Hot Buttered Rum Cake And A Giveaway

Alee, from Storey Publishing, contacted me a few weeks ago and asked me if I wanted to review a cookbook and possibly offer a giveaway on the blog.  When I heard the title of the cookbook, A World of Cake, 150 Recipes for Sweet Traditions, I was sold.  It’s apparent that I love baking.   But it’s probably not so apparent that I love to learn about other cultures and cuisines.  In fact, when I am a grown up and finally get my first real job in a year and a half, traveling is on the top of my to-do list.  I do have a list of places…it consists of at least ten separate locales and several different continents.  Anyone want to come with?

When I received my copy of A World of Cake in the mail, I promptly settled in with a big cup of my favorite (Aveda) tea, turned my electric blanket on, let Scout jump in the bed with me, and curled up to pick a recipe that I wanted to feature.  I was overwhelmed.  I love this book, and that’s the honest truth.  Not only does the author cover just about every geographical area on the map, but she also covers just about every type of tradition.  From wedding cakes to harvest festival cakes, my choices were overwhelming.  Also: sidenote:  this cookbook contains a detailed color picture for just about every recipe in the book-which I love.  I am not a fan of cookbooks that don’t have pictures-which is one of the reasons why I love food blogs so much.  I had originally chosen my ultimate ideal in French cuisine, the croquembouche, but with so little time and several relatives coming in the next day, I opted against it and went for a rum cake instead.  I had all the ingredients on hand, and I loved the idea of a rum syrup to soak into the cake, but with the holidays quickly approaching, I remembered that I had seen a hot buttered rum sauce on another website and thought this would be the perfect dessert to serve after a very heavy Italian supper.

So let me be completely honest with you:  I lick the batter off the spoon sometimes.  THIS batter, by far, was the BEST batter I have ever created.  There I was, at 7 am, in my pajamas, slippers, and really bad bed head, licking the beater clean.  Before having my coffee.  It was so good.

The cake was extremely straightforward to mix together, and the presentation was great.

So, next time, will I go for the croquembouche? The Sachertorte?  The Upside-Down Pumpkin Plantain Cake? The Dobos Torte? The Pineapple-Chocolate Cream Cake?  The Marta Rocha? Seriously.  I have all of them bookmarked and ready to go.  I will be working them into the blog in the future.  I love this cookbook, and I know you will, too.

So, as my first official The Curvy Carrot Giveaway, courtesy of Storey Publishing, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post, telling me what your favorite kind of cake is, and a random winner will be selected and will win their very own copy of A World of Cake!  Chocolate.  Vanilla.  German chocolate.  Red velvet.  Whatever.  I’m going to leave the giveaway open for two weeks…closing it officially at 12am on Sunday, January 2nd.  Per Storey Publishing, though, this giveaway is only limited to US residents.  Tell all your friends.  This is your chance to win a free (and very good) cookbook.

Hot Buttered Rum Cake

Servings: 1 Bundt cake

Ingredients:

For the cake:

1 and 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

3/4 cup sweetened condensed milk

1 tablespoon dark rum

3 eggs

For the hot buttered rum sauce:

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1/2 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup dark rum

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, chopped

Powdered sugar, for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

1. For the cake: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

2.  Butter and flour a Bundt pan (or, alternatively five 4 and 1/2-inch Bundt pans)

3.  Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.

4. In a separate large bowl, beat the butter and sugar until fluffy.

5. Add the condensed milk and the rum.

6. Stir in the flour mixture until blended.

7. Beat in the eggs one at a time until combined.

8. Transfer the batter to the preapred pans and bake to 35 to 45 minutes, until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.  Leave the caqkes in teh pans to cool.

9. Remove the cakes from the pans.

10.  For the hot buttered rum sauce: In a small heavy saucepan over medium heat, stir brown sugar and heavy cream until sugar is melted.

11. Pour in rum, and simmer, stirring until the sauce is smooth, thickened, and reduced.

12. Stir in butter until melted. Drizzle over prepared and cooled cake.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar, if desired. **I recommend warming the cake up in the microwave a bit before eating it.  It’s really good that way!

Sources:  Rum Cake from A World of Cake and Michel’s Hot Buttered Rum Sauce – Martha Stewart Recipes.

December 19, 2010 - 7:42 am

Stephanie - A family recipe…Oatmeal Cake!

December 19, 2010 - 10:25 am

Caroline - I love love love my grandmother’s chocolate pound cake made with an entire bottle of chocolate syrup with Better Than Sex Chocolate Icing….yes, my grandmother makes Better Than Sex Chocolate Icing. Mmmm! Thanks for the giveaway…that cake looks delicious!

December 19, 2010 - 10:26 am

srlacy - That just cracked me up! Way to go, Grandma! 🙂

December 19, 2010 - 11:27 am

Antje - My favorite cake especially for the holiday season is “Baumkuchen”. Originally from Germany. It is made by baking thin layers of batter one by one, giving the cake the appearance of tree rings when cut. The end result is covered with chocolate. The name in english means ‘tree cake’ and it is delicious!!

December 19, 2010 - 11:34 am

Maureen - I love German Chocolate cake.!!

December 19, 2010 - 11:56 am

georgia - Angel food cake with cherry glaze! whip cream too! its the best

December 19, 2010 - 11:58 am

kateiscooking - I’m much more a pie kinda gal than a cake gal so my very favorite is one someone else makes for me! But, if I’m buying cake it’s the chocolate with cherry at Taylor’s Bakery!

December 19, 2010 - 12:52 pm

Shawn - We have a traditional german chocolate cake recipe I make for birthdays. It is sooooo goood!!!!!

December 19, 2010 - 1:48 pm

Claire - I would have to go with a nice, fudgy Chocolate cake with mega frosting – like the Portillo’s Chocolate cake! The Aveda tea is so great and has such a calming effect. 🙂

December 19, 2010 - 2:30 pm

TZel - I love coconut cake, but we are all just crazy for cake around here! Thanks so much!

December 19, 2010 - 2:53 pm

Ais - Lemon pound cake!

December 19, 2010 - 2:59 pm

Amalia - Yum! the sauce looks out of this world! you have really incredibly recipes here!

And my favorite kind of cake is Flourless Chocolate Cake!

December 19, 2010 - 3:00 pm

Jayne - My favorite cake is irish cream!

December 19, 2010 - 4:32 pm

Felice - My favorite kind of cake is a sponge cake with a filling of fresh whipped cream and strawberries.

Your cake looks amazing.

December 19, 2010 - 6:19 pm

Patricia - My favorite cake is Coconut.

December 19, 2010 - 6:22 pm

Jennifer gersch - i love vanilla cake

December 19, 2010 - 6:39 pm

Leanne - my favourite cake is all cake. i love it all!

will have to try this cake soon. looks absolutely divine.

December 19, 2010 - 6:41 pm

Teri - coca cola chocolate cake. It was always my birthday cake. Reminds me of my dear Mama, rest her soul.

December 19, 2010 - 7:05 pm

karen - German Chocolate cake is my absolute favorite! But I love all cakes!
karenreichmann@hotmail.com

December 19, 2010 - 7:33 pm

Tasha - Harvey Wallbanger cake…Super easy and delicious!

December 19, 2010 - 7:54 pm

Kim-Liv Life - MMm!! Beautiful pictures and a gorgeous cake. My mom loves rum, this might be the perfect cake for her birthday next week!

December 19, 2010 - 8:02 pm

Meryl - A deep, dark, moist, bittersweet chocolate cake!

December 19, 2010 - 8:19 pm

TiffKey - This looks great! My nana makes a rum cake every Christmas! I love that you used sweetened condensed milk in the cake batter. Great touch!

December 19, 2010 - 8:43 pm

Elizabeth - Italian Cream Cake with cream cheese icing. YUM

December 19, 2010 - 9:11 pm

Terri - My favorite cake is a flourless chocolate cake.
tshaw6580@yahoo.com

December 19, 2010 - 9:46 pm

Tiffany @ Conor & Bella - That book sounds awesome! And so does that rum cake. Whoa.

My fave cake is in fact rum cake. A few months ago, I tried a chocolate and orange rum cake and I just about died. So good!

December 19, 2010 - 10:00 pm

Kita - Red Velvet cake is my favorite but your rum cake looks delicious. I have never tried a rum cake but now I sure do.

December 19, 2010 - 10:48 pm

Beth - Are you kidding me? ONE favorite? GAH. It’d be a toss-up between coconut and german chocolate! I guess, though, since they both contain coconut, coconut prevails!

December 20, 2010 - 12:41 am

Sharon - Italian Cream Cake. My absolute favorite. 🙂

December 20, 2010 - 2:23 am

Robin - I like a pineapple upside down cake

December 20, 2010 - 2:46 am

Robyn - Oh, I have a weakness for plain old basic chocolate cake. so yummy!!

December 20, 2010 - 3:10 am

Aku - I’m not in it for the winning (sadly not eligible, what with being in England and all) but I love love love a good carrot cake with cinnamon cream cheese frosting. Mmmmm. Rum cake sounds superb 🙂 Happy holidays Shanon

December 20, 2010 - 8:03 am

Kristin - I love chocolate cake with melted hot fudge, topped with cool whip and cherry pie filling. Best cake ever! 🙂

December 20, 2010 - 10:47 am

Barb S. - Texas Sheet Cake!

December 20, 2010 - 10:59 am

Karen S. - Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting!

December 20, 2010 - 1:39 pm

Kate - Yellow cake with chocolate frosting. Yummm!!

December 20, 2010 - 1:49 pm

Davesanngel - My fave is my gramma’s pineapple upside down cake made in her cast iron skillet. It is TO DIE FOR! Yum!!!

December 20, 2010 - 2:15 pm

Lindsey @ Gingerbread Bagels - I’m the exact same way, I love cookbooks with pictures. And that’s why I love food blogs so much, lots of delicious photos! That hot buttered rum cake looks AMAZING! I have to make it and taste the batter. (my favorite part of making cakes)
My favorite cake is red velvet cake! LOVE it! 🙂

By the way, what a great giveaway. I love making cakes!

December 20, 2010 - 3:29 pm

Trish - I LOVE molten chocolate lava cake!

December 20, 2010 - 4:03 pm

Joy - My favorite cake has got to be strawberry short cake.

December 20, 2010 - 9:15 pm

Jody - My favorite was chocolate, until I made this cake today and now it is this one!

December 20, 2010 - 11:16 pm

natalie (the sweets life) - Italian Cream Cake!!!!

December 20, 2010 - 11:43 pm

Laurie - My favorite cake would be a very rich, decadent chocolate. Probably with ganache on top! Though, I would never turn my nose up at any cake.

December 21, 2010 - 7:27 am

Tes - Wow the hot butter rum sauce sound so amazing! I definitely need to try this 🙂

December 21, 2010 - 2:31 pm

April - My favorite? Carrot, of course! 🙂 Best I’ve found is in Austin, TX – just the right level of sweet without tipping in to the overpowering side.

December 21, 2010 - 6:39 pm

Jaimee - Red velvet cake is deeeelicious!

December 21, 2010 - 7:10 pm

Renn - Chocolate Raspberry Cake!

December 21, 2010 - 7:10 pm

Aaron - Cheesecake (does that count?)

December 21, 2010 - 8:37 pm

fooddreamer - My favourite cake would be a flourless chocolate, very dense and fudgey. But your rum cake might come a close second!

December 21, 2010 - 10:41 pm

Ilke - Love cakes and cake books. Just looking at them makes you salivate!
I love chocolate cakes, anything with dense fudgy inside!

December 22, 2010 - 9:45 am

Mom - First of all this hot butter Rum cake is soooooo gooooood! but another one of my favorites is pinapple upside down cake!

December 22, 2010 - 12:22 pm

Morgan Larsen - Fourless chocolate cake! (Is that still considered cake? It is just so delicious it has to count).

December 22, 2010 - 1:16 pm

Jennifer B. - I love all cakes.

December 22, 2010 - 3:39 pm

Ashlee - I love white wedding cake.

December 22, 2010 - 5:44 pm

Stephanie - Red Velvet! Although, I had an Italian Cream Cake today that is gunnin for that prize!

December 22, 2010 - 7:59 pm

laura - I am definitely a carrot cake girl!

December 23, 2010 - 12:44 am

Lindsay - This may possibly be the toughtest question in the world….I’m going to have to go with traditional wedding cake….pound cake with thick buttercream frosting. Yum!

December 23, 2010 - 8:13 am

Kim S. - Carrot Cake!

December 23, 2010 - 5:13 pm

courtney - my mom used to make a cake with halved marshmallows and a fudgy icing, it was my favorite but i don’t know if i could eat it anymore. maybe if i upped all the % of dark chocolate.

December 24, 2010 - 5:21 pm

Kim - My favorite cake is chocolate with peanut butter frosting followed closely with carrot cake

December 24, 2010 - 9:45 pm

Vicki - I don’t know if it counts as a cake, but I can never pass up tiramisu.

December 25, 2010 - 4:17 pm

Amanda - My favorite is chocolate cake with peanut butter cream cheese frosting. SO GOOD. Oh man. Ohhh man.

December 27, 2010 - 6:12 pm

Sara R. - Red velvet! I am a sucker for cream cheese frosting!

December 28, 2010 - 12:37 am

Laurie - I adore German Chocolate Cake!!!

December 28, 2010 - 7:53 pm

Stephanie - I love chocolate cake!

December 31, 2010 - 12:24 am

Meredith - My favorite cake is chocolate cake with really sweet buttercream frosting.

December 31, 2010 - 1:18 pm

Btrflywmn - I love carrot cake with cream cheese frosting.

January 1, 2011 - 9:39 am

Amelia - I love tres leches cake. It comes out so moist and sometimes I spike it with some rum.

January 2, 2011 - 7:01 pm

Katie - I just made a spice cake and glazed it with melted hot buttered rum batter. Great for a frosty winter night. I think I shall share with the neighbors.

But my favorite is AlmondCake of course.

February 1, 2011 - 10:17 pm

Gianna - That looks amazing!
I love chocolate mousse torte.. I had some on my honeymoon that I haven’t been able to get since.

February 5, 2011 - 7:15 pm

Juawice - Let me take it back!! I let the cake sit a coupla hours and it is GOOD!! Really good!! I unfairly compared it to the Bacardi/boxed mix old standard and that is like comparing chocolate and vanilla…Both are good, but this one is BETTER! This is a really good cake that I WILL make again. The glaze, while not thick like yours, soaked into the cake and the flavor is OUTSTANDING!!

December 18, 2011 - 7:42 pm

Shelley - My favorite cake is my own Butterscotch Cake. I adapted my son’s favorite Lemon Cake recipe to make it butterscotch for my Husband. It’s his favorite flavor. Then I added dulce du leche filling and butterscotch frosting. YUM!
Our favorite holiday cake is Watergate Cake. It’s named after the traditional pistachio pudding/marshmallow/pineapple/pecan salad we always make. It’s so pretty with fluffy whipped cream frosting and decorated with mini marshmallows all around the sides.

December 31, 2014 - 1:52 pm

Sky - I LOVE rum cakes! I made this cake for a Christmas and New Years Party. It was so good. The only thing I did extra was I soaked it for a few days.

January 17, 2015 - 7:41 pm

January 17th – National Hot-Buttered Rum Day! - […] By: The Curvy Carrot […]