Rum Cake - The Not-So-Secret Family Recipe

Mel's aunt is famous in the family for her rum cake.  She prepares it for every major holiday, and it's always the first dessert to be completely devoured.  When Mel was in her 20s, her aunt graciously told her the recipe in an attempt to "pass the torch" and free herself from having to make this cake all the time.  

Well, the passing of the torch did not fly with the family.  No one could accept anyone other than their aunt making it.  But Mel started taking it to friends' gatherings and getting her own reputation for it.  Since it became kind of a trademark, she did not want to reveal just how easy it is to make.  Being a Scorpio, she enjoyed maintaining the mystery of what "secret ingredients" might make it so good.  But now that Mel has developed a bigger repertoire of things to bring to parties, she's ready to release the Not-So-Secret Family Recipe for a very delicious yet easy rum cake.  

All the ingredients are pictured below.  Yes, it's that simple!

Ingredients for the Cake:

• 1 box of yellow cake mix
• 1 box of vanilla pudding mix
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 cup of oil
• 1/2 cup of water
• 3/4 cup of rum
• chopped walnuts

Directions:

1. Mix all the ingredients EXCEPT the chopped walnuts in a bowl until smooth.
2. Grease and flour a bundt pan and sprinkle the chopped walnuts to cover the bottom.
3. Pour the cake batter into the bundt evenly.
4. Bake at 350F for one hour.
5. You know cake is done when the top is a golden brown and a knife slides out cleanly.

While the cake cools a bit, prepare the glaze.

Ingredients for the Glaze:

• 1 stick of butter
• 1 cup of sugar
• 1/2 cup of water
• 3/4 cup of rum

Directions for the Glaze:

1. Melt the butter in a deep pan.
2. Mix in the sugar until dissolved.
3. Add water until the glaze becomes clear.
4. Add rum and stir to blend well.
5. Poke the cake with a knife in several places and pour 3/4 of the glaze over it evenly.
6. Let cake sit in bundt until the glaze is absorbed.

Then place a plate over the bundt pan, hold the pan and plate together tightly and flip to allow the cake to nestle onto the plate.  Pour the remaining glaze over the top, and voila!  You have rum cake.  Bring it to a party and don't tell anyone how easy it was.  ;)