24 Across

NYT Daily • August 8, 2025

Rum-soaked cake

Answer:

BABA

Hint:

"Here’s a helpful hint for the clue "Rum-soaked cake": "Sweet treat often served with a boozy twist." This hint: - Keeps the focus on the dessert aspect ("sweet treat"). - Hints at the alcohol component ("boozy twist") without explicitly mentioning rum. - Avoids repeating the original clue while guiding the solver toward the answer."

Explanation:

The clue "Rum-soaked cake" leads to the answer "BABA" through the following reasoning: 1. Definition: A "baba" is a type of small, rum-soaked cake, often referred to as a "rum baba" or "baba au rhum." This directly fits the clue's description. 2.