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–+ servings
Hot Buttered Rum Glass mug of hot buttered rum topped with whipped cream and cinnamon sticks, styled with red berries and warm spices on a gray surface.

Hot Buttered Rum

5 from 1 vote
Creamy, sweet Hot Buttered Rum warmth in a mug that tastes like winter nights by the tree.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings: 6
Course: Cocktails, Drinks
Cuisine: American, General
Calories: 245
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

  • ¾ cup brown sugar packed firmly for deep molasses flavor
  • ½ cup plus 1 tablespoon unsalted butter softened to melt smoothly
  • ¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon honey mild, floral variety works best
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon fresh and aromatic
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg freshly grated if possible
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves used sparingly for warmth
  • Pinch salt balances sweetness
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract pure, not imitation
  • 1 cup hot water per drink steaming but not boiling
  • 2½ tablespoons butter batter per drink adjust to taste
  • 2 ounces dark rum per drink full-bodied and rich
  • Sweetened whipped cream soft peaks for topping
  • Ground nutmeg freshly grated for garnish

Equipment

  • 1 Small saucepan For melting the batter ingredients together.
  • 1 Spoon or whisk To stir everything until smooth.
  • 1 Measuring cups and spoons For accurate ingredient amounts.
  • 6 Heatproof mugs Sturdy mugs for safely serving hot drinks.

Method
 

  1. Combine the brown sugar, butter, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt in a small saucepan set over medium heat, stirring often until the butter melts fully and the mixture looks smooth and glossy.
    Spoon lifting thick hot buttered rum batter from a glass jar, with cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, and a bottle of rum in the background.
  2. Remove the pan from the heat and mix in the vanilla until fully incorporated.
  3. Pour the hot water into a mug and stir in a portion of the butter mixture until mostly dissolved.
    Spiced rum mixture being poured into a glass mug with hot water, cinnamon sticks resting on a wooden board beside the mug.
  4. Add the rum and stir well, tasting and adjusting with extra batter if a sweeter or spicier drink is desired.
    Clear glass mug of hot buttered rum being stirred with a metal whisk, showing a smooth amber-colored drink on a wooden surface.
  5. Finish by topping generously with whipped cream and a light dusting of nutmeg before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 260gCalories: 245kcalCarbohydrates: 50gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 7mgSodium: 67mgPotassium: 27mgFiber: 1gSugar: 48gVitamin A: 90IUCalcium: 15mgIron: 0.3mg

Notes

Don’t skip the whipped cream—when it melts in, the drink turns extra velvety and cozy. Keep any leftover batter covered in the fridge so a festive mug is only a quick stir away next time. For a crowd, melt the batter gently and hold it warm, then let everyone build their own mug and finish with nutmeg on top.

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