Ali Sperry's Family Rum Cake

Singer and songwriter Ali Sperry inherited this recipe from her grandmother. “Nana was the quintessential hostess. She was exceedingly gracious and nurtured everyone around her—with food, with her charm, humor and affection. Even in the last days leading up to her passing at age 96, I remember arriving at her bedside and without missing a beat she said “can I get you anything?”. I am grateful that she handed down her love of entertaining to my mom and to me. She used to make this recipe every year around the holidays and now my mom and I carry that tradition on. This holiday season will be especially meaningful for me, as it will be the first one in the home my partner and I bought earlier this year, and the first one as an engaged-to-be-married person. As Jamie and I transition into this new era of beginning our own little family unit, it feels especially sweet to have these reminders of our grandparents and to reflect on how they enriched our lives with their traditions and influences.”