Hot Buttered Rum

Hot buttered rum is the kind of decadent holiday drink you wait for all year. Cue the twinkling lights, the fire crackling in the fireplace, and your corniest Christmas mug. The best part of this beverage is right in the title: butter! It's spiced and melted into each serving to round out the rum and meld all the flavors together. The second best part is how quick it is to make: no constant stirring, slow simmering, or overnight steeping. Just fill the mugs, garnish with whole spices and a bit of orange, and serve. This version even uses a shortcut: apple pie spice. But if you don't have a jar of this cozy spice blend in your pantry, you can easily make your own apple pie spice. Add this recipe to your Christmas drink list for a festive party, holiday movie marathon, or any cold winter night. 

What does hot buttered rum taste like?

Like a spiced rum-spiked cider but with a richer taste, hot buttered rum is just about the coziest Christmas cocktail you could make. The salted butter balances out the brown sugar, while the cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg in the apple pie spice blend adds depth. The citrus lends a burst of bright, fresh flavor to the warm drink. If you want, swap the water for apple cider for a 

Can hot buttered rum be made ahead of time?

Absolutely. Combine the butter, sugar, and apple pie spice mixture in an airtight container, and refrigerate for up to a week. When you get a hankering for some hot buttered rum, pull the butter mixture from the fridge about 30 minutes before you mix up the drinks. This will help the butter come to room temperature so that it melts more easily. Then, scoop a few tablespoons of the butter mixture into a mug, top with hot water, stir well, and splash in some rum. This is a great make-ahead recipe to have around for holiday house guests.

What's the difference between apple pie spice and pumpkin pie spice?

Apple pie spice is a mixture of cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg. Conversely, pumpkin pie spice has the same three spices, along with ginger and cloves. Either would be delicious in this recipe.  

What is dark rum?

Dark rum usually has molasses added for color and is flavored with spices like vanilla, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves. It has the same alcohol content as regular rum.  

Can hot buttered rum be made without alcohol?

For an alcohol-free holiday drink, turn hot buttered rum into hot buttered cider! Use apple cider (such as Mayer Brothers) or Martinelli's apple juice in place of the water, and omit the rum. Decrease the brown sugar in the butter mixture to 3/4 cup, as the apple cider or juice brings its own natural sweetness to the mix.