Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and lightly flour an 8-inch round cake pan.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
Add Eggs and Flavoring: Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla extract and rum. Mix until smooth.
Combine with Dry Ingredients: Add the flour mixture and stir just until incorporated. The batter will be thick.
Fold in Apples: Gently fold the chopped apples into the batter until evenly distributed.
Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Sprinkle lightly with sugar for a crisp crust. Bake for 40–45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the top is golden brown.
Cool and Serve: Let the cake cool for 10 minutes, then transfer to a serving plate. Dust with confectioners’ sugar before serving, if desired.
