How to Make Hot Buttered Rum

January 19, 2023
Keep warm during the cold winter months with rum-spiked comfort-in-a-mug -- Hot Buttered Rum. If you're not sure how to make Hot Buttered Rum, no worries -- it's easy! Just follow these few simple steps and you'll be enjoying your delicious mugful in no time.
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Mug of Hot Buttered Rum Image

Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum! And when that bottle of rum is mixed with brown sugar, rich spices, and warm melted butter to create Hot Buttered Rum? -- It's a mugful of pure rum-spiked comfort that absolutely keeps you warm in cold winter months. And a mugful of rum-spiked comfort that I most definitely love.

Having grown up in New England, which I've learned is where Hot Buttered Rum originated in the United States way back in the 1600s, it's no surprise I have an affinity for the stuff.  Heck, with our family being descended from settlers on the Mayflower itself, it's probably in my genes.

In doing a little research about the origin of Hot Buttered Rum, I learned that New England was a hotbed of rum distilling in Colonial times, with distilleries popping up starting around the 1650s.

With the freezing cold winters of the Northeast, it's no surprise those locally-made rums found their way into hot cocktails. I can attest from experiencing some 25 Vermont winters that hot drinks like Hot Buttered Rum, my very favorite Chai Tea Latte Mix, or Slow Cooker Caramel Hot Chocolate are a vital means of survival during those long cold winter months.

It seems traditional Hot Buttered Rum was simply rum and hot water mixed with sugar and some spices in a mug, and then topped off with a pat of butter melted right in. Now a'days, it's more customary to mix up a spiced butter-sugar batter that is then combined with the rum and boiling water.

But either way it's made, the result is for sure pure warm-your-soul deliciousness!

Loaded with brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and dark rum, a mugful of Hot Buttered Rum is also loaded with truly fabulous flavor.

What's to Love About This Recipe:

  • Classic beloved warm cocktail - Hot Buttered Rum is the classic warm cocktail we love! Its warm deliciousness is an absolute favorite for wintertime sipping.
  • Fabulous flavor - Loaded with brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and dark rum, a mugful of Hot Buttered Rum is also loaded with truly fabulous flavor.
  • Just 7 simple ingredients - It doesn't take a ridiculous amount of ingredients to whip up Hot Buttered Rum's deliciousness. -- It just takes butter, brown sugar, a little salt, 3 spices, and some rum (of course!).
  • Super easy to make - Simply combine softened butter with brown sugar and spices to create the drink's batter, mix that with some hot water and rum, and stir. Hot Buttered Rum is truly super easy to make.
  • Batter can be made in advance - Prepare the batter in advance, if you'd like, and store it in the refrigerator until you're ready to enjoy.

Mug of Hot Buttered Rum Garnished with a Cinnamon Stick Image

Hot Buttered Rum Ingredients:

The ingredient list for Hot Buttered Rum is pretty short, simple, and straightforward -- which we love. To whip up some delicious mugfuls, you'll need:

  • Butter - The backbone of the Hot Buttered Rum batter. We recommend real butter (unsalted) for the best flavor and result. Do not substitute margarine.

  • Brown sugar - Nicely sweetens the Hot Buttered Rum. This recipe calls for light brown sugar, however dark brown sugar would work just fine, as well.

  • Spices - Stirred into the butter/brown sugar batter, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves bring amazing flavor to the Hot Buttered Rum.

  • Dark or dark spiced rum - It's not Hot Buttered Rum without the rum! We recommend dark or dark spiced rum for full-bodied fabulous flavor. Regular rum can be used, just keep in mind the cocktail's flavor won't be as rich and robust as with a dark variety.

How to Make Hot Buttered Rum:

To whip up this rum-spiked comfort-in-a-mug, follow these few simple steps on how to make Hot Buttered Rum. It's truly super easy.

First, combine softened butter with some brown sugar, cinnamonnutmeg, and ground cloves.

Measuring Spoon of Ground Nutmeg Being Added to Bowl of Hot Buttered Rum Ingredients Image

Mash the butter, brown sugar, and spices together with the back of a spoon or a fork to form the Hot Buttered Rum batter.

Spoonful of Mixed Hot Buttered Rum Batter Image

At this point, the batter may be used immediately to prepare individual mugs of Hot Buttered Rum or it can be stored in the refrigerator to be used a little at a time when you'd like.

When you're ready to enjoy a mugful, place two (or three, if you'd like!) heaping tablespoons of batter in a mug and add dark rum in with it.

(You can use light rum if you'd like, but it won't give the same depth of flavor as dark rum. -- We highly recommend sticking with the dark stuff.)

Hot Buttered Rum Batter and Rum in Bottom of a Glass Mug Image

Top off the mug with boiling water, and stir until the butter batter melts and is fully dissolved.

Stirring a Mug of Hot Buttered Rum Image

Then add a dollop of freshly whipped cream and a sprinkling of ground cinnamon on top.

Hot Buttered Rum Topped with Whipped Cream Image

Truly simple, right?

Then the only thing left to do is sip away on your rum-spiked comfort-in-a-mug. Heart-warming, soul-warming, body-warming comfort that will indeed keep you warm and toasty through the winter months -- whether you live in cold New England or not.

Enjoy!


Side View of a Mug of Hot Buttered Rum Topped with Whipped Cream Image
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hot buttered rum recipe, how to make hot buttered rum, winter cocktails, warm winter cocktails
Beverages
American
Yield: about 4 cocktails
How to Make Hot Buttered Rumhttps://youtu.be/R0px_PjoO4kDemonstration of how to make Hot Buttered Rum
How to Make Hot Buttered Rum

How to Make Hot Buttered Rum

Keep warm during the cold winter months with rum-spiked comfort-in-a-mug -- Hot Buttered Rum. If you're not sure how to make Hot Buttered Rum, no worries -- it's easy! Just follow these few simple steps and you'll be enjoying your delicious mugful in no time.
Prep time: 10 MinTotal time: 10 Min

Ingredients

For the Hot Buttered Rum Batter:
  • 1/2 c. (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
  • 3/4 c. brown sugar
  • 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 to 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
  • pinch ground cloves
  • small pinch salt
For Each Mug of Hot Buttered Rum:
  • 2 heaping T. Hot Buttered Rum Batter
  • 2 oz. dark or dark spiced rum
  • 6 oz. boiling water
  • whipped cream (optional)
  • ground cinnamon or nutmeg for sprinkling (optional)
  • cinnamon stick for garnish (optional)

Instructions

To make the Hot Buttered Rum Batter:
  1. Place butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves in a small bowl. Mash together with the back of a spoon or a fork until well combined.
  2. Use immediately to prepare individual mugs of Hot Buttered Rum, or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
To make each mug of Hot Buttered Rum:
  1. Place 2 heaping tablespoons prepared Hot Buttered Rum batter in a mug.
  2. Add rum and boiling water. Stir until butter mixture is melted and fully dissolved.
  3. Top with whipped cream and a sprinkling of ground cinnamon or nutmeg. Garnish with a cinnamon stick, if desired.
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How to Make Hot Buttered Rum ~ Follow a few simple steps to whip up rum-spiked comfort-in-a-mug! It's a perfectly delicious warm cocktail for fall & winter sipping, and oh-so easy to make. www.thekitchenismyplayground.com



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13 comments

  1. I have never seen a recipe like this before. This drink must be a real delicacy! Very nice recipe and site!

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  2. I'm definitely trying this...it sounds wonderful, Tracey! Sending lots of foodie love your way!

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  3. How many mugs does the batch of batter make? Hosting a party and this sounds great!

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  4. This is definitely good and so easy to prepare

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  5. How many mugs does this make?

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  6. I had a recipe for hot buttered rum years ago, but lost it. Thanks for sharing! By the way, I love that little measuring spoon! Do you mind sharing where it came from?

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  7. Can swerve brown sugar replacement be used?

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  8. Could I make a big batch of this and keep it warm in a slow cooker to serve throughout the night?

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  9. Does the water dissipate the alcohol?

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  10. Thanks for sharing at our What's for Dinner party! Hope your week has been great - come back again this Sunday for the new party too!

    ReplyDelete

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