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Hot buttered rum is warmly spiced and soothing on a cold winter’s day. Make-ahead butter, warm cider, and spiced rum make a cozy mug of comfort.
Oh January. The holidays in the rearview mirror and brusk, cold days ahead. You know what that means right?
Time for a warm, comforting drink like hot buttered rum. Traditionally hot buttered rum calls for pouring boiling water over a spiced butter mixture and dark rum.
My version calls for spiced rum, a combination of apple cider and water, and a little lemon zest and orange juice for balance.
It’s spicy, zingy, and will warm your bones. So grab the fuzzy slippers, throw a couple logs on the fire, cozy up with a movie, and a piping hot mug of hot buttered rum!
Tips for success
- Room temperature butter is key for blending the spiced butter. But be sure to pop it in the refrigerator to set before making your hot buttered rum.
- The butter can be wrapped and stored in the refrigerator for several days, or several weeks in the freezer.
- You can use regular rum in this as well, but the spiced rum really adds something special.
More Ways to Combat the January Blues
Hot buttered rum is warmly spiced and soothing on a cold winter’s day. Make-ahead butter, warm cider, and spiced rum make a cozy mug of comfort.
- 4 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
- 4 Tbsp dark brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp allspice
- pinch of cloves
- 1/4 tsp Kosher salt
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 2 1/2 cups water
- 1 1/2 cups apple cider
- 8 oz Captaiin Morgan’s Spiced Rum
- 4 Tbsp orange juice
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Mix together the butter, sugar, spices, salt, and lemon zest until well combined. Store mixture in the refrigerator until ready to use. (Butter can be wrapped tightly and frozen for several weeks.)
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Combine water and cider and heat until just boiling.
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Divide butter mixture and rum evenly between 4 mugs and pour the cider/water into each mug.
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Add 1 Tbsp orange juice to each mug and whisk well. Sit back, sip, and enjoy!
- Room temperature butter is key for blending the spiced butter. But be sure to pop it in the refrigerator to set before making your hot buttered rum.
- The butter can be wrapped and stored in the refrigerator for several days, or several weeks in the freezer.
- You can use regular rum in this as well, but the spiced rum really adds something special.
Update Notes: This post was originally published in December 2015 but was republished with tips in January 2020.
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
With temps getting a little colder this will be the PERFECT New Year’s Day cocktail! Thanks for sharing Cathy!