Not everyone includes alcohol while following a paleo or real food diet. But, for those of you who do imbibe, this recipe for Hot Buttered Rum is the perfect thing to bring to your next holiday gathering. It's fast and easy to whip up a large batch of the batter to take with you to the party. Plus, as a non-alcoholic option you can use the batter to make Hot Buttered Coffee.
Many traditional holiday beverages like eggnog, hot cider/wassail, and other hot toddies can be full of hidden ingredients that you may be sensitive to or otherwise want to avoid, like high fructose corn syrup, carrageenan/guar gum/locust bean gum/xantham gum/etc., homogenized/pasteruized milk, excessive and refined sugar, and artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. Many hosts appreciate if you chip in by bringing something to share, so make a batch of this batter to bring with you and you'll know you can enjoy a festive holiday drink without unpleasant consequences the next day.
This recipe for hot buttered rum batter is very easy to make, is full of good fats from grass-fed or organic butter, only has a moderate amount of maple syrup, and is flavored with a mix of beneficial spices (read more about their benefits here; they include antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-anxiety, blood sugar regulation, anti-inflammatory, and pro-digestion). Once you're at the gathering, all you need to do is mix it with is a nice dark rum (Myers's is my favorite) and some hot water. It is delightful on a chilly night and is a real crowd-pleaser. The batter will stay good for several weeks, too (but I doubt it will last that long!) You can also use the leftovers in your morning coffee for a lovely treat.
If you don't want to make a big batch, don't worry! There's also instructions for how to make a single mug at a time, without mixing up the batter.
What's not to love? It's versatile, easy, delicious, and will add plenty of holiday cheer to your comforting hot beverages -- alcoholic or not -- this winter. Enjoy!!
Hot buttered rum batter. A wonderful addition to coffee, too!
Paleo-friendly Hot Buttered Rum or Coffee
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 5 minutes
Total time: 10 minutes
Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients
- 1 stick grass-fed or organic butter
- 3 Tbsp grade B maple syrup
- 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice mix (my recipe)
Instructions
- Use a pre-mixed pumpkin pie spice blend or make your own. My favorite recipe for this spice mix is right here. It just takes a second to make a batch as long as you have all the spices on hand (cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, cloves).
- Take your stick of butter out of the fridge and let it sit on the counter for about 30 minutes to soften. Please don't try to soften it in the microwave or oven. This results in uneven melting and is not ideal. Just be patient and let it sit on the counter (but don't forget about it!)
- Once softened, place butter in a bowl (I use one with an air-tight lid) and add maple syrup and spice mix. Use a fork to mash/whip/stir the butter to combine it with the other ingredients. After a few minutes and a little elbow grease, the maple syrup will be fully incorporated into the butter with the spices.
- Cover the bowl and store in the fridge for up to several weeks.
- When you are ready to make your drink, bring water to a boil.
- Place 1 Tbsp of your pre-made batter and 1-2 oz of dark rum (I like Myers's) in the bottom of a standard 8 oz coffee mug.
- When the water reaches a boil, remove from heat and pour over the batter and rum, filling the mug about halfway (to avoid splashing while stirring). Stir somewhat vigorously with a spoon until all of the batter has melted. Then, fill the mug the rest of the way.
- Optional: garnish with a small sprinkle of your spice mix or plain ground nutmeg.
- You can also make hot buttered rum one mug at a time instead of making a big batch of batter. Just take 1 Tbsp of butter, 1 tsp of maple syrup, and 1/4 tsp of pumpkin pie spice mix and add those to the bottom of your mug. Finish cocktail as normal.
Hot Buttered Coffee Directions
- Simply brew coffee as you normally do, add 1 Tbsp of batter to the bottom of your mug, and pour fresh hot coffee over it, stirring well to mix, and enjoy!
Where to Buy Ingredients
The following links for products that I used in this recipe are from my affiliate partners. My full affiliate disclosure is here. I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links, but you pay the same price as everyone else. I appreciate your support and I only recommend products that I personally use and think you will love, too!
I am a big fan of both the Mountain Rose Herbs and Frontier bulk organic spices. In addition to buying online, you can also see if there is a health food store or natural grocery store in your area that has a bulk spice section -- that way you don't have to buy a whole pound of the Frontier spices at a time! I have found them at Earth Fare and Nutrition S'Mart as well as locally-owned smaller stores. Another possible local resource for finding bulk spices is your local co-op.
Frontier Organic Spices on Amazon.com
Bulk Herbs and Spices on Mountain Rose Herbs
Good commercially-available grass-fed butters include Kerrygold, Smjor, and Organic Valley Pasture Butter. You can find these at many grocery stores -- not just health food/natural ones, either. The Publix stores in Miami carry Kerrygold.
For the maple syrup, I really like the Hidden Springs Maple brand.
