This moist and perfectly spiced Buttered Rum Eggnog Cake Recipe gets jazzed up with a sensational buttered rum sauce that soaks into every bite! It’s the best Christmas cake recipe ever! If you love all things eggnog and rum, definitely check out this Homemade Eggnog, Pineapple Rum Cake recipe, Eggnog Pancakes recipe, or these Eggnog Truffles.
The Perfect Holiday Dessert Twist: Buttered Rum Eggnog Cake!
My pound cake collection is getting pretty crowded but I couldn’t go without one more, and this Buttered Rum Eggnog Cake recipe is just the one to polish off the holiday season with. There is so much magic when you combine a Buttered Rum Cake Recipe with an Eggnog Pound Cake. The two flavors meld magically, to the point where you wonder why they were never put together in the very first place.
I can’t think of a Christmas being complete without a pound cake. From Cream Cheese Pound Cake to 7 Up Pound Cake, I can’t even remember a holiday in my family that didn’t have a pound cake on the dessert table. I know how each year can get a little stale so I try to mix it up. This Eggnog Pound Cake is truly the Christmas cake I have been waiting for, and I’m sure you have been too!
Eggnog Cake Ingredients
For this Cake, there are some key ingredients that truly make it shine.
- Butter
- Sugar
- Eggs
- Cake Flour
- Eggnog
I love to start with high quality butter when making pound cakes and bundt cakes. The butter is such an important ingredient and really starts the true foundation for the entire recipe. Since this is a holiday cake, I like to use an European style butter that has a higher fat content with less water. It really makes a difference in richness especially when it is mixed with sugar.
Eggs add the structure to this recipe. Egg whites can be drying but they are perfectly balanced with the egg yolks.
I use cake flour in most of my pound cakes because it develops less gluten and creates a lighter softer texture to cakes. I love the melt in your mouth texture it provides. Lastly eggnog is used as the liquid here. Eggnog is already spiced but here I just add a bit more flavor to enhance it.
These are the ingredients that make the base cake. The buttered rum sauce adds another dimension.
How To Make Eggnog Cake
Here are a few tips that will help make your eggnog cake an unforgettable one!
Tip 1: Don’t rush the Butter and Sugar Mixing!
This cake does not require a leavening to give it a lovely lift. You will get this lift from the beginning mixing process of beating together the sugar and butter. Make sure you rush this process. It will add air to your entire batter when whipped for a lengthy and fast time.
Tip 2: However don’t over mix when adding dry ingredients
This is when I believe you should slow down your mixer and also not over mix. Flour can make a cake batter taste dry and tough if mixed too long. Once the dry ingredients are incorporated, let it all happen!
Tip 3: Grab a High Quality Eggnog!
The eggnog flavor in this cake is undeniable! Make sure you get a super quality one. Here is a list of eggnogs I found. You can also make your own if you would like. I also punched up the flavor with some nutmeg as well. The cake texture is dense and tender all at the same time, and it is so moist that it literally melts in your mouth.
For the Buttered Rum Sauce
But I didn’t stop there. Next I made a sensational buttered rum sauce right over the stove and poured it right over the cake letting it seep into every nook and cranny of its surface.
You will need to make the butter rum sauce over the stovetop while the cake is baking. It will come together pretty effortlessly. If after trying the cake you decide you want more rum, you can replace some of the water to make that happen.
You have never had a rum cake recipe quite like this, let me tell you. So if you are ready to get your Christmas celebration popping, make sure you start with this cake baby!
Looking for more cakes? Try this Pineapple Rum Cake or try my most popular cake, the real deal caramel cake? Want more pound cakes? Check out my page with the very best pound cakes on the internet HERE!
Buttered Rum Cake Eggnog Recipe
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter room temperature
- 2 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 5 large eggs room temperature
- 3 cups sifted cake flour
- 1/2 cup eggnog
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
For the Butter Rum Sauce:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup water
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup rum
- Powdered Sugar for garnish
Instructions
For the Cake:
- Preheat your oven to 315 degrees and prepare your 12 cup bundt pan with shortening and flour or non-stick baking spray.
- In your mixer bowl, cream together butter, granulated sugar and salt on high speed until light and fluffy for 5 minutes.
- Next add in eggs, one at a time, and mix until well incorporated.
- Slow mixer to lowest speed and carefully add in flour then eggnog, vanilla extract and nutmeg and mix until just combined.
- Pour cake batter into bundt pan and bake for 65-75 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out moist but mostly clean.
- Cool cake for 10 minutes then invert cake onto cooling rack.
For the Butter Rum Sauce:
- Add butter, water, sugar and rum into a pot and bring to a boil and allow to combine. Poke cake all over its surface then pour sauce over the cake allowing it to seep into the cake. Once completely soaked in then sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
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I want to try this recipe but I’m wondering if 315 is the correct temp or a typo? I’m sure it’s right since this has been on your site for a while but it just seems like an odd temp.
Ha yes it is a strange temperature but it is correct. It bakes a bit lower.
I want to know where you got that gorgeous pan!!!
Hi Jocelyn,
I want to make this cake it looks so delicious, but I don’t know what kind of rum, or is there a difference in rum. Is this alcohol?
Thanks
It is a really adaptable cake so you can use whatever rum you really enjoy.
Best Christmas cake ever! I have made this for the past couple of years and it’s a hit with everyone who tries it. Thanks for this luscious holiday tradition.
You can purchase eggnog anytime through-out the year @ Amazon. They have quart size cartons, ( It’s like liquid creamer you get at restaurants for your coffee). They work well in place of waiting for the holidays. You can also make your own homemade eggnog any time.
Can you make this into several smaller cakes for gifts like in mini bundt pans?
Yes absolutely!
If you had to pause this overnight, would you just save the powdered sugar for the 2nd day or the sauce and sugar on day 2? I don’t want the powdered sugar absorbing before it’s served.
Thank you!
Just save the powdered sugar. I would definitely let it soak through the day before.
Use light or dark rum for Eggnong French toast.
Either is fine. I used light rum when I made it.
Is the temp really 315 degrees or is it a typo?
Can I use a boxed cake mix? It has been hard finding cake flour in our new COVID world of shopping. I cannot wait to make this!
No you definitely don’t want to use that but if you have all purpose flour and cornstarch you can make your own cake flour: https://grandbaby-cakes.com/how-to-make-cake-flour/
Hi do you have a butter rum cake recipe without the eggnog. We can’t fund anymore eggnog after New Years but we want this cake? Should I make the eggnog from scratch? It was so so good. We waited to late to make another one and all the eggnog was gone from the stores.
I don’t but you can definitely make your own eggnog to replace. It makes me so so sad when this cake can’t be made until the holidays because eggnog leaves the stores.