Can you get drunk on rum cake?

close

01/4​Can Rum cake get you drunk? ​

The best thing about Christmas and year-end celebrations is indulging in that delicious rum infused cake made with the goodness of rum soaked dry fruits and nuts! The mere idea of indulging in a traditional rum can get you into the festive vibes. But there is an age-old myth that revolves around rum cakes and most alcohol based desserts and delicacies that eating too much cake can get you drunk and if you too feel the same, then you must read on…

02/4​How much rum cake is enough to get you drunk?

An average rum cake has around 1/2 cup rum to bake the cake and eating two to three pieces of dry rum cake is too less to get you drunk. However, if you soak the cake in rum after baking and serve it after refrigeration, then eating too much cake can get you a little intoxicated.

03/4But baking takes away that punch

However, when you add rum to the cake batter in most cases due to the process of baking the percentage of alcohol gets diluted and evaporates, this reduces its effect. The presence of rum remains as a flavour in the baked cake and this type of rum cake doesn't contain enough rum to get you intoxicated.

04/4How to make Rum cake at home?

To begin with this traditional recipe, start with preheating the oven to 180°C and greasing a baking pan. In the meantime, chop 1 cup of pecans. Just dry roast the chopped pecans.

To prepare the Rum cake batter, using a sieve, sift 1 cup of all purpose flour, 1 tablespoon cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon baking powder and a dash of salt in a bowl. In another bowl, whisk cream the ½ cup butter along with ½ cup brown sugar and orange zest for 2 minutes. Add in the ½ cup sour cream, 4 eggs, ½ cup granulated sugar and 2 teaspoon vanilla and beat until combined properly.

Add the dry ingredients into wet ingredients and whisk nicely along with ½ cup rum and ¾ cup rum and keep stirring until a smooth batter is formed. Then add in 1 cup rum soaked dry fruits and nuts.

In the meantime, spread the roasted pecan in the greased baking tray or tin, then pour in the batter. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Once baked, check the cake by pricking a toothpick if it comes out clean. Cut into slices and serve warm with a scoop of ice cream or a cup of spiced latte!

Note :

You should ideally soak assorted dry fruits and nuts in rum for at least 15 days for that perfect taste.

To make the cake more enticing, you can whisk eggs, butter and sugar together till the mixture turns foamy.

No other cake gives me a buzz like a good ol’ slice of rum cake. 

No really, legally speaking, you might actually get a buzz from these alcohol-infused goodies. So it’s wise to eat them in moderation no matter how yummy they are and avoid driving afterward!

Rum cake is any cake made with rum. They’re particularly popular in the Caribbean, especially around the holiday season. Last Christmas, I had a request from a South African client for a Christmas fruit cake, but instead of brandy, he wanted rum.

That was the first time I made a rum cake and I’ve been officially converted. 

I’m Angie, I’m a self-taught baker with a baking side hustle. In this article, I will show you whether or not you can get drunk off rum cake. 

Let’s dive into it!

Contents

• How Much Rum is in a Rum Cake?
• How Much Rum Gets You Drunk?
• Can You Get Drunk off Rum Cake?
• FAQs
  • Can rum cake make you fail a drug test?
  • Can you get drunk off alcoholic desserts?
  • Does alcohol burn off in rum cake?
  • What is the shelf life of rum cake?
  • How long does alcohol stay in your system?
• Final Thoughts

How Much Rum is in a Rum Cake?

Depending on how big your cake is and the recipe you follow, the answer to this question will vary. My favorite recipe for Jamaican rum cake calls for ½ a cup of rum in the batter and ¼ cup more for the sauce. 

In my case when I was preparing my Christmas fruit cakes for the order, I soaked my raisins in a cup of rum overnight. The rum was completely soaked up and I baked with all of my rum-soaked raisins. 

On top of that, I had to regularly “feed” my cake with more rum throughout the course of a month, a few tablespoons at a time, leading up to Christmas. 

Of course, most of the alcohol in the cake evaporates during baking when it’s reached a boiling point, but not all of it. There’s also alcohol in the sauce, the frosting, and the cake soak.  

How Much Rum Gets You Drunk?

Now this, depends on your tolerance.

Actually, not only that but factors such as your age, weight, metabolism, what you’re eating or drinking while having rum, also plays a part in determining how much of it gets you drunk. 

Rum has a concentration of 40% ABV. You can refer to the following charts from Healthline to calculate for yourself how much alcohol will it take for you to reach drunkness.

That said, with a blood alcohol content level of 0.08%, you are considered legally impaired for driving. For an average woman, it takes about three drinks an hour to reach 0.08% BAC and about four drinks an hour for an average man. 

As unlikely as it is, it’s possible to feel slightly buzzed off eating too many pieces of rum cake. 

Like I mentioned before, most of the alcohol that is infused in your cake batter will evaporate in the oven. From just the sauce and the remaining alcohol, it’s not too likely for you to reach an intoxication level which we usually describe as being drunk. 

If you’ve eaten so much rum cake that your BAC is above 0.08%, you will be considered legally impaired for driving. 

FAQs

Here I’ll answer some commonly asked questions about the topic.

Can rum cake make you fail a drug test?

Yes, you can test positive in a drug test for alcohol from eating alcoholic desserts. 

Can you get drunk off alcoholic desserts?

As I said, the asnwer. I say this because drunkness is defined differently for different people. You may not feel the effects of alcohol after having some alcoholic desserts but the alcohol can still be detected in your body through your blood, urine, breath and more. 

Does alcohol burn off in rum cake?

Alcohol in rum cakes does partially evaporate during the baking process in the oven, but not all of it. You also need to keep in mind that many rum cakes are soaked with rum post-baking. 

What is the shelf life of rum cake?

The alcohol and sugar content in your rum cake can significantly extend its shelf-life. Storebought, tightly sealed Tortuga rum cakes are best if consumed within 12 months of purchase. Refrigeration or freezing will prolong this time. Homemade rum cake is good for up to three months in the freezer.

How long does alcohol stay in your system?

There are several ways alcohol is measured. According to Cleveland Clinic, in blood, alcohol can be detected for up to 12 hours. In breath, it will linger for up to a day and in urine, five days. 

Final Thoughts

There’s a saying in Japanese, “Otona no amasa”, which literally translates to “Grown-up Sweetness”. Rum cakes are the perfect example of this. As nice as it is to be able to enjoy this grown-up sweetness it is also nice to be responsible. 

Though it is unlikely that you will get drunk from a slice of rum cake, do remember to eat in moderation, especially if you plan on driving, and to avoid even the slightest chance of drunk driving.

Have you ever tested positive on a DUI test after eating rum cake? Let us know in the comments!

I am a self-taught baker. I’ve been baking for over 10 years and started my own home baking business as a side hustle. I was born in Hong Kong and spent a pretty big chunk of my life in Canada. If you’re ever looking for me, I am probably there whisking vigorously away in the kitchen.

Does alcohol cook out of rum cake?

Can you get drunk off alcohol cupcakes?

Does alcohol bake out of cake?