Preheat oven to 350°. Butter 2 loaf pans. Put the vanilla pulp in a bowl with the sugar and sub until incorporated. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Add eggs one at a time. Whisk in vanilla (if using) then cream followed by rum. Gently stir in dry ingred. Fold in melted butter and pour into pans. Bake 55-60 min, covering with foil after 30 min. Meanwhile stir water and sugar in pan over med. heat until sugar melts. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in rum. Pour into a bowl and cool. When cakes are done immediately poke small holes with a skewer on top and drizzle with syrup. Cool in pan.
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