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Caribbean Rum Cake

This Caribbean Rum Cake recipe is inspired by the Tortuga rum cakes. A moist vanilla sponge cake that is soaked in a sweet rum mixture, topped with a delicious pecan crunch.

photo of finished rum bundt cake

You’ll find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Be sure to check out the blog post itself for extra tips and tricks!

If you want to impress your future in-laws, bake them a Caribbean Rum Cake. Well, that’s what I did. My then guy friend, who is now my husband, invited me to his house for Thanksgiving soon after we met. I wanted to bring something delicious yet a little risky. Rum cake became a clear choice to bring. 

The popular Tortuga rum cake inspires this cake and is now requested by family year after year.

This cake is made with boxed cake mix (shhh, that’ll be our little secret) and soaked with good-quality dark rum. I initially found the recipe on Allrecipes, but I have made a few adjustments over the years to suit my taste. 

How to make Caribbean Rum Cake

First, preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Generously grease a bundt cake pan with unsalted butter. I use a whole 2 Tablespoons to grease the pan, and I make sure every nook and cranny is coated so the cake doesn’t stick. Then place chopped pecans in the bottom of the bundt pan and sprinkle with a bit of brown sugar. Set aside.  

pecans and brown sugar in bottom of bundt pan

In a large bowl, sift the boxed cake mix and the package of dry vanilla pudding mix. Add eggs, rum, milk, and vegetable oil and stir until thoroughly combined.

flour and vanilla pudding being sifted over bowl
cake batter being stirred in bowl

Pour mixture into bundt pan. Bake in preheated oven for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. 

cake batter being poured into bundt pan over pecans

How to make Caribbean Rum Cake Glaze

When your cake is almost done baking, start to prepare the glaze. 

Combine butter, water, ½ cup brown sugar, and ½ cup white sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil and boil for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and stir in ½ cup of rum. 

When the Cake is done baking, remove it from the oven and use a toothpick to poke holes in the cake while it is still in the bundt pan. Then pour the glaze over the cake while it remains in the bundt pan. Allow the glaze to soak into the cake for about 15-20 minutes. 

rum cake glaze being poured over cake

After soaking, use a butter knife to release the cake from the bundt pan. Remove the cake from the bundt cake by flipping it onto a platter. 

rum cake on platter

Serve and enjoy. 

Notes

  • I use Myers’s dark rum for this recipe. I’ve used other brands but prefer Myer’s over all others. 
  • This rum cake tastes like rum. If you’re not a fan of boozy cake, you won’t like this recipe. 
  • This cake isn’t for the children. 
  • This cake can be eaten when done, but is best after being refrigerated for a day. 

I hope you enjoy this rum cake as much as my family and I do.

Looking for other delicious cake recipes? Try these out:

Print Recipe
4.91 from 10 votes

Caribbean Rum Cake

This Caribbean Rum Cake is inspired by the Tortuga rum cakes sold in the Caribbean and many stores in the States.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Cooling20 minutes
Total Time1 hour 15 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: caribbean rum cake, tortuga rum cake
Servings: 16 people
Calories: 355kcal
Author: Tanya Harris

Ingredients

For Cake

  • 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter softened
  • ½ cup pecans chopped
  • 1 Tablespoon light brown sugar
  • 1 15.25 oz box yellow cake mix
  • 1 3.4 oz box instant vanilla pudding mix
  • 4 large eggs
  • ½ cup milk
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • ½ cup dark rum

For Glaze

  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • ¼ cup water
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup light brown sugar
  • ½ cup dark rum

Instructions

For Cake

  • Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Generously grease a 10-inch bundt cake pan with unsalted butter.
  • Place chopped pecans in the bottom of the bundt pan and sprinkle with brown sugar. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, add boxed cake mix and a package of dry vanilla pudding mix in a large bowl. Add eggs, milk, vegetable oil, and ½ cup of rum and stir until thoroughly combined. Pour mixture into bundt pan over the pecans.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.

For Glaze

  • Combine butter, water, ½ cup brown sugar, and ½ cup granulated sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to boil and boil for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in ½ cup of rum.
  • When cake is done baking, remove from oven and use a toothpick to poke holes in the cake while it is still in the bundt pan. Then pour the glaze over the cake while it remains in the bundt pan. Allow the glaze to soak into the cake for about 15-20 minutes.
  • After soaking, use a butter knife to release the sides of the cake from the bundt pan. Remove cake from bundt pan by flipping it onto a platter.
  • Serve and enjoy.

Notes

  • I use Myers’s dark rum for this recipe. I’ve used other brands but prefer Myer’s over all others. 
  • This rum cake tastes like rum. If you’re not a fan of boozy cake, you won’t like this recipe. 
  • This cake isn’t for the children. 
  • This cake can be eaten when done but is best after being refrigerated for a day. 

Nutrition

Calories: 355kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 308mg | Potassium: 62mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 249IU | Calcium: 93mg | Iron: 1mg

Recipe adapted from All Recipes.

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Moist Chocolate Cola Cake

This recipe for Chocolate Cola Cake is moist and so easy to make. Full of chocolaty flavor and covered in a sweet cola frosting everyone will love.

fork sticking out of piece of chocolate cola cake with crushed can and cake pan in background

This post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclaimer here.

You’ll find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Be sure to check out the blog post itself for extra tips and tricks!

Years ago my hubby, who was my boyfriend at the time, took me on a trip to Charleston, SC. I won’t bore you with the details of the entire trip but we visited a restaurant called Jestine’s. We had to wait in a line that was wrapped around the building so once we got inside, I ordered a whole bunch of things from the menu. For dessert, I had Coca Cola Cake. It was so darn delicious. 

Now this isn’t Jestine’s recipe because I’m sure hers is made from scratch. For my recipe, I use a boxed chocolate cake mix (why not) and add a can of cola (You can use coca-cola or any budget brand) and 2 eggs. Yes, you read that right, the base of this cake only has 3 ingredients and it comes out so moist and chocolate. Let’s get to the recipe.

How to Make Chocolate Cola Cake

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a 13x9 pan. Set aside. In a large bowl, add boxed cake mix, 2 large eggs, and a whole can of cola. The mixture will foam up like crazy when you pour the cola in, allow it to settle down a bit and start stirring until the mixture is thoroughly combined. 

cola soda being poured into bowl with boxed caked mix
mixed cake batter with white spoon sticking out of bowl

Pour mixture into your prepared pan and bake in preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. 

finished cola cake without frosting

Prepare the Cola Frosting

While your cake is baking, prepare the frosting by melting ½ cup of butter in a saucepan. Add cola and cocoa powder and bring the mixture to a slight boil. It won’t be a rapid boil, just slight bubbles popping in the mixture. Remove from heat and stir in powdered sugar until fully combined. You will notice the mixture thicken as your stir in the powdered sugar. 

whisk with chocolate frosting dripping from it over sauce pan

Pour-over the cake once it’s done baking. Allow the frosting to cool on the cake for about 5-10 minutes before serving. 

cola frosting being poured over chocolate cake

And there you have it, rich and chocolaty cola cake.  

Finished Chocolate Cola Cake cut into pieces with one piece missing

Notes

  • Sooo….I tested this recipe in an airfryer because why not! Prepare the cake batter as instructed and pour it into an 8 inch air fryer cake pan. All the batter will fit. I used the same pan I used in my Air Fryer Brownie recipe. Cook on 320 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Cut the frosting in half for the smaller air fryer cake. 
  • If you’d like a bit of crunch, add some chopped pecans to the frosting after you add the powdered sugar. 
  • This cake is best served warm but we eat it cold and still love it. 

Looking for other yummy cake recipes? Try these out:

slice of cola cake on white plate
Print Recipe
4.54 from 28 votes

Easy Chocolate Cola Cake Recipe

This easy and delicious Chocolate Cola Cake recipe is moist and delicious and covered in a delicious cola infused chocolate frosting.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time35 minutes
Resting time5 minutes
Total Time50 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chocolate cola cake, coca cola cake, cola cake
Servings: 15 people
Calories: 323.95kcal
Author: Tanya Harris

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 15.25 oz box chocolate cake mix
  • 2 large eggs
  • 12 oz can Cola soda

Chocolate Cola Frosting

  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • 3 Tablespoons cocoa powder
  • 6 Tablespoons Cola soda
  • 4 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a 13x9 pan. Set aside. In a large bowl, add boxed cake mix, 2 large eggs, and a whole can of cola. Stir mixture until combined.
  • Pour mixture into your prepared pan and bake in preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove from oven and set aside.

Chocolate Cola Frosting

  • Meanwhile, prepare your frosting by placing butter, cocoa powder, and cola in a sauce pan and heat over medium heat until it begins to boil slightly (you'll notice bubbles popping). Remove from heat and whisk in powdered sugar until thoroughly combined. Pour mixture over cake.
  • Allow frosting to cool on cake for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • Sooo….I tested this recipe in an airfryer because why not! Prepare the cake batter as instructed and pour it into an 8 inch air fryer cake pan. All the batter will fit. I used the same pan I used in my Air Fryer Brownie recipe. Cook on 320 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Cut the frosting in half for the smaller air fryer cake. 
  • If you’d like a bit of crunch, add some chopped pecans to the frosting after you add the powdered sugar. 
  • This cake is best served warm but we eat it cold and still love it.

Nutrition

Calories: 323.95kcal | Carbohydrates: 56.49g | Protein: 2.72g | Fat: 11.33g | Saturated Fat: 5.09g | Cholesterol: 38.09mg | Sodium: 302.03mg | Potassium: 118.38mg | Fiber: 1.02g | Sugar: 45.11g | Vitamin A: 220.77IU | Calcium: 49.58mg | Iron: 1.58mg

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11 Tasty Instant Pot Thanksgiving Recipes

Here are 11 Instant Pot Thanksgiving Recipes I’m sure you will enjoy. From turkey, potatoes, vegetables, and even desserts.

Instant Pot Thanksgiving Recipes

If your oven is too busy roasting a turkey and you’d like to put your pressure cooker to good use, then these Instant Pot Thanksgiving Recipes are just what you need. From main dishes to side dishes, and desserts.


I hope you enjoy all these wonderful recipes for your Instant Pot Pressure Cooker. You can find more Pressure Cooker recipes on the site as well.

If you're wanting more Thanksgiving recipes that aren't made in an Instant Pot, try these out:

by 8 Comments

7 Easy Air Fryer Recipes for Beginners

These Easy Air Fryer Recipes are perfect for beginners who just received an Air Fryer. They’ll get you comfortable with making delicious food in your Air Fryer with minimal steps and ingredients.

Easy Air Fryer Recipes

The Air Fryer has been a game-changer in our house as it has allowed me to create delicious quick and easy recipes for myself and my family. I’ve gathered the easiest recipes to get you started on your Air Frying journey.  

And there you have it. 7 easy air fryer recipes that will help you get acquainted with your Air Fryer. If you’d like to find more recipes for your Air Fryer, you can find them on my Air Fryer Recipes page.

If you're looking for other helpful Air Fryer articles, check these out:

by 62 Comments

Fudgy & Easy Air Fryer Brownies (From Scratch!)

These Air Fryer Brownies are perfect for when you want a small batch of rich, fudgy brownies and don’t want to turn on the oven. They are made from scratch and are the perfect mix between fudgy and cakey brownies.

brownies stacked on top of one another

This post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclaimer here.

You’ll find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Be sure to check out the blog post itself for extra tips and tricks!

Chocolate. It’s my weakness. And if I could, I would make a huge batch of brownies and eat the whole pan to myself. But society tells me that’s a bad idea. Thanks to my Air Fryer, I can make a small batch of brownies suitable for 4 (I’ll share with hubby and the kids) that won’t heat up the entire house. That’s where these brownies in the Air Fryer come in handy. 

After making S’mores on my Air Fryer, I was hooked on creating simple and easy dessert recipes in my Air Fryer. These brownies are so simple yet delicious and they can be made in one bowl.

When it comes to baking in your Air Fryer, you will need the following guideline:

  • Use smaller tools. 7-inch pans or smaller come in handy when baking in the Air Fryer. Certain Air Fryer Accessory kits have smaller pans for baking.
  • Reduce the temperature and time for baking in the Air Fryer. The general rule of thumb is to reduce by 30 degrees and cut time by 20%. These tips and others can be found in my Air Fryer Tips and Tricks post.
  • Cut recipes in half. Since Air Fryers are smaller than your oven, trying to convert an entire cake or brownie recipe may not work. Cut it in half should ensure that your baked goods get baked perfectly.

🧾 A Quick Look at the Ingredients

Ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions are on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

  • Dry ingredients: all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, sugar, salt, baking powder
  • Wet ingredients: melted unsalted butter, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, eggs

🍳 Tools You’ll Need

  • Mixing bowls
  • Whisk or silicone spatula
  • 6-inch round or square baking pan (that fits in your air fryer)
  • Nonstick spray or parchment paper
  • Air fryer

How to make Air Fryer Brownies

First, prepare your 7-inch baking pan by generously greasing with butter on the bottom and all sides. Set aside. 

Preheat your Air Fryer by setting the temperature to 330 degrees Fahrenheit and allowing it to run for about 5 minutes while you prepare your brownie batter. 

Add your all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, melted butter, sugar, eggs, vegetable oil, salt, baking powder, and vanilla extract into a large bowl and stir until thoroughly combined. Your batter should be thick.

baking pan greased with butter
brownie batter in bowl with spoon sticking out

Add it to the prepared baking pan and smooth out the top. 

Place in your preheated Air Fryer and bake for 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean. 

brownie batter in baking pan in air fryer basket
finished baked air fryer brownies

Remove and allow to cool in the pan before removing and cutting. 

finished air fryer brownies cut up

You can add in your favorite nuts before baking if you like. The kids don't generally like them, so I usually leave them out. But ¼ cup of walnuts added to this brownie mixture is a dream come true.

side picture of inside of air fryer brownies

You could check out this recipe if you prefer to make air fryer brownies from a box.

Tanya's Top Tips

  • If you don't have a basket-style air fryer, you can make brownies in a toaster oven with an air fry setting at the same temperature and time.
  • Store any leftover air fryer brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate for up to a week to keep them extra fudgy. For longer storage, wrap individual brownies tightly and freeze them in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months—just thaw at room temperature or warm in the microwave before serving.

I hope you enjoy this brownie recipe as much as we do. You'll love it topped with ice cream or whipped cream.

Other air fryer dessert recipes to try?

brownies stacked on top of each other
Print Recipe
4.68 from 52 votes

Easy Air Fryer Brownies Recipe

Make quick and easy air fryer brownies from scratch in your Air fryer. They’re delicious and the perfect mix between a fudge and cake brownie. They are the perfect small batch of brownies when you don’t want to turn on the oven.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: air fryer brownies
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 385kcal
Author: Tanya Harris

Ingredients

  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 6 Tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter melted
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder

Instructions

  • Prepare your 7-inch baking pan by generously greasing with butter on the bottom and all sides. Set aside.
  • Preheat your Air Fryer by setting the temperature to 330 degrees Fahrenheit and allowing it to run for about 5 minutes while you prepare your brownie batter.
  • Add your all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, sugar, butter, eggs, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, salt, and baking powder into a large bowl and stir until thoroughly combined.
  • Add it to the prepared baking pan and smooth out the top.
  • Place in your preheated Air Fryer and bake for 15 minutes or until a toothpick entered in the center comes out mostly clean.
  • Remove and allow to cool in the pan before removing and cutting.

Notes

  • Various Air Fryer models will bake at different rates so some bake times may vary. The bake time as provided is a guideline.

Nutrition

Calories: 385kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 112mg | Sodium: 181mg | Potassium: 202mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 38g | Vitamin A: 473IU | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 2mg

by 13 Comments

Air Fryer French Fries (Fresh or Frozen)

Here’s how to make delicious and perfect Air Fryer French Fries from fresh or frozen. These fries are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Follow this guide to make perfect french fries in your Air Fryer.

air fryer french fries in basket

You’ll find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Be sure to check out the blog post itself for extra tips and tricks!

I’ve been on an air fryer craze for quite a while now. As you can see, my Air Fryer recipes have grown and grown over the past year. Who would have thought that my obsession with this device would have started over a pregnancy craving for french fries?

I wanted fried foods but needed a healthier alternative and the air fryer came in handy. French fries and potato wedges are my go-to sides to make in the Air Fryer. Here’s how I make perfectly delicious and healthy french fries from fresh or frozen. 

How to make Air Fryer Fench Fries (Fresh)

First, you’ll want to grab 1-3 russet potatoes and cut them into equal sizes. I aim for about ½ inch in size. Cutting them into equal portions will ensure they will cook evenly.

knife cutting potato

Soak your Potatoes

Then, you’ll need to soak them. You’ll hear some people say they don’t soak their potatoes. I swear by it and do the same method for my Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes. It removes the excess starch and you’ll notice a difference in taste or texture.

I soak for a whole hour. However, if you don’t have time for all that, a two-minute rinse in a colander with high pressured water does the trick. That’s how my husband does it and it yields great results.

cut fries in bowl of water

Dry your Potatoes and Toss in Oil

Once the starch has been removed from your potatoes, drain them and dry them with a paper towel or kitchen towel. Then place them in a dry bowl and add oil. I know, some people feel that Air fryers need no oil. For delicious crispy fries, you need a little oil. Whichever kind of oil you decide to use is fine as long aa it is an oil with a high smoke point. 

cut fries drying on paper towel
cut fries in bowl in oil

Air Fry

Set your Air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and Air fry for 22-30 minutes. Shake and toss the fries every 5 minutes. This step is of prime importance. If you forget to shake or wait until your fries are halfway done, you’ll end up with partially done fries. I set a timer to make sure I remember to shake.

cut fries in air fryer basket
cooked air fryer fries

Different Air fryers cook at different temperatures depending on the wattage of the air fryer, the basket type, and how many fries you place in the basket, so the cooking time will vary from machine to machine. 

Special Note: If making one potato in a single layer, cook for about 12-15 minutes as fries in a single layer cook and crisp even faster. Cooking longer may result in burnt fries.

Other special note: Fresh fries are crispy while warm but do become softer if they get cold.

Once your fries are done, remove the basket and season the fries.

How to make Air Fryer Frozen French Fries

There’s a whole different technique when it comes to making frozen fries.

First, place the frozen fries in the Air Fryer basket. DO NOT ADD OIL. Frozen french fries already have oil added and are generally partially cooked. This is why they are able to stay so crispy, even when they get cold. 

Air Fry on 400 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 8 minutes. Some frozen French fries, like the Great Value brand from Walmart, will have air fryer directions on the back. Despite that, I still always check at the 8-minute mark.

air fryer frozen french fries in air fryer basket
cooked french fries in basket

Just like the fresh, you will want to shake your frozen fries every few minutes until they are done. Frozen fries generally will take anywhere from 8-12 minutes, depending on your Air Fryer brand as well as how many fries you place in the basket.

And there you have it, perfectly cooked french fries made in your Air fryer from fresh or frozen. Season them with my homemade blend of french fry seasoning for the best fries.

If you're looking for more Air Fryer recipes to serve these fries with, try these out:

cooked air fryer fries
Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Air Fryer French Fries (Fresh or Frozen)

Here’s how I make Crispy Air Fryer French Fries from Fresh or Frozen. Fries made in the Air Fryer are known to be healthy, crispy, and delicious. Whether homemade or previously frozen, you’ll be hooked on air frying fries.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time22 minutes
Soak Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 27 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: air fryer french fries, air fryer frozen french fries
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 104kcal
Author: Tanya Harris

Equipment

Ingredients

Fresh Fries

  • 1-3 medium sized russet potatoes cut into ½ inch fries
  • 2 Tablespoon olive oil

Frozen French Fries

  • 1-2 lbs Frozen French Fries

Instructions

Fresh Fries

  • Soak the cut potatoes for 1 hour in a bowl of water.
  • Drain the potatoes and dry them with a paper towel or kitchen towel. Then place them in a dry bowl and add oil.
  • Set your Air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and Air fry for 22-30 minutes. Shake the basket every 5 minutes.

Frozen Fries

  • First, place the frozen fries in the Air Fryer basket. DO NOT ADD OIL. Air Fry on 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 8-12 minutes.

Notes

  • Nutrition info calculated and provided is for fresh fries, not frozen. 
  • Different Air fryers cook at different temperatures depending on the wattage of the air fryer, the basket type, and how many fries you place in the basket, so the cooking time will vary from machine to machine.

Nutrition

Calories: 104kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 222mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 1mg