Homemade Hot Buttered Rum Mix

This homemade hot buttered rum mix is quick and easy to make and so much better than store-bought. Warm spices are combined with brown sugar, butter and maple syrup for a perfect winter beverage. You can make a large batch in minutes to last you all season or scoop it into small mason jars to give as gifts.

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What is Hot Buttered Rum?

Hot buttered rum is a hot, cozy drink that mixes a batter of butter, brown sugar and spices with boiling water and rum. It is sometimes topped with fresh whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream to add a creamy element.

The warm spices of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves are perfect for the holiday season. This drink warms you up, and it’s comforting, perfect for sipping on a cold winter night by a fire.

Homemade hot buttered rum is a delicious treat, and adjusting the spices to suit your tastes is easy.

The festive drink is a classic holiday cocktail, and it can be made in various ways. Spiced rum is preferred, but you can use light or dark rum, too.

When scooped into a small mason jar and decorated with a pretty ribbon, it makes a great stocking stuffer or holiday gift, especially when presented in a basket with a small bottle of rum and other homemade goodies such as Gingerbread Biscotti or Cashew Turtles. Everyone loves receiving something homemade.

This recipe makes a nice-sized batch of batter, about 2 cups. So you should be able to get 2 to 4 jars, depending on the size you choose.

This homemade hot buttered rum batter requires just a few ingredients and is so easy to prepare.

Because it makes such a large batch, it is much cheaper than any store-bought version and so much better.

There is no cooking required. It is simply whipped into a batter. Then you store it in jars and scoop out as much as you want depending on how flavoured you like your drink.

To serve it, add a scoop of batter to a mug, add boiling water to melt the butter and sugar, and then add a good spiced rum.

Ingredients & Substitutions

For a full list of ingredients and measurements, see the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

The ingredients you will need to make this hot buttered rum batter are:

Salted butter – salted butter is used for this recipe as the bit of salt helps enhance the other flavours. However, you can use unsalted if you prefer.

Dark Brown Sugar – Dark brown sugar produces a rich drink with a slight caramel flavour. Light brown sugar will work for a milder flavoured drink, or you can use a blend of the two.

Maple Syrup – Adds just a hit of maple flavour to the drink which blends perfectly with the warm holiday spices. Be sure to use real maple syrup. It makes a difference.

Vanilla Extract – Adding another layer of flavour to this delicious drink is vanilla extract. For the best flavour, use pure vanilla extract, but imitation or a blend will work too. If you don’t like vanilla, you can skip this ingredient.

Spices – The blend of various spices is the heart of this delicious drink. We use cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. But if there is a spice you don’t like, it can easily be swapped for something else. Holiday spice such as ginger can be added, or you can use pre-mixed blends, like pumpkin spice or apple pie spice.

If you are vegan or dairy free, you can go ahead and swap the real butter for your favourite vegan version. While real butter is traditionally used, and what this drink is named after, there are always exceptions to the rule and the need for substitutions.

This hot buttered rum mix makes a great gift. Add some to a nice jar and decorate it with a cinnamon stick and some pretty ribbon. I usually attach a little card with the instructions to make the drink.

Step by Step Instructions

There really isn’t much to this recipe, it is just so simple to make.

One – Place softened butter in a bowl, beat until creamy, add the sugar and beat until well mixed.

Two – Add the vanilla, maple syrup and spices and beat well until fluffy and well blended.

Storage

You will want to store your homemade mix in an airtight container. My favourite option is small mason jars, but any sealed container will work.

You can store it at room temperature, and it will be just fine for a few weeks, but to preserve the quality and flavour for longer, you can store it in the fridge for up to six months.

Hot buttered rum batter can also be stored in the freezer, and I’ve kept it for as long as a year with no change to flavour or quality. You will just want to be extra careful to make sure it is covered tightly to preserve freshness.

I like to store the mix in small jars. The small jars are easy to store and they make great gifts too. Just tie a ribbon around it, add a tag or cinnamon stick and they are ready to go.

How should I serve hot buttered rum?

Serving hot buttered rum is just as easy as making it.

The nice thing about starting with a homemade mix is that you can use as much or as little as you like.

Generally, I use about one tablespoon of the butter mixture, 12 ounces of boiling water, and one ounce of spiced rum. However, how many ounces of rum you add is a personal preference, so add as much or as little as you like.

The water does not have to be at a full boil if you don’t like your drinks super hot, but it does need to be warm enough to melt the butter and dissolve the sugar.

For my mix, I like spiced rum for its added flavour, but this recipe works just as well with dark or light rum. You can even use specialty flavours such as apple pie, pumpkin spice, or caramel rum.

You can enjoy this drink with just the rum, hot water, and spice mix, or you can get creative and top it with some fresh whipped cream or even a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a creamier drink.

Beware that the alcohol content of your mixed drink will vary depending on how much rum you add and the proof of the alcohol you use.

Garnish with a cinnamon stick or some freshly grated nutmeg, sit back, relax, and enjoy.

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