Bundt Cake #1 of Bundt Cake Season 3 - Ginger-Rum Bundt Cake

I found this recipe on the Food Network's web site last year when I was looking for new bundt cake recipes. I like ginger a lot, and rum can be quite tasty, so this recipe caught my eye. I didn't get a chance to get to it during last year's Bundt Cake Season, and was excited to try it as my first cake of this season. As I was making it, specifically when I was making the syrup, I was reminded of one of my new favorite drinks, the Dark and Stormy.

Sadly, I must report that I felt that the cake was lacking in both ginger and rum flavors. I also did not have much success with the syrup being absorbed into the cake. As you'll see from the recipe, you're supposed to pierce the cake with a skewer and then slowly pour the ginger-rum syrup into the holes, which I did; however, it kind of pooled in the top portion of the cake, rather than flowing down the channels made by the skewer and infusing the whole cake.

The cake was still quite tasty, just not what I was expecting. I think if I were to make it again, I'd greatly increase the ginger in the cake itself, and probably the syrup too.

Ginger-Rum Bundt Cake

from foodnetwork.com

For the cake:

• 1 cup toasted pecans, finely chopped


• 3 cups all purpose flour


• 2 teaspoons baking powder


• 1 teaspoon table salt


• 3/4 cup whole milk, room temperature


• 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger


• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract


• 2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature


• 1 cup granulated sugar


• 1 cup packed golden brown sugar


• 3 large eggs, room temperature


• 2 large egg yolks, room temperature

For the syrup:

• 1 cup dark rum


• 1/4 cup water


• 1/2 cup granulated sugar


• 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger

For the cake:

Heat oven to 350 degrees F and arrange a rack in the lower third. Brush a 12-cup bundt pan thoroughly with melted butter, coat with flour, and tap out the excess. Sprinkle nuts in bottom of pan and set aside.

Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl until evenly combined; set aside. Whisk together milk, ginger, and vanilla in a second small bowl until evenly combined.

Combine butter and sugar in a the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until mixture resembles wet sand and is light, about 3 minutes. Add eggs one at a time until incorporated and mixture is smooth. Scrape down mixer and sides of bowl. Reduce mixer to low, add 1/3 flour mixture and whisk until just moistened through. Whisk in 1/2 milk mixture and whisk until just moistened. Repeat until all ingredients are added, ending with flour. Transfer batter to prepared Bundt pan and smooth out so batter is even.

Bake until cake is set, golden brown, and a cake tester inserted in middle comes out clean, about 50 minutes. Transfer to a rack, let cool 10 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack, remove from pan, and let cool completely.

For the syrup:

Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan and place over medium heat. Bring to a boil and cook until slightly syrupy, about 5 minutes. Strain and set aside to cool slightly.

When cake is at room temperature, use a skewer to poke holes all over the top. Drizzle the syrup into the holes in the cake, small spoonful by spoonful, making sure it goes into the cake and doesn't flow down. Let sit at least 4 hours so the syrup can soak into the cake.