Rich, creamy, buttery, and loaded with spices, Non-Alcoholic Hot Buttered “Rum” is an unforgettable drink perfect for any cold weather occasion.

Hot Buttered Rum

This non-alcoholic hot buttered spice drink is Hot Buttered Rum’s tamer sister; although truth be told, this version is pretty awesome with a splash of rum added as well.

The first time I made this non-alcoholic version of our Hot Buttered Rum, my kids went crazy over their warm spiced drinks. They’ve declared this treat “better than hot tea, and hot cocoa, and probably better than coffee” (not that they would really know about that one).

I love watching my kids “think” they are grown up. So whenever I can make them an appropriate version of something the adults are enjoying I do it. They instantly become little adults in how they hold their cups and sip carefully. It makes them feel so special and included.

Hot Buttered “Rum” is one of my favorite hot drinks to make. Once you’ve stirred the buttered spice mixture together, you can keep the mix in the refrigerator and stir a cup together anytime you like.

Want a fun tip? The buttery, sugar, and spice mixture is awesome in coffee and hot tea as well as with hot water. I can’t wait to try it in hot apple cider.

I especially love the lightened-up version with Monk Fruit In The Raw. With half the sugar, it has all the flavor and sweetness of the original.

Whatever the occasion, this is a terrific recipe to have up your sleeve whether it’s for guests at a dinner party or a casual night at home.

Hot Buttered Rum Ingredients

• butter
• light brown sugar
• cinnamon
• nutmeg
• ground cardamom
• ground cloves 
• boiling water
• Optional: half and half or heavy cream 

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Hot Buttered Rum brings about a full body coziness that feels like you are being wrapped in a thick warm blanket.

Hot Buttered Rum

I am a seasonal beverage connoisseur. Certain flavors, combinations, and temperatures just fit certain seasons for me. Fall and cool weather bring about a hankering for rich, body-warming drinks.

The kind of drink you hold in two hands and sip while warming up after being outside. Or perhaps you take it along (responsibly of course) in a thermos on a cool weather adventure.

Hot buttered rum is a classic mixed drink containing brown sugar, butter, various spices, hot water, and rum. A few years ago, a friend showed me how to make Hot Buttered Rum.

The recipe she shared with me, was an old Emeril recipe and it’s solid. I had never tasted anything quite like it at the time and I loved it.

Rich, buttery, warm, and loaded to the brim with holiday spices, makes it a perfect drink for special occasions. Serve this at a holiday party and your friends will talk about it and remember this long after the mugs are emptied.

Regular buttered rum is a bit bland so adding in the spices really creates a delicious, soothing flavor. You can also serve it with whiskey if you prefer whiskey over rum.

Recently someone suggested using warm apple cider instead of hot water to make a Hot Buttered Run Cider. I am not going to lie that sounds amazing and the next time I mix these up and I going to try it! If you get to it first be sure and tell me how it is.

A batch of the ingredients does make quite a bit. It will keep for about two weeks in your refrigerator. I have also placed it in icecube trays and frozen it for individual servings.

What is Hot Buttered Rum?

Simply put Hot Buttered Run is the butter-rich cousin of a Rum Hot Toddy. The Hot Toddy basically refers to an alcoholic beverage with made with hot water, alcohol, sugar, and spices.

Have you heard of a Dirty Banana? I hadn’t until I sailed with Princess Cruises and I have to admit that the name alone made me laugh. Hard. However, the milkshake-like cocktail proved irresistible.

Spoiler alert: adult milkshakes are now on my favorites list. What’s not to love about a frozen drink/dessert combination?

Dirty Banana

This is a Caribbean inspired cocktail that tastes more like a milkshake than a cocktail. This is a super fun treat whether you’re cruising through a dream vacation or kicked back on your own back porch at home.

The Dirty Banana is absolutely unforgettable. And lucky for me? It’s easy enough to make at home in just minutes.

It’s almost too easy. Start by adding ice to the blender. Then add a splash of rum, kahlua, and coffee liqueur, 1/2 a banana, a splash of heavy cream, and a drizzle of chocolate syrup. Hit blend and pour it into a glass. Top with whipped cream and sip happily.

The ingredient list might sound long, but you’re only adding a small splash of each liquor and the flavor that is delivered when they’re combined is fantastic.

Oh! I almost forgot. You can make a Not-So-Dirty Banana drink for the non-drinkers and the kids. Just skip the alcohol and add either 1/4 cup of milk or 1/4 cup of cold coffee. (I like both versions!)

Easy Peasy and absolutely delicious too! I probably shouldn’t have introduced my kids to this one, because it’s been dessert every night for a week.

And no, I have not been making one for myself each night along with them. But if anyone wants to visit me and give me an excuse to blend some more of these, I’m game.

Sweet blueberries and bananas combine with tart grapes in this Blueberry Grape Banana Smoothie without any added sugar. It is one of my favorite smoothie combinations.

My boys used to ask for this smoothie all the time when they were younger. Even now that they’re teenagers, it’s rare that I get to drink a whole smoothie by myself.

Grape Smoothie

I have always loved eating grapes. There was something joyous as a child about tearing off a bunch of these round and juicy sweet berries that burst with flavor. 

Nature might package them into bite-size pieces already, but as an adult, I have a long-standing love affair with smoothies. So, it doesn’t take much for me to break out the blender. 

My local grocery stores have their best prices on grapes in late summer and early fall. That makes them great to pair with blueberries which are also ripening at that time, and bananas which are ripe year-round. 

So, I am happy to report that this trio – blueberries, grapes, and bananas – combined to make an amazingly good end-of-summer smoothie.

It’s pretty incredible how the grape flavor stands out in this smoothie. You will still pick up the flavors of the blueberries and the bananas, but this truly is a Grape Smoothie.

Smoothie Ingredients

• Milk
• Bananas
• Red grapes
• Black grapes (or whatever you have on hand)
• Blueberries

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Have you tried the Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso from Starbucks? It is so good and as soon as I tasted it, I knew I needed to make it at home too! Brown sugar and a dash of cinnamon provide terrific depth of flavor for this awesome drink.

It’s been a couple of months and I’m still amazed by how much I’m enjoying this dairy-free iced coffee drink. I’ll forever love my Cafe con Leche, but sometimes (especially in the summer months) iced drinks are where my heart is.

Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso

My cousin Hannah came to visit a few weeks ago and introduced me to the Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso at Starbucks. (Side note – WHY must their drink names always be so darn long and ridiculous to order?)

I know I’m late to the oatmilk game, and you likely also know that I’m a die-hard member of team real dairy products. However, in this drink, the oatmilk contributes a distinct flavor that I truly love. Thanks to this drink, oat milk has earned a dedicated spot in our refrigerator now.

Newfound love of oatmilk aside, if you’re solidly in the team dairy category and aren’t interested in trying oatmillk, this drink is also delicious with real milk.

We made our drinks a couple of different ways while Hannah was here and I’ve been making this shaken espresso daily since then.

Ingredients for Oatmeal Shaken Espresso

• brewed espresso
• light or dark brown sugar
• unsweetened oatmilk
• ice cubes
• ground cinnamon (optional)

Oatmilk Shaken Espresso

1. Combine the hot espresso and the brown sugar in a cup and stir to melt the sugar. (If you wo