chocolate rum cake

In the spirit of LOVE, I'm sharing a family secret today. It's a good one too. 

This is our award-winning, infamous Rum Cake. People go crazy for it. It's one of those cakes that everyone wants the recipe for, and I'm always embarrassed when they ask.  

 The truth is, there is no recipe. It's just your typical chocolate cake, chocolate frosting, chocolate ganache, and a little secret weapon. 

Butter Rum flavoring oil. 

We use it for our chocolates, but it's just as good added to chocolate frosting. You can find it at your local baking supply store. I bought this one at Orson GYGI's, but I've also bough it at Bakers C&C. You can also find it HERE online. But, here is the important part, you want {BUTTER RUM}, not butter or just rum. Trust me they are not the same. 

The cascading chocolate ganache makes it look fancier than it really is. People will think you put a lot of effort into the cake, when it really doesn't take much. 

-For years I made my chocolate cake with just a cake box(devil's food), but recently I've been using THIS recipe, which is almost as easy. 

- Any chocolate frosting will work (even a can). When adding flavoring start with a few drops of oil and taste. Continue adding drops to taste, I like mine strong. 

Here is a simple frosting recipe I like to use:

4 Tbsp cocoa

3 cups powdered sugar

4 Tbsp soft butter

2 or 3 Tbsp milk

1 tsp vanilla

mix cocoa and powdered sugar in mixing bowl. Add remaining ingredients, beat until smooth. 

-For the ganache melt half a 12oz. bag of good chocolate chips(I like Ghiradelli) in the microwave. Melt them in 30 second increments, stirring each time. When they're all melted, add 5-6 Tbsp of cream, milk or half & half. Stir the mixture as fast as you can. For a minute you'll think you've done something wrong and then it will come together. Pour the ganache over the top and smooth it out so it runs over the sides. 

As I was making this cake for my mother-in-laws birthday (she asks for it every year), all my kids came running into the kitchen the minute I added the rum flavoring to the frosting- no lie. The amazing aroma filled the house within seconds. Seriously it's that good.