0.5 cup vegetable oil
  • 0.5 cup orange juice
  • 0.5 cup butter
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 0.25 cup orange juice

Step by step instructions

Step 1: Mix the Batter

Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a bundt pan well, then mix together the cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, and orange juice in a large bowl until smooth and well combined.

Step 2: Bake the Cake

Pour the batter evenly into the prepared bundt pan and bake for 45 to 50 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the top is golden brown.

Step 3: Make the Glaze

While the cake bakes, melt butter in a small saucepan over low heat, whisk in the powdered sugar and orange juice until smooth, and cook for 2 minutes until slightly thickened.

Step 4: Soak and Serve

Poke holes all over the still-warm cake with a skewer, pour the warm orange glaze slowly over the cake so it soaks in deeply, then cool before unmolding and slicing.

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Easy substitutions

Missing an ingredient? Here are some swaps that work perfectly:

  • yellow butter cake mix → a homemade vanilla cake batter using flour, sugar, baking powder, butter, eggs, and milk for a completely from-scratch version
  • orange juice → pineapple juice for a tropical twist that adds an extra Caribbean flair to the finished cake

Common mistakes to avoid

Watch out for these pitfalls that can affect your results:

  • Not greasing the bundt pan thoroughly enough which causes the cake to stick and tear when you try to unmold it
  • Pouring the glaze over a completely cooled cake which means it sits on the surface rather than soaking into the crumb properly

Nutrition facts

Per serving: 340 calories, 4g protein, 48g carbs, 16g fat, 1g fiber.

Ready to cook?

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