Cozy Hot Buttered Rum for a Crowd: Easy Budget Holiday Drink
A warm, spiced, and budget-friendly hot buttered rum made in a slow cooker, perfect for holiday parties. This simple recipe uses pantry staples and comes together in minutes, making it a crowd-pleasing favorite.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1-2 hours
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes to 2 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 12-16 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups dark or spiced rum
- 6 cups hot water
- Optional: whipped cream, cinnamon sticks, nutmeg for garnish
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine softened butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, salt, and vanilla extract. Beat with a hand mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Scoop the butter base into a large slow cooker (5-6 quart).
- Pour the rum over the butter base and stir briefly.
- Add the hot water and stir until the butter base is mostly melted and incorporated.
- Set the slow cooker to low and heat for 1-2 hours, allowing flavors to meld.
- Ladle into mugs and serve warm. Garnish with whipped cream, a cinnamon stick, or a sprinkle of nutmeg if desired.
Notes
Make the butter base up to a week ahead and refrigerate. For a dairy-free version, use vegan butter. For a non-alcoholic version, omit rum and increase hot water by 1 1/2 cups, adding extra vanilla and cinnamon. Keep the slow cooker on warm to prevent alcohol evaporation. If the mixture separates, whisk vigorously to re-emulsify.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 mug (about 8 oz)
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 20
- Sodium: 45
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 22
Keywords: hot buttered rum, holiday drink, slow cooker, budget-friendly, crowd-pleaser, spiced rum, warm cocktail