The holidays are a time for indulgence and celebration, and what better way to get into the festive spirit than with a boozy eggnog bundt cake? This delightful dessert combines the classic flavor of eggnog with a splash of rum, creating a moist, flavorful cake that’s perfect for holiday gatherings.
The batter comes together easily and bakes beautifully in a bundt pan, giving it an elegant shape that’s ideal for entertaining. Whether you’re hosting a Christmas party, attending a family dinner, or simply treating yourself, this cake will become your new favorite festive treat. Finish it off with a sweet glaze made with powdered sugar and a dash of nutmeg to enhance the warm holiday flavors. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to make this show-stopping dessert.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Festive Flavors: The combination of eggnog, rum, and warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg makes this cake a perfect reflection of the holiday season.
- Boozy Twist: The addition of dark rum gives the cake a subtle boozy kick, making it a fun and indulgent treat for adults.
- Moist and Flavorful: Thanks to the eggnog and butter, this cake is incredibly moist and flavorful with each bite.
- Easy to Make: Despite its impressive appearance, this recipe is simple to follow and doesn’t require any special baking skills.
- Perfect for Holiday Gatherings: Whether it’s a Christmas dinner or a holiday party, this boozy eggnog bundt cake is sure to be the star of the dessert table.
- Customizable: Add variations like chocolate chips, dried fruits, or make it dairy-free to suit your preferences and dietary needs.
- Great Make-Ahead Dessert: The cake can be baked a day or two in advance and still taste fresh and delicious when served.
- Delightful Glaze: The rum glaze adds an extra layer of sweetness and makes the cake even more decadent.
Recipe Overview
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Servings: 12-14
- Difficulty Level: Easy
- Dietary Information: Contains dairy, eggs, and alcohol (rum).
Ingredients
Cake:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg (for that classic eggnog flavor)
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs (at room temperature)
- 1 ¼ cups eggnog (store-bought or homemade)
- ¼ cup dark rum (this adds the boozy kick!)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon rum (optional, for added moisture)
Rum Glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons rum (dark or spiced)
- 2 tablespoons milk (or eggnog for extra flavor)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Equipment
- 1 Bundt pan (10 to 12 cups capacity)
- Hand or stand mixer
- Mixing bowls
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Cooling rack
- Sifter (optional, for powdered sugar)
- Whisk or spoon (for the glaze)
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures that the oven is the right temperature when it’s time to bake the eggnog bundt cake.
2. Prepare the Bundt Pan
Generously grease and flour your Bundt pan. This will help the cake release easily once it’s baked. You can use butter, cooking spray, or shortening, followed by a dusting of flour. If you prefer, you can also line the pan with parchment paper for added assurance.
3. Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a medium-sized bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Sifting will remove any lumps and evenly distribute the dry ingredients.
4. Cream the Butter and Sugar
In a large mixing bowl, use a hand or stand mixer to beat the unsalted butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy. This process should take around 3-4 minutes on medium speed, helping to create a light texture in the cake.
5. Add the Eggs
Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Make sure each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next one. This ensures that the batter remains smooth and well-blended.
6. Incorporate the Dry Ingredients and Eggnog
Add the dry ingredients in three parts, alternating with the eggnog and rum mixture. Start with a third of the dry ingredients, followed by half of the eggnog mixture, and mix until combined. Continue alternating until all ingredients are incorporated. Be careful not to overmix the batter, as this can make the cake dense.
7. Add the Vanilla Extract
Once everything is mixed together, add the vanilla extract and give the batter a final stir.
8. Pour the Batter into the Bundt Pan
Pour the batter into the prepared Bundt pan, smoothing the top with a spatula. Tap the pan gently on the counter to remove any air bubbles and ensure an even bake.
9. Bake the Cake
Place the Bundt pan in the preheated oven and bake for 50 to 60 minutes. Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center. If it comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs, the eggnog bundt cake is done. If the top starts to brown too quickly, loosely cover it with aluminum foil for the last 10 minutes.
10. Cool the Cake
Once the cake is done baking, remove it from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. Then, carefully turn the cake out onto a cooling rack to cool completely before glazing.
11. Make the Rum Glaze
While the cake is cooling, make the rum glaze. In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, rum, milk (or eggnog), and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined. A touch of nutmeg can also be added to enhance the holiday flavor.
12. Glaze the Cake
Once the cake has cooled completely, drizzle the rum glaze generously over the top. Allow the glaze to cascade down the sides for a beautiful presentation and a perfectly boozy finish.
Pro Tips
- Room temperature ingredients: Make sure your butter, eggs, and eggnog are at room temperature. This will help the ingredients mix smoothly and create a better texture in the cake.
- Don’t overmix: When combining the wet and dry ingredients, mix until just combined. Overmixing can lead to a dense and heavy cake.
- Check for doneness: Every oven is different, so start checking the cake around the 50-minute mark. If a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs, it’s ready.
- Cool completely before glazing: If you glaze the cake while it’s still warm, the glaze may melt and run off. Let the cake cool completely to get the perfect glaze finish.
Variations You Can Try
While the classic boozy eggnog bundt cake is delicious on its own, here are a few variations to customize the recipe to your taste:
1. Add Chocolate Chips
For a twist, fold in a cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips for a rich and chocolatey contrast to the eggnog bundt cake flavor.
2. Spice it up
Experiment with different spices like cloves, ginger, or nutmeg for an extra layer of flavor.
3. Dairy-Free Option
Substitute the butter with a dairy-free margarine or coconut oil and use non-dairy eggnog to make this boozy cake dairy-free.
4. Add Dried Fruits
For a festive touch, incorporate chopped dried fruits like cranberries, raisins, or apricots into the batter.
5. Whipped Cream Topping
For an extra indulgent treat, serve slices of cake with a dollop of whipped cream, a dusting of powdered sugar, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. A light glaze drizzled over the top can also elevate the presentation.
Conclusion
This boozy eggnog bundt cake is a wonderful way to celebrate the holiday season with a delicious and indulgent dessert. Combining the rich flavors of eggnog, rum, and warm spices, this cake is sure to be a hit at your next holiday gathering. Whether you stick with the classic recipe or try one of the fun variations, you’ll have a cake that’s both easy to make and irresistible to eat. Happy baking, and enjoy this festive treat!
