Pumpkin Spice Hot Buttered Rum

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A fall twist on this cozy warm cocktail Pumpkin Spice Hot Buttered Rum is just as decadent as hot chocolate, with a delicious batter you can make in advance and serve up all season long!

Three glasses of pumpkin spice hot buttered rum topped with whipped cream, cinnamon sticks, and ground nutmeg on a white windowsill. Window sill decorated with ceramic pumpkins, whole cloves, whole cinnamon sticks, ground nutmeg, and orange dish towels. Front Shot. Sugar with Spice blog.

Pumpkin is one of the classic fall flavors. It seems to crop up everywhere this time of year!

Looking for more fall flavors? Here are 7 of the easiest fall cocktails you can make in your kitchen right now!

I’m in the camp who believe it should be used sparingly throughout the season. After all, there are so many other delicious autumn flavors to enjoy.

If apples are more your thing, try these delicious Sherry Poached Apples for a decadent dessert!

But this Roasted Apple and Pumpkin Soup from scratch is one of the coziest pumpkin dishes I’ve ever made!

More a fan of savory butternut squash, this is my favorite Brown Butter Butternut Squash Soup. So rich and nutty!

That said, if you’re going to dress up a drink for fall…hot buttered rum is just the ticket to add a bit of seasonal decadence!

All it takes are some ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen and a mixer.

Three glasses of pumpkin spice hot buttered rum topped with whipped cream, cinnamon sticks, and ground nutmeg on a white windowsill. Window sill decorated with ceramic pumpkins, whole cloves, whole cinnamon sticks, ground nutmeg, and orange or fall-themed dish towels. Front Shot. Sugar with Spice blog. Pinterest Image.

And if you’re hunting for a regular Hot Buttered Rum recipe, check out this list of 6 Christmas Cocktails for a simple single-serving recipe!

Jump to Recipe

TL;DR

  • Combine pumpkin, butter, sugar, and spices in a mixer.
  • Mix until combined.
  • Scoop 2 tbsp into a glass.
  • Pour 2 oz. rum on top.
  • Add in hot water (or tea) to the desired amount.
  • Stir well to combine.
  • Top with whipped cream and garnish with nutmeg and a cinnamon stick
  • Optional: Add a scoop of vanilla cce cream for a Pumpkin Spice Hot Buttered Rum Float

How to make Pumpkin Spice Hot Buttered Rum

Ingredients for pumpkin spice hot buttered rum on a white window sill. Includes spiced or dark rum, canned pumpkin puree, black tea, brown sugar in a pyrex dish, 1 stick unsalted butter, ground nutmeg, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, and allspice. Front shot. Sugar with Spice Blog.

There are three components to any hot buttered rum: the batter, the alcohol, and the hot liquid.

All you need to do is mix up the batter. Toss a bit to your glass, add in some alcohol, pour in something hot, and mix it all together. 

NOTE: This cocktail serves 6 people. But you will need to make each cocktail individually! This is not a good “big batch” option. It loses both flavor and heat if you mix it all as one.

For good big batch recipes, check out these 10 Thanksgiving Big Batch Cocktails!

The Batter

Pumpkin Spice Hot buttered rum batter being mixed in a red kitchen aid stand mixer. Pyrex dishes of brown sugar, canned pumpkin puree, and ground spices to the side with two fall-themed dish towels and a red spatula.
You can use either a stand mixer or a hand mixer!

The batter is the main reason I love this cocktail. “Batter” makes me think of cookies and cakes and other delicious treats. Which makes this pumpkin spice hot buttered rum even cozier!

In a hot buttered rum cocktail, the batter is what adds flavor to your drink. You’ll want to combine the butter, pumpkin, and spices until they’re very well mixed.

This recipe makes about 6 servings. So if you’re making less than that you’ll want to store the rest of your batter for later in the season!

Storing the Batter

The easiest storage is just scooping leftover batter into a tupperware and popping it in the freezer for the season.

I like to make future cocktails easier for myself. So I chill the batter for about 30 minutes first. Then shape it into a roll and pop that in the freezer. It’s much easier to cut off small bits of the batter the next time you want a Pumpkin Spice Hot Buttered Rum if it’s in log form.

If you want to take it even further, freeze individual portions of the batter in plastic wrap or small cups for future use. This takes up much more room in your freezer.

Three glasses of pumpkin spice hot buttered rum topped with whipped cream, cinnamon sticks, and ground nutmeg on a white windowsill. Window sill decorated with ceramic pumpkins, whole cloves, whole cinnamon sticks, and ground nutmeg. Overhead shot. Sugar with Spice blog. Pinterest Image. Black text on white background paneling says "Hot Buttered Rum Pumpkin Spice."

The Alcohol

Hot. Buttered. *Rum*…oh, what-a-giveaway! Yes, you use rum in this cocktail. Though you could use bourbon in a pinch if you really had nothing else.

There are several different types of rum. You’re going to want to stick with either spiced or dark. 

Spiced is the best option. The added spicy flavor goes so well with a hot pumpkin-spiced drink.

Dark rum will have a much stronger molasses flavor, which makes for a uniquely rich cocktail.

Avoid white rum and gold rum at all costs.

Bourbon has a much sweeter, more vanilla flavor. Your drink won’t be quite as intense or rich.

My personal favorite Spiced Rum is Captain Morgan, which you can find at nearly every liquor store in existence.

Virgin Pumpkin Spice Hot Buttered Rum

To make a virgin or kid-friendly version, leave the rum out! You can always add 2 teaspoons of rum essence in to get the flavor instead.

Three glasses of pumpkin spice hot buttered rum topped with whipped cream, cinnamon sticks, and ground nutmeg on a white windowsill. Window sill decorated with ceramic pumpkins, whole cloves, whole cinnamon sticks, ground nutmeg, and orange or fall-themed dish towels. Front Shot. Sugar with Spice blog. Pinterest Image. Black text reading "Hot buttered rum pumpkin spice" on white paneling with orange outline.

The Hot Stuff

Hot Buttered Rum is served…well, hot. 

Classic hot buttered rum uses boiled water. Pumpkin Spice Hot Buttered Rum also work well with water.

If you want something with a bit more flavor, try black tea! (Especially if it’s vanilla or salted caramel flavored tea.) You’ll just need to boil water for a regular old cup of tea. Allow your tea bags to steep according to the package.

How to serve Pumpkin Spice Hot Buttered Rum

Pumpkin Spice Hot Buttered Rum is best served piping hot. Add a dollop of whipped cream, a cinnamon stick, and some ground nutmeg on top as garnish.

But you can also make a Pumpkin Spice Hot Buttered Rum Float by adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Get ready for an extra creamy dessert cocktail this fall season!

Another great after-dinner dessert cocktail is this easy mocha martini!

Three glasses of pumpkin spice hot buttered rum topped with whipped cream, cinnamon sticks, and ground nutmeg on a white windowsill. Window sill decorated with ceramic pumpkins, whole cloves, whole cinnamon sticks, ground nutmeg, and orange dish towels. Overhead shot. Sugar with Spice blog.
Pumpkin Spice Hot Buttered Rum
Prep Time
15 mins
 

A fall twist on this cozy warm cocktail Pumpkin Spice Hot Buttered Rum is just as decadent as hot chocolate, with a delicious batter you can make in advance and serve up all season long!

Course: Cocktails
Servings: 6 people
Ingredients
The Pumpkin Butter Batter
  • 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter (or 1 stick)
  • 1/2 cup Canned Pumpkin
  • 1/2 cup Brown Sugar
  • 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 1 tsp Cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp Nutmeg
  • 1/2 tsp Allspice
  • 1/4 tsp Ground Cloves
  • 1/4 tsp Ground Cardamom (optional)
The Cocktail
  • 2 tbsp Pumpkin Butter Batter
  • 16 oz. Rum (or 16 shot glasses worth)
  • 6 cups Hot Water or Hot Black Tea
Instructions
The Batter
  1. Cream the butter and sugar in a mixer. Add the pumpkin and spices. Mix until thoroughly combined.

**To make each cocktail:
  1. Heat water or tea to near boiling.

  2. Scoop 2 tablespoons of the batter into your glass.

  3. Add 2 oz. of rum.

  4. Pour in hot water (or tea) until the glass is full to the desired amount. Stir to combine.

  5. Top with whipped cream, cinnamon sticks, and nutmeg and serve.

    Optional: Drop a scoop of vanilla ice cream in before topping to make a Pumpkin Spice Hot Buttered Rum Float!

  6. Store remaining batter in the freezer until needed again.

Recipe Notes

** This recipe creates 6 cocktails. But you need to make each one individually. You don’t retain as much heat and the flavors don’t blend as well in big batch form.

*** Adjust amounts to make more or less. To use a full can of pumpkin you’ll need about 2 1/2 sticks of butter!

**** To make a Virgin/Kid-Friendly Version: Remove the rum. Replace with additional water or tea. Add in 2 teaspoons of rum extract or flavoring if desired.

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