What Is Rum and How Can I Use It?

Wondering what to do with rum? This guide covers how to pick it, cook it, store it, and swap it, plus 290 recipes to put it to work.

Key Points

Rum is a sugarcane spirit, sweet with caramel and molasses, the baker's favorite liquor.
Light rum is clear and mild; dark rum is aged, bold, and best for color and molasses.
It soaks rum cakes, binds no-bake rum balls, and macerates dried fruit for holiday cakes.
Pair it with pineapple, coconut, and banana, or use a splash in a tropical glaze.
Overpouring stings in no-bake treats since the alcohol never cooks off; measure it.

What is rum?

Rum is a spirit distilled from sugarcane, made either from molasses or fresh cane juice, then usually aged in oak. That sugar origin gives it a warm sweetness, with caramel and vanilla over a note of tropical fruit, the flavors that make rum a baker's favorite spirit.

It comes in a range of styles. Light (white) rum is clear and mild, while dark rum is aged longer in charred barrels and tastes deeply of molasses and spice. Most cooking calls for one or the other.

That sweet, fruity character is why rum turns up in baking and tropical dishes far more often than in savory cooking.

Cooking and Baking With Rum

Rum and baking are a natural match. It soaks the crumb of a Chocolate Chip Rum Cake and binds no-bake confections like Holiday Rum Balls and Vanilla Wafer Walnut Rum Balls, where it stays raw and boozy on purpose.

It has a deep affinity for dried fruit. A good pour macerates the raisins and candied peel in a Whole Wheat Christmas Cake, plumping them and carrying flavor into a dense holiday cake.

Rum also flavors creamy desserts. A spoonful gives Tiramisu from BUCA di BEPPO its grown-up warmth, folded into the mascarpone or brushed onto the soaked ladyfingers.

When you want the rum flavor to cook off, give it heat. In a glaze or a flamed banana dish, a minute over the burner burns away the raw alcohol and concentrates the caramel and molasses notes.

Tropical Flavors and Style

Rum carries Caribbean and tropical flavors. It loves pineapple, coconut, banana, lime, and brown sugar, and a splash deepens a tropical glaze for ham or grilled chicken and shrimp.

On the savory side it is used sparingly, mostly in marinades and barbecue sauces where its sweetness balances heat and acid.

Match the rum to the job. Use dark rum when you want bold molasses and color, the rum for fruitcakes, rum balls, and barbecue glazes. Use light rum when you want a cleaner, milder lift that does not darken a pale batter or cream.

The common mistake is overpouring in a no-bake treat. Since the alcohol never cooks off in rum balls or an unbaked filling, too much reads as harsh and hot, so measure rather than free-pour.

Substitutes

Reach first for the other style of rum: dark for light or light for dark, adjusting for the difference in sweetness and color. Bourbon or brandy also stand in well, trading the molasses note for vanilla or grape.

In baking, rum extract carries the flavor without much liquid; a teaspoon of extract roughly matches a tablespoon or two of rum, so add a little water or juice if the recipe needs the volume.

With no alcohol at all, mix a few drops of rum extract or vanilla into pineapple or apple juice. For macerating fruit, the juice alone plumps it, just without the boozy depth.

Buying and Storing

A mid-shelf bottle is right for cooking. Sipping rums aged for years are wonderful neat, but their finer notes mostly disappear in a hot pan or a sweet batter. Keep a dark rum on hand as the all-purpose baking bottle.

Store rum upright in a cool, dark cupboard, away from heat and sunlight. It does not need refrigerating.

An unopened bottle lasts indefinitely, and an opened one keeps for years with the cap on tight, since the high alcohol preserves itself. There is no rush to finish a bottle you only bake with now and then.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 fl oz (27g)

Amount per Serving

Calories 62Calories from Fat 0

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 0.0g 0%

Saturated Fat 0.0g 0%

Trans Fat ~

Cholesterol 0mg 0%

Sodium 0mg 0%

Total Carbohydrate 0.0g 0%

Dietary Fiber 0g 0%

Sugars 0.0

Protein 0.0g

Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 0%

Calcium 0% • Iron 0%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your caloric needs.

recipeland.com/nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find rum: Rum is usually found in the beverages section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Rum is a member of the Beverages US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese: 朗姆酒
British (UK) term: Rum
en français: le rhum
en español: el ron

How much does rum weigh?

Amount	Weight
1 fl oz	27 grams
1 jigger 1.5 fl oz	42 grams

Beverages

Beer 431 Creme de menthe 43 Brandy 416 Rum 290 Vodka 132 Cognac 125 Tequila 80 Gin 28 Whiskey 80 Bourbon whiskey 86

Recipes using rum

There are 290 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Chocolate Waffles

Chocolate waffles bake up crisp outside and tender inside, with cocoa, brown sugar, and a splash of rum for depth. Cake flour keeps them light. A brunch-meets-dessert waffle made for piling on berries, cream, or syrup.

Auntie Lin's Pluto Coffee

Spiked coffee cocktail with 151 rum, Irish cream liqueur, and a fresh whipped cream cap. A boozy after-dinner sipper for cold nights and grown-up gatherings.

Gluten Free Chocolate Cake

Gluten free chocolate cake with a light, airy crumb built from whipped eggs, melted semisweet chocolate, cornstarch and ground amaretti instead of flour. Spiked with dark rum and rich without being dense.

Best Oatmeal Pecan Pie

Oatmeal pecan pie deepens the classic with toasted oats and pecans in a honey custard, all baked in a rum-spiked oat crust. A nuttier, less cloying twist on pecan pie with a hint of black pepper.

Rum & Raisin Christmas Popcorn Balls

Rum and raisin are a classic combination. Use both of them to give these popcorn a tasty twist. Make sure that you make enough, there will be lots of people who comes for a second or a third one...

Rum Rolls

This recipe comes from one of my Norway friends, she gave me this good recipe: These rolls I make from leftover cake vreks! You can have any kind of cake in it but half of the crumbs must be from chocolate cake. I store leftover in my freezer and make this recipe when I want to.

Christmas Plum Pudding

A buttery, breadcrumb-based Christmas plum pudding rich with two kinds of raisins, currants, bitter orange marmalade, and warm spice. Steamed, aged, then flamed at the table and served with silky zabaione.

Strawberry & Cream Cheese Tart with Strawberry Jam Glaze

This cheesecake like strawberry tart is so fruity, creamy and refreshing, and it is so easy to make. Even you know nothing about baking, you can still make this delicious tart and everyone will tell you how good it tastes.

Heavenly Belgian Waffles

Crisp, light Belgian waffles made with malted milk powder and whipped egg whites folded into the batter, then crowned with ice cream and a warm rum-spiked banana, strawberry, and pecan sauce.

Mango Sorbet

Mango sorbet whirls ripe mango puree with simple syrup, lime, and lemon for a velvet-smooth tropical dessert. A six-ingredient summer freezer treat with optional rum.

English Berry Trifle

Light fluffy cake with delicious berries and creamy, rich custard. A perfect dessert when you have a company to serve.

Ultimate Dark Chocolate Mousse

If you are a big fan of dark chocolate and mousse, this ultimate dark chocolate mousse will be sure to satisfy your cravings and taste buds.

Drunken Apple/Pumpkin Pie

Drunken apple-pumpkin pie blends pumpkin and applesauce in one custard, finished with a dramatic flame of warmed rum poured tableside. Topped with pecan halves and warm baking spices. A holiday showstopper for Thanksgiving and Christmas tables.

Ayalla's Banana Bread

If you love banana bread you will adore this simple recipe that's easy to understand and follow.

Chocolate Zucchini Rum Cake (Healthier Version)

This healthier version of chocolate zucchini rum cake is made with whole wheat flour, grape seed oil, apple sauce, a small amount of butter. Also has much less sugar than the original recipe, and the cake is super moist, packed with chocolate flavor and absolutely divine.

Whole Wheat Christmas Cake

Traditional British whole wheat Christmas cake with rum-soaked dried fruit, walnuts, almonds, stout and citrus zest. Aged dark fruit cake for the holiday season.

Creole Christmas Cake

This very rich cake from the West Indies is ideal for those who prefer not to ice their Christmas cakes.

Walnut Chocolate Rum Balls

No-bake walnut chocolate rum balls rolled in cocoa powder. Made with grated milk chocolate, chopped walnuts, powdered sugar, and real rum. A rich holiday candy ready in 15 minutes, makes 2 1/2 dozen.

Pumpkin Spice Pound Cake

Pumpkin spice pound cake bakes a Bundt full of cinnamon, mace, and nutmeg-spiced pumpkin batter over a layer of toasted pecans, then drinks in a dark rum butter glaze poured through poke holes on both sides.

Molasses Pumpkin Pie

Molasses not only gives the pumpkin pie a darker and richer color, but it also lends a tangy flavor to the pie. Rum adds extra yumminess, and it's a great pair with molasses. Nobody wants to resist one slice of this delicious pumpkin pie.

Chocolate Cream Rum Balls

Chocolate cream rum balls made from melted semi-sweet chocolate, heavy cream, dark rum, and icing sugar, then rolled in chocolate vermicelli, coconut, or cocoa. Five-ingredient no-bake holiday treat.

Shortbread Pecan Rum Balls

Shortbread pecan rum balls are a no-bake holiday cookie made with crushed shortbread, toasted pecans, dark rum, and dark corn syrup. Five ingredients, twenty minutes, no oven required.

Chocolate Zucchini Rum Cake

If you think zucchini is just not your thing, this moist and chocolaty zucchini rum cake will knock your socks off and you even won't notice that there is zucchini in it. Such a deliciously sweet way to use up some of your seasonal zucchinis.

Vanilla Wafer Walnut Rum Balls

Vanilla wafer walnut rum balls combine crushed cookies, ground walnuts, honey, and golden rum into bite-sized no-bake holiday treats rolled in powdered sugar. Five-ingredient Christmas classic.

Honey-Rum Balls

Honey-rum balls with ground walnuts, vanilla wafer crumbs, dark rum, and honey. Rolled in powdered sugar. A no-bake holiday confection that ages for 6 weeks for deeper flavor.

Tiramisu from BUCA di BEPPO

A desert that tastes like a creation of an award winning chef...

Chocolate Chip Rum Cake

A moist, rich chocolate chip rum cake infused with warm rum flavor, studded with chocolate chips, and finished with a glossy cocoa glaze. Perfect for gatherings or a cozy dessert night.

Holiday Rum Balls

These classic yet delicious rum balls are always one of holiday's favorites in many family. They are so easy to make and too yummy to stop addiction.

Ricotta Torte

Classic Italian ricotta torte in a double-crust pastry with ricotta, cream cheese, candied fruit, and a splash of rum or brandy. Silky, not heavy.

Mother's Rum Dainties (Christmas)

No-bake rum balls made with crushed vanilla wafers, pecans, cocoa, powdered sugar, and real rum. A classic Christmas cookie tin staple rolled in powdered sugar.

Professor Plum's Pudding

Traditional steamed plum pudding with dark and golden raisins, currants, breadcrumbs, and warm spices. Flambeed with rum and served with zabaione sauce.

Fruit Juice Slush

Frozen fruit juice slush with green tea, orange juice, lemonade, and rum or vodka. A make-ahead boozy slush punch for parties and summer gatherings.

Lime Mousse Pie

Lime mousse pie is a frozen dessert of tangy lime mousse over rum-brushed angel food cake. Creamy, tart, and cloud-light, a refreshing year-round finish.

Baltimore Eggnog

A rich Baltimore-style eggnog spiked with brandy, rum, and Madeira wine, shaken with egg and cream, then dusted with fresh nutmeg. Scales easily from a single cocktail to a 30-serving holiday punch bowl.

Bomba Colada

Frozen tropical cocktail with rum, pineapple juice, and coconut cream, rimmed in strawberry puree and coconut, then floated with dark rum. Five minutes to paradise.

Favourite Mango Cream Pie

Mango cream pie pulls together mango puree, sweetened condensed milk, lime juice, and optional rum into a gelatin-set filling poured over a baked crust. Whipped cream on top, mint to finish. A tropical no-cook treat.

Bedroom Calling Shot

The Bedroom Calling Shot is a potent four-spirit cocktail mixing tequila, vodka, gin, and rum with cola and whiskey sour mix. One sip and you'll know how it got its name.

Grapes with Yogurt Sauce

Red grapes with a creamy banana-yogurt sauce spiked with rum, served in wine glasses with mint or pistachios. A healthy, elegant no-cook dessert in 10 minutes.

Pineapple Tart with Pina Colada Sauce

Broiled pineapple fanned over crisp puff pastry rounds, pooled with a creamy pina colada sauce of coconut milk, rum, and egg yolks, dotted with strawberry syrup. Tropical dinner-party dessert.

Yankee French Toast *

Cinnamon raisin French toast soaked in a rum-spiked egg custard with nutmeg, fried golden in butter, and drizzled with homemade maple-rum syrup. Weekend brunch just got serious.

Fresh Pineapple with Rum Cream

Fresh pineapple with rum cream pairs ripe sliced pineapple with a silky rum-spiked sabayon-style sauce of egg yolks, butter, and whipped cream. An elegant New York chef-style fruit dessert.

Zucchini-Kuchen (Zucchini Cake)

An elegant German zucchini cake with coconut, candied cherries, rum, and lemon, lightened with whipped egg whites and finished in a glossy chocolate glaze. Baked in a traditional Rehruecken mold for a stunning presentation.

Apple Omelette

Sweet apple omelette with paper-thin apple slices, sugar, and a rum-flame finish. The classic French dessert omelette (omelette aux pommes) with a touch of theatrics for tableside presentation.

Banana Pudding with Mandarine Cream

Loosely related to a dessert from the English-speaking islands of the West Indies, this makes a wonderful - and legal - winter fruit pudding. Despite its richness, it has next to no fat and, if you use eggs modified with omega 3 oil, it couldn't be more nutritionally sound.

More rum recipes

List of all ingredients

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