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How to make a Tortuga Rum Cake

How to make a Tortuga Rum Cake

The very first step in making a rum cake is to set aside your inhibitions.


Allowed to season for at least a day, your cake will not have a ‘smelly alcohol’ scent, nor will it taste as though you’ve doused your dessert with a drink. Or two.

This recipe is a clone of a well-known cake sold in the Cayman Islands by the makers of the rum used in this recipe - Tortuga. It is said to be difficult to find, but can be purchased in better liquor stores, often ordered by the store. Worth checking into. See the image in step 1 (not to be confused with this intro) so you will know what to look for in the liquor store.

Don't run at the note of 'clone', as this cake is indeed delicious, the next best thing to an actual Tortuga Rum Cake from the Carribean. If you are unable to locate this rum, Whaler's Vanille (not a typo) can be substituted.

Kudos to "Heart 'n Soul" of Minnesota, courtesy of Food.com for sharing this recipe with the world. This recipe is referred to as the 'Almost Tortuga Rum Cake'.

Alterations in text, but not the recipe, by Karen Manasco

Special thanks to Instructables member Starshipminivan, who reminded us that September 19 is
International Talk Like A Pirate Day!

Grab your bottle of rum and make a cake, or walk the plank!
See more at: http://talklikeapirate.com/
 
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Step 1Understand the procedure...

Understand the procedure...
Directions: Cake will consist of three steps. Please read entire recipe before starting.
Ensure you have all of the ingredients, as some are listed twice, and even thrice among all three steps.

Basic mix - You will first create a basic mix that can be refrigerated for several months. But why wait?

Batter - This is added to the basic mix as stated above

Rum glaze - The finishing touch
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31 comments
Jan 24, 2012. 1:43 AMkejoseph99 says:
Hello WUVIE. Can you - or anyone else out there - help me? We used to live in the Cayman Islands and have very fond memories of Tortuga Rum Cake (the Blue Mountain Coffee was our favourite). Now we're back in a very wet and rainy UK and I'd love to make a nearly-authentic rum cake for my husband's birthday this week, just to remind us of all that lovely sunshine. I even have a proper bundt tin (rare over here). However, in the UK there is no such thing as Jello Instant Vanilla Pudding mix. What is it? Does anyone know if there is an acceptable substitute available here? For instance, is it the same as Angel Delight? I do remember seeing it in the supermarket in Cayman but we never tried it. I would welcome any suggestions.
Sep 19, 2011. 6:29 PMstarshipminivan says:
Happy Talk Like a Pirate Day! I made this for dessert. Thank you for posting it!
Dec 24, 2011. 1:01 PMXavienne says:
Just made one of these & a chocolate variant. Very tasty and so far a huge hit with my friends! I think I have a new holiday tradition!
Sep 12, 2011. 8:07 AMforrie says:
I don't think Tortuga uses butter in their glaze. Also, whenever I make a cake, after glazing and it's set... there's always a lemony taste, and I can't understand why. I use Watkins, too.

The glaze is the real secret I think... probably loaded with vanillin or something that is other than what we think it is :-) I bet it's flavored sugar, less so any booze.
Sep 11, 2011. 6:08 PMforrie says:
I've been working on trying to duplicate this rum cake recipe for a long time. Many disasters, some close.

I think their glaze has some flavoring (besides rum) in it. There's an almost crea my taste to it, it might be vanilla/vanillin. But the actual cake itself at the factory is very likely doctored up boxed yellow cake mix.

Anyone know more about the glaze.
Aug 31, 2011. 8:13 PMthe_burrito_master says:
I love rum candy if this tastes anything like that then I well definitly have to try it some day. I like rum candy so much I'm scared I may one day be an alcoholic (rumaholic).
Sep 11, 2011. 1:03 AMthe_burrito_master says:
Omg even tho it's non alcoholic, the first few I had i hated and then I got addicted to them XD. I've got to get some more.
Sep 8, 2011. 8:38 PMurnaa says:
like
Sep 6, 2011. 3:13 AMsunshiine says:
Another wonder???? Must make this one also! Thanks for sharing! Have a splendorous day!
sunshiine
Sep 1, 2011. 9:12 AMjongscx says:
I would love to find a cake-mix equivalent to this, using the same methods, but making it more idiot-proof.

Also, have you tried making the other tortuga rum-cake variants? I remember they had like Chocolate, Pineapple (almost like pineapple upside-down doused in rum), and coconut I think...
Sep 4, 2011. 1:51 PMRollerScrapper says:
jongscx,
to be honest (and not to detract from what looks like a lovely recipe by WUVIE) i just make a boxed chocolate cake (any kind) and then douse it with malibu or parrot coconut rum, no glaze, just pure rum. Like WUVIE, i use a little bit at a time. People rave about this cake, especially if i make it in cupcake style. If you make cupcakes, i recommend the aluminum liners so the rum doesn't soak through the liner. It's a lot less steps and IMHO better than a tortuga cake b/c it's fresh...those tortuga cakes are fun in the carribean, and make great souvenirs, but if i'm craving a rum cake, i just whip up that rather than ordering one from amazon. BTW WUVIE, if you want to try one, you can order them from amazon, it's actually cheaper than buying them in the Cayman Islands...I discovered that trick and the year I went i didn't even have to lug back the souvenirs, i just ordered them and shipped them to my house and to my friends :)

I think WUVIE's recipe is worth a try though, the butter glaze sounds delicious!
Sep 1, 2011. 5:58 PMriff raff says:
And definitely the rest of the rum. Arrrrr! *wink*
Sep 1, 2011. 7:37 PMskyisblu says:
I love this cake! My parents bring me one back for me whenever they cruise past the Cayman Islands, as well as a bottle of rum...I know what I'm going to be baking!
Sep 1, 2011. 6:15 PMstarshipminivan says:
What a perfect dessert for International Talk Like a Pirate Day on Sept. 19th! It's practically a religious observance in our house.
Aug 30, 2011. 9:13 PMwkuace says:
I saw tortuga and rum and figured it had to do with Jack Sparrow!. Still sounds good though, I'll have to make it sometime
Aug 30, 2011. 5:59 PMscoochmaroo says:
I love it. I love desserts you have to wait to eat. Builds the enjoyment!
Aug 31, 2011. 11:18 AMglaikind says:
I have had the original Tortuga Rum cake (in the beautiful bright yellow box) and it's one of my all time favorites. Thanks so much for sharing this recipe. I can't WAIT to try it!
Sep 1, 2011. 11:12 AMBanditbill says:
Begin Uncontrolled drooling....Loved the Original and now have to make it. You be a fine pirate ye dirty skaliwag.

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Author:WUVIE(Wuv'n Acres Gardens)
Let's skip the pretentious titles. At present, I am a paper pusher for a manufacturing plant. In the remainder of my life, I am a mother of two handsome grown men, a wife to a very patient man, care...
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