Is Rum Cake Alcoholic? (2023 Updated)

Last Updated on March 14, 2023 by Lydia Martin

Rum cakes are one of the most popular desserts during Christmas and special holidays. They are considered to be a traditional dessert and can be given as gifts.

Considering it is a rum, does this mean that this cake is alcoholic? Let’s find out everything you need to know in today’s article!

Rum Cake: Alcoholic or Not?

Yes, it is. Rum contains alcohol, and Rum cakes typically contain 5% alcohol or more depending on the alcohol level. 

Levels of intoxication can depend on a person’s weight and age. 

In the United States, they legally identified a standard level of intoxication at a Blood Alcohol Concentration of .08%. (1) In some states, BAC was lowered to .04%.

With all that being said, Rum Cake is indeed alcoholic. Rum Cakes typically contain under 0.5% alcohol content, and some contain even more than 5% of certain grain alcohol. Eating a little too much of Rum Cake can indeed intoxicate you.

How it’s Made

Rum is a distilled sugarcane molasses or sugarcane juice which is a perfect ingredient for Rum Cakes. Rum Cakes are made by mixing these recipes: flour, baking soda, eggs, caramel glaze sauce, butter, sugar, vanilla extract, and most importantly, Rum. 

Rum Cakes is made by a variety of home bakers, with some dating back to the 1970s.

As per the home bakers, during the baking/heating process, the alcohol would usually burn off on sauce depending on the temperature’s heat. As alcohol burn-off, it carries flavors of other ingredients and helps it be more flavorful.

The higher and the hotter the temperature is, the more the alcohol will evaporate. However, after baking the cake for 30 minutes, a reasonable percentage of alcohol content of around 35% is still present. 

Rums You Can Use For Your Cake

Dark Rum

The quality of the cake depends on which Rum you are using.

So, if you opt to bake a darker color and flavored rum cakes, we suggest you use the Dark Rums in making your recipe, as it usually has a stronger and more potent factor than White Rums.  It is a good rum for making your favorite rum cake as it contains a lot of ideal flavors and baking spices.

White Rum 

On the other hand, White Rums is certainly a good substitution for the Dark rums, but it may slightly differ in taste and color.

If you opt to have a generally sweet, lighter feel, white rum is the best ingredient for your recipe. 

Also Read: White Rum vs Dark Rum

Will Rum Cake Make You Drunk?

Yes. Rum Cakes will make you drunk depending on the alcohol level added.

Some well-known brands for Rum Cakes can contain up to 5% or even more alcohol grains, so if you consume an excessive amount of Rum Cake with more than 5%, chances are you will get drunk. 

But if you only had a slice of it, then there is no need for you to worry about getting intoxicated.

Also Read: How Much Rum Will Get You Drunk?

Popular Rum Cake Brands

Tortuga Rum Cakes

This popular brand is from the Caribbean. Their cakes’ liquor content is just less than 1% alcohol, making it appropriate for all ages.

Each of these delicious Rum Cakes is hand-glazed with special oak barrels. If refrigerated, their cakes’ shelf life can last up to 12 months. 

Bahamas Rum Cake Factory

This Factory has remained a crowd favorite for two decades already. Some of their top sellers include their delicious chocolate rum cake, pina colada rum cake, banana, and a lot more. 

Also Read: Rum & Cachaca Compared

FAQs 

Does the alcohol cook out of rum cake?

Yes, it does, especially during the baking/heating process. 

Will alcohol preserve rum cake?

Yes, it will. Not only does it enhance the taste of the cake, but it also keeps it moist. But, does rum ever go bad?

Is it safe for kids to eat cake with alcohol?

Yes, as long as it contains a small amount of alcohol, it is safe to eat the cake because the alcohol would usually burn off.

Conclusion

Rum Cakes are desserts that are typically served during special occasions. Ideally, it is baked for 30 to 40 minutes, enough for the alcohol to evaporate and make the cake a little less alcoholic.

To be sure a great amount of alcohol cooks off when making the rum cake, it is better to use a pan with a large surface area.

Suppose you want a burst of flavor and color on your dessert. It would be best if you used Dark rum. You can use up to half a cup of dark rum for the rum cakes. A pudding mix can be added to have a bit of flavor and sweetness to the baked rum cake.

Using the full amount of syrup will make traditional rum-soaked rum cakes incredibly moist. 

If you dont have the time to bake but want to try Rum Cakes, you could try some baked-to-order cakes like the Tortuga rum cakes and the Bahamas Rum Cakes Factory store.

The best thing about these cakes is that you can serve them without being refrigerated.

Reference:

1. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/blood-alcohol-level/