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 — with 290 recipes to put it to work.

What is rum?

Rum is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from sugarcane by-products such as molasses and sugarcane juice by a process of fermentation and distillation. The distillate, a clear liquid, is then usually aged in oak and other barrels.

Light rums are commonly used in cocktails, whereas golden and dark rums are also appropriate for drinking straight, or for cooking. Premium rums are also available that are made to be consumed straight or with ice.

Dark Rum, also known as black rum or red rum, classes as a grade darker than gold rum. It is generally aged longer, in heavily charred barrels.

Dark rum has a much stronger flavor than either light or gold rum, and hints of spices can be detected, along with a strong molasses or caramel overtone. It is used to provide substance in rum drinks, as well as color. In addition to uses in mixed drinks, dark rum is the type of rum most commonly used in cooking.

Fermentation

Most rum produced is made from molasses. Within the Caribbean, much of this molasses is from Brazil. A notable exception is the French-speaking islands where sugarcane juice is the preferred base ingredient.

Aging and Blending

Many countries require that rum be aged for at least one year. This aging is commonly performed in used bourbon casks, but may also be performed in stainless steel tanks or other types of wooden casks. The aging process determines the coloring of the Rum. Rum that is aged in oak casks becomes dark, whereas Rum that is aged in stainless steel tanks remains virtually colorless.

Nutrition

Where found

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.

How much does rum weigh?

Related

Beverages

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.

All 290 recipes