Rum Cake

Difficulty: easy Prep Time: More than 15 Minutes Total Time: More than 1 hour
1 cup raisins
1/4 cup amber or dark rum
2 tsp active dry yeast
2 tsp granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp salt
4 eggs
1/2 cup molasses
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
Rum Syrup
3/4 cup + 2 tbsp granulated sugar
2/3 cup amber or dark rum

In glass bowl, microwave raisins in rum for 30 seconds. Cover, let sit until rum is absorbed, about 20 minutes. In small bowl, sprinkle yeast and sugar over 3 tbsp warm water; let sit until yeast begins to foam, about 10 minutes. In separate bowl, whisk together flours, ginger and salt. Scrape yeast mixture into separate large bowl; mix in eggs. Beat in molasses. Gradually beat in flour mixture until dough is elastic. Beat in butter until thoroughly mixed. Mix in raisins. Scrape batter into well-buttered 10" tube pan, smoothing top. Cover with kitchen towel and let rest in warm place until doubled in volume, about 2 hours. Bake at 375°F until skewer inserted in cake comes out clean, about 22 minutes. Run knife between cake and pan; turn cake out onto rack, let cool. Rum Syrup: Place sugar in saucepan with 3/4 cup water; bring to boil and stir in rum. Place cake on plate, top down; spoon half of rum syrup evenly over cake bottom. Flip cake over. With a sharp-tined fork, poke holes all over top crust. Spoon remaining rum syrup over top of cake until all the syrup is absorbed. Let stand 2-3 hours before serving. Store at room temperature for up to 1 day.