For any of you who have ever travelled to the Caribbean, you will have seen these rum cakes made by the Tortuga Rum Cake Company.  You can even visit their store in Nassau and do a little taste testing.  The first time I tried them, I knew instantly I had tried this cake before.  Alex’s neighbor, Mary, would make the cake for his family (one of his dad’s favorites).  Mary shared the recipe with Alex’s mom, and Alex’s Mom shared it with me.  I’ve now made it so many times, the card is see through in spots from the butter glaze.  For you “health nuts” out there, don’t think you can skip the glaze either… it’s what makes this cake magically moist.  And you’re eating cake… so just accept that it’s not good for you.

My latest incarnation of this recipe is called the Whiskey Fix.  Given we went southern, I swapped out the typical walnuts for PECANS…. (How d’you say that?  pi-ˈkän or ˈpē-ˌkan)  No matter how you say it, I say YUMMMMM.

Here’s how to get your fix, without a trip to Nassau (or the South for that matter).

Whiskey Fix Cake

For the cake:

• 1 package yellow cake mix
• 1 package instant vanilla pudding
• 1/2 c water
• 1/2 c oil
• 1/2 c whiskey (I use Evan Williams)
• 4 eggs
• 1 c chopped pecans

For the glaze:

• 1/2 stick butter, cubed
• 1/2 c water
• 1/4 c whiskey
• 1 c sugar

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Grease & flour a bundt pan.  Sprinkle pecans on the bottom of the bundt pan.  Put cake mix, pudding, water, oil, whiskey, and eggs in a bowl and whisk until smooth.  Pour the cake mix into the bundt pan, over the nuts.  Bake for 1 hour.

Meanwhile, make the glaze.  In a small sauce pan, combine all ingredients and heat over medium high heat.  Allow the butter to melt and then reduce the heat to low while it boils for 2 minutes.  It will bubble up, so remove from the heat momentarily if it gets too high.  Remove from heat after 2 minutes.

When the cake is done, remove it from the oven, and poke holes in the top with a skewer.  Immediately pour warm glaze over the top.  It will bubble and sizzle.  Allow the cake to cool, then when it is cool enough to handle, flip the bundt pan over on to a plate.

ENJOY!

Whiskey Fix Cake