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    Home ยป Recipes ยป Cocktails ยป Slow Cooker Hot Buttered Rum (with mocktail option)

    LAST UPDATED: May 21, 2020 โ€ข FIRST PUBLISHED: December 13, 2019 By Toni Dash 45 Comments

    Slow Cooker Hot Buttered Rum (with mocktail option)

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    This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    HOT BUTTERED RUM
    slow cooker hot buttered rum

    Hot Buttered Rum is a buttery, spiced rum cocktail that takes the chill out of the coldest of night. This recipe is super easy in the slow cooker with a mocktail version too!

    HOT BUTTERED RUM
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    HOT BUTTERED RUM

    There is no more soul-warming cocktail on a cold day than Hot Buttered Rum.

    This version is made in the slow cooker and takes about 5 minutes to get started.

    Your house will smell like the holidays while it’s cooking.

    The buttery drink isn’t over sweet, but rather ‘just right’.

    Setting up a self-serve drink bar allows making the cocktail to taste!

    Adding just the right amount of rum, whipped cream and nutmeg, OR drinking it without liquor using rum extract or on its own.

    What is Hot Buttered Rum?

    Hot Buttered Rum is a hot cocktail made with water, butter, spices, sugar and rum. It’s especially popular around the holidays and in the fall.

    This version is made in a slow cooker. 

    While it’s simmering it will fill your kitchen and house with irresistible heavenly smells of cold weather holidays.

    It can be set to simmer and left for self-serving during longer gatherings or after you’ve been out for a chilly outing. 

    a glass mug of Hot Buttered Rum with whipped cream

    Why Make This Recipe

    There are multiple reasons to make this particular recipe:

    • Hot Buttered Rum can be overly sweet. This recipe is ‘just right‘. Sweet enough to be irresistibly good but not sickly sweet.
    • It’s made in a big batch perfect for gatherings and parties.
    • The rum is added by the serving so the base sweet, buttery spiced liquid can be made into a mocktail too. Great for situations with those drinking cocktails and those preferring no liquor.
    • The spiced liquid is so good you’ll want to drink it by itself!

    Best Time for Hot Buttered Rum

    It’s great to have on hand for:

    • Thanksgiving sipping
    • to greet you after an evening of holiday caroling
    • after a chilly football game
    • watching holiday light parades
    • an afternoon of sledding or skiing
    • Or ‘just because’!

    Slow Cooker Hot Buttered Rum self-serve bar

    Hot Buttered Rum Ingredients

    • Light Brown Sugar
    • Unsalted Butter
    • Cinnamon Sticks
    • Whole Cloves
    • Allspice Berries
    • Vanilla Bean
    • Kosher Salt
    • Water
    • Dark Rum
    • Whipping Cream
    • Nutmeg
    • Optional: Rum Extract

    Spices

    This Hot Buttered Rum recipe uses whole spices, not ground.

    This allow simmering to develop a wonderful flavor and they are easier to strain at the end before serving.

    Vanilla Bean

    Vanilla Beans are long, whole beans or pods with a soft center. When they are sliced open, the soft middle can be scraped out producing an intense vanilla flavor.

    They are available in the spice section of the grocery store. Usually two vanilla beans are sold in a glass bottle.

    Whole Nutmeg with grater

    Whole Nutmeg

    Whole nutmeg can be found in the spice section of the grocery store or online.

    It can be freshly grated with a grater (a regular grater or a nutmeg grater) or microplane for a stronger flavor.

    Rum Extract

    Rum Extract is an optional ingredient if serving the Hot Buttered Rum as a mocktail.

    Make it a Mocktail!

    Serve the buttery spiced liquid with rum extract or by itself topped with whipped cream and some nutmeg.

    Slow Cooker Hot Buttered Rum self-serve bar

    Setting up a Hot Buttered Rum bar

    Making Hot Buttered Rum in the slow cooker AND adding the rum per serving rather than in the main batch makes it very flexible for a ‘serve yourself’ bar.

    My suggestion is to set up a self-serve area for easy access by adults though where smaller children won’t risk ladling the hot drink out of the slow cooker themselves.

    Here’s what you’ll need:

    • Slow Cooker of the Hot Buttered Rum spiced liquid
    • bottle of Dark Rum
    • bottle of Rum Extract (if hosting non-drinkers)
    • container(s) of Whipped Cream
    • whole Nutmeg with a grater or ground Nutmeg
    • Mugs

    Adults can add the rum ‘to taste’ to servings in a mug.

    Kids or adults choosing no liquor can add rum extract.

    Everyone can put whipped cream and some nutmeg on top!

    Whipped Cream Container Covers (cozies)

    Want to dress up those whipped cream containers for your Hot Buttered Rum bar? 

    You’ll love this EASY clever way to quickly give them some style: Whipped Cream Canister Covers.

    You can use this same trick for wine bottles too!

    Slow Cooker Hot Buttered Rum self-serve bar

    How to Make Hot Buttered Rum in the Slow Cooker – Step-by-Step

    STEP 1: Combine the sugar, butter, spices, salt and water in to a 6 quart slow cooker. Cook on LOW for 5 ½ hours.

    STEP 2: Strain mixture to remove spices and butter solids; return to the slow cooker on WARM.

    STEP 3: Serve with rum in individual mugs topped with whipped cream and nutmeg.

    pouring rum into glass mug for Hot Buttered Rum

    Chef’s Notes

    When the spiced mixture is done at 5 ½ hours, it has a glistening look on the top of the liquid from the liquefied butter.

    Sometimes when butter melts it releases solids which look almost like small wet bread crumbs that will float on top as well.

    I prefer to strain the mixture through a fine sieve and return it to the slow cooker.

    This removes any leftover butter solids and the loose spices once the mixture has cooked.

    The Crock Pot Hot Buttered Rum can be kept warm in the slow cooker for serving.

    Slow Cooker Hot Buttered Rum with whipped cream

    More Slow Cooker Recipes You’ll Love

    • Caribbean Slow Cooker Pot Roast
    • Slow Cooker Carne Asada with Oven-Baked Fries
    • Sweet and Spicy Slow Cooker Beef Stew
    • Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken and Rice Soup

    Try these Cocktail Recipes too!

    • The Best Eggnog Recipe 
    • Sparkling Cranberry Vodka Punch
    • Candy Cane Cocktail with Homemade Candy Cane Infused Vodka
    • Cranberry Apple Hot Toddy

    grating whole nutmeg on mug of Hot Buttered Rum

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    Recipe

    Slow Cooker Hot Buttered Rum self-serve

    Slow Cooker Hot Buttered Rum (with mocktail option)

    There is no more soul-warming cocktail on a cold day than Hot Buttered Rum. This version is made in the slow cooker and takes about 5 minutes to get started.
    Setting up a self-serve drink bar allows making the cocktail to taste; adding just the right amount of rum, whipped cream and nutmeg, or drinking it without liquor using rum extract or on its own.
    5 from 14 votes
    Print Save Recipe Recipe Saved! Pin Rate
    Course: Cocktail
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 5 hours hours 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 5 hours hours 35 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8 -9 cups spiced buttery base (not including the rum)
    Calories: 159kcal
    Author: Toni Dash
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    Ingredients

    • ½ cup Light Brown Sugar
    • ½ cup (1 stick) Unsalted Butter
    • 3 Cinnamon Sticks
    • 6 Whole Cloves
    • 6 Allspice Berries
    • 1 Vanilla Bean , slit open vertically
    • 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
    • 8 cups Water
    • 1 bottle Dark Rum (or minimum 2 cups)
    • Whipping Cream
    • Nutmeg (preferably whole nutmeg with a grater to grate freshly)
    • Optional (for youngsters or teetotalers): Rum Extract

    Instructions

    • Add all ingredients to a large slow cooker EXCEPT the rum, whipping cream and nutmeg (those will be added individually to serving mugs). Cook on LOW for 5 ½ hours (may be kept warm in the slow cooker after completing the initial cooking).
    • Strain the mixture through a fine sieve to remove loose spices and any butter solids; return liquid to the slow cooker to keep warm.
    • To serve: Pour rum (or rum extract) to suit into individual mugs. Top with whipping cream and freshly grated nutmeg. Note: the sweet spiced buttery mixture from the slow cooker is wonderful on it's own too; for those who prefer it without the rum flavor and alcohol, it can be consumed as is.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 159kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 0g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 309mg | Potassium: 23mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 355IU | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 0.2mg
    HOT BUTTERED RUM
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    Did you make this recipe?Mention @boulderlocavore or tag #boulderlocavore!

    Originally published: October 31, 2015

    Hot Buttered Rum is a perfect party drink!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Suzy says

      December 17, 2019 at 7:38 am

      5 stars
      I love the idea of having a mocktail version of this as well so my kids can enjoy it!

      Reply
    2. Laura says

      December 13, 2019 at 9:43 pm

      5 stars
      I love that you can make these on the crockpot! Great idea!

      Reply
    3. stephanie says

      December 13, 2019 at 4:17 pm

      5 stars
      I am making this again for my cousins birthday! It’s such a perfect winter adult drink and makes the house smell so good.

      Reply
    4. Neha says

      December 13, 2019 at 4:13 pm

      You had me at spiced rum cocoktail! I am so trying this out today itself for it’s friday! Yay!!!

      Reply
    5. Erica Schwarz says

      December 13, 2019 at 3:45 pm

      5 stars
      Oh man do I want to try this recipe! I’ve never had butter rum but this sounds divine.

      Reply
    6. Sara Welch says

      December 13, 2019 at 3:27 pm

      5 stars
      Always love a good cocktail with a kick! Looking forward to warming up with this at our annual holiday party!

      Reply
    7. Tonje says

      December 13, 2019 at 3:01 pm

      5 stars
      This looks amazing! Can’t wait to try it, what a perfect recipe for Christmas.

      Reply
    8. Stephanie says

      December 13, 2019 at 2:36 pm

      5 stars
      I made the mocktail version and it was so delicious! Plus the smell throughout the house made my mouth water all day!

      Reply
    9. Valentina says

      December 13, 2019 at 2:17 pm

      5 stars
      This slow cooker drink is so cozy! Perfect for the chilly or snow days!

      Reply
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    5 from 14 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    Welcome! Iโ€™m Toni Dash. Iโ€™m a Certified Nutrition Coach and the professional writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of Boulder Locavoreยฎ. Iโ€™m so glad you are here!

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