Moist, buttery and full of warm, aromatic chai spices, this rum raisin cake makes a delicious treat.
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Why make this recipe?
This chai-spiced rum raisin bundt cake has cozy and delicious fall flavors in every slice. The batter is flavored with warm chai spices and mixed with rum raisins. To finish, the fragrant baked bundt cake is drizzled with a sweet rum glaze.
What’s in rum raisin cake batter?
The batter for this rum raisin cake is made with rum-soaked raisins, butter, eggs, sugar, milk, sour cream and dry ingredients.
What’s in the dry ingredients?
- almond flour – use blanched almond flour, which has the dark almond skin removed
- all-purpose flour
- baking powder
- baking soda
- salt
- chai spices
What is chai spice?
Chai spice is a blend of different spices that usually includes cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and clove. A few other spices of choice, such as black pepper or fennel seeds, are sometimes mixed in as well.
The word chai simply means tea and what is usually called chai in the U.S. is actually masala chai (spiced tea). The spices that are used in masala chai make up the chai spice blend.
What’s in the rum glaze?
The rum glaze for this cake is made with powdered sugar and rum.
Ingredient notes:
- You can use light or dark rum for this recipe.
- Exactly how much rum you need for the glaze will depend on the humidity in your kitchen. Start with 1 tablespoon, then add more until you have a slow-moving glaze.
Can I substitute a store-bought chai spice blend?
Sure! To do that, leave out the chai spices from this recipe (ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, clove and black pepper). Instead, use 2 ½ teaspoons of a store-bought chai spice blend.
How to make the cake:
See full ingredients & instructions in the recipe card below!
Step 1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 6-cup bundt pan well, then sift flour into it and shake out the excess.
Step 2. Add raisins and rum to a small saucepan.
Step 3. Briefly bring the rum to a boil, then turn the heat off and let the raisins cool and soak.
Step 4. Next, whisk all dry ingredients together in a bowl.
Step 5. Set the dry ingredients aside and in a large mixing bowl, whip together butter and sugar.
Step 6. Whip in the eggs, then set the batter aside for a moment.
Step 7. In a small bowl, whisk together sour cream and milk.
Step 8. With the mixer running, gradually whip the dry ingredients and the milk/sour cream mix into the cake batter. (Alternate between the two and start with the dry ingredients.)
Step 9. Drain the soaked rum raisins and stir them into the batter.
Step 10. Transfer the batter into the pan and bake until an inserted toothpick comes out clean (about 45 minutes). Let the cake cool on a wire rack, then unmold.
Make the glaze:
Step 11. Whisk together powdered sugar and rum, then drizzle on the cake.
Can I freeze this cake?
Yes, this cake freezes very well. Transfer the unglazed cake into a freezer bag (either whole or cut into quarters) and put in the freezer. Let thaw at room temperature, then glaze.
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Full Printable Recipe
Rum Raisin Bundt Cake with Chai Spices
Equipment:
- 6-cup bundt cake pan
- sieve
- measuring cups and spoons
- small saucepan
- mixing bowls
- whisk
- standing mixer or handheld mixer
- rubber spatula
- toothpick
Ingredients:
For the cake:
- ½ cup raisins
- ¼ cup rum*
- ¼ cup almond flour
- 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour, more for dusting the pan
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
- ½ teaspoon ground clove
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup full-fat sour cream
- ¼ cup whole milk
For the glaze:
- 10 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1-3 tablespoons rum
Instructions:
For the cake:
- Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Generously grease a 6-cup Bundt pan, dust with flour and shake out the excess. Set aside.
- Add raisins and rum into a small saucepan. Bring the mix to a boil, then turn the heat off and set aside to cool.
- Whisk almond flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices together in a bowl. Set aside.
- Whip butter and sugar together until they are light and fluffy.
- Whip in the eggs. Set aside.
- Whisk the sour cream and the milk together in a bowl.
- Whip the dry ingredients and the milk/sour cream mix into the cake batter in two to three batches. (Alternate between the two and start with the dry ingredients.) Continue to whip the batter until it is smooth.
- Drain the raisins and mix them into the batter by hand.
- Fill the batter into the Bundt cake pan and bake until a toothpick comes out clean (~45 minutes).
- Let the cake cool, then release it from the pan.
For the glaze:
- Whisk the powdered sugar with the rum, then pour on the cake. (Start with 1 tablespoon rum, then add more until you have a slow-flowing glaze.)
Notes:
Nutrition Information (Estimated):
Nutrition values provided on this website are generated from a nutrition database and are estimates only. The accuracy of the nutrition information for any recipe on this website is not guaranteed. Nutrition values can vary quite a lot depending on which brands are used.
Jeff
Your recipe was the best…first from scratch cake I ever made, turned out perfectly..!!!!! Easy to follow along.Thanks so much
Nicole B.
I’m so happy to hear that, Jeff! Thank you so much for coming back and leaving such a nice comment, I really appreciate that!
Monica
I made it in a 10-cup Bundt pan and it turned out fine. Although I had to bake it for 70 mins for the internal temp to be over 200 degrees F. Maybe could’ve gone 5-10 more for crisper crust. The flavor and texture was perfect. It’s a tinge on the set side like cakes at the pastry store with the glaze—a fine cake to go with less for less sweetness. I only used half the glaze with 4 Tb of Bacardi Gold and 20 Tb powdered sugar. I’m very very impressed with this recipe and will be making again. Thank you.
Nicole B.
I’m so happy to hear that you liked the recipe, Monica! Thank you so much for coming back and leaving such great feedback, it’s much appreciated. Hope you’re having a great weekend! :)
Maya
Thank you so much, I love your recipes!
Nicole B.
I’m so glad to hear that, thank you so much, Maya! :)
Shobelyn
omg, Nicole another stunning photo. I am going to try the glaze with my apple cake..
Nicole B.
Thank you, Shobelyn! I think that glaze would go very well on an apple cake indeed, yum! :)