Next best to the original! On our visit to the Caribbean, we brought home the best Rum Cake I've ever had.... in fact it's the very best of all cakes I've ever had!!! I then thought I'd send for some to be shipped to us and found the price to be $35 for the med. size ( I paid $18 on the Island) So my search for the recipe began! You can not purchase Tortuga Rum ANYWHERE except in the Caribbean - Whaler's Vanille Rum should be a close match. This next best copy-cat comes from Newsgroup Rec.food.recipes.
On low speed combine ingredients until the mix is the consistency of fine gravel, and all particles are about the same size.
03This mix may be contained and stored for up to 3 months in the refrigerator.
04For the Cake:.
05Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
06Spray a large Bundt pan (12 cup) with nonstick cooking spray.
07Sprinkle the chopped walnuts on the bottom.
08Place Basic Cake Mix, pudding mix, milk, eggs, rum, oil, and vanilla extract in a large bowl and combine on medium speed with electric mixer for 2 to 3 minutes, scrape down the bowl halfway through.
09Batter should be very smooth.
10Pour into Bundt pan.
11Bake for about 55 minutes- until fully golden and tester comes out clean and cake springs back.
12Remove from oven and place on a cooling rack while making the soaking glaze.
13Rum Soaking Glaze:.
14Combine butter, water and sugar in a small saucepan.
15Bring to a boil carefully as mixture boils over very easily.
16Reduce to a simmer and cook until sugar is dissolved and syrup is well combined and a little thicker.
17Remove from the heat and add the rum, mix to combine.
18While cake is still cooling, pour some of the hot syrup on top of the cake, allowing it time to soak in (this may take a few minutes as there will be a lot of syrup) continue to add syrup until all of the syrup is added.
19Allow cake to cool completerly in pan before turning out onto serving platter.
20This cake is delicate, so once it is turned out, it can not be moved around easily.
21Can be eaten when fully cool, but even better the next day!