Is light rum or dark rum better for the rum apple cake on page 111 in the Food52 cookbook? Concerned the dark rum may be too heavy....

Do you mean this cake? http://food52.com/recipes/777_rum_apple_cake

It's great!

Use a rum that you really like--you will be able to taste it in the cake.

I always cook with amber rum, drink white rum, and use dark rum in coffee or just as after dinner drink like brandy. Always buy best quality and never buy spiced flavored rum.