What To Make With All That Leftover Rum

If you’re cash-strapped grill loyalists like us, you’re sending out your “Calling All Carnivores to the ‘cue!” invites with that vital little acronym: B.Y.O. As both givers and receivers of the “BYO” invite, we thoroughly appreciate the tipsy economic illogic (it’s pretty much a perpetual ouroboros style regifting of booze). 

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And if you’ve hosted more than a few BBQs so far this year, chances are you’ve built up a stockpile of bottles. Maybe not a COVID-era stockpile (when we were all buying cases of Fireball like the masks would never come off), but something more like a well stocked bar cart, a few half-full bottles, and maybe (since it’s summer) more than a little rum. If you’re not a big drinker, you’re probably wondering what to do with all the lingering high proof heat. But before you go the “will it work as paint thinner?” route, check out a few fun ways to cook and bake with leftover rum. (FYI, some recipes retain booziness, but more on that later).

Rum Balls

Yes, these are typically more appropriate around tinseled holiday times, but Rum Balls are so easy, and (once you get the basic formula), easy to experiment with. The basic components: chocolate or vanilla wafer cookies (and/or chocolate chips), corn syrup, usually less than a cup of rum, corn syrup, and cocoa powder or confectioner’s sugar for a classy finish. Traditional rum balls are chocolate, so a darker rum is usually preferred. But unless you’re deep into Christmas in July, or just only have lighter rum, feel free to toy with lighter flavors, Nilla Wafers (whatever color or Star Wars character), coconut, white chocolate, etc. Just pulse the cookies, bind with corn syrup and rum, and please (please) don’t forget this no-cook recipe retains the booze. (So snack responsibly.)

Baking With Rum

You can easily bake with rum―quick breads and cakes are a great way to add a bit of that round, sugary yummy rummy-ness. You won’t need more than a few tablespoons, probably a quarter of a cup at most, so this is good for a bottle you’re gonna keep on hand and bake with every once in a while. A good rule of thumb again is to match rum color to flavor profile―a lighter rum works with lighter, summery flavors (berries, lemon, coconut, banana, etc.). Bonus: as long as all cake eaters in attendance are over 21, you can put a few tablespoons of rum in your glaze. (If you want kiddos to partake, skip rum in the glaze―alcohol will bake off in the cake itself.) And, if that bottle of rum makes it to autumn, don’t forget to try it with pumpkin bread.

Rum And Coke (And Chicken)

Rum and Coke work pretty well together in a drink, so why not in your chicken? Really, because rum has that sugary heat (and darker rums have that browner sugary complexity), a bit of rum in your next chicken or chicken thigh marinade goes a long way. Rum is also just a good chicken marinade ingredient in general―it carries flavor and imparts sweetness. As for rum/coke/chicken, it’s a pretty simple recipe: usually (almost) equal parts rum and coke, plus extra flavors like soy, citrus, chilies, spices, etc. A very good option for chicken thighs, grilling, and (if you’re brave enough) your first spatchcocked chicken. (You can do it!)

Rum And Spices And Steak

Forget sipping aged rum with your NY strip in a steakhouse―just drench your beef in booze. No, it’s a little more complicated than that. (Also far less expensive.) Steak welcomes the added sweet char of rum in a marinade, plus rum goes really well with strong flavors found in steak marinades, like garlic, spices, chilies, smoked paprika, etc. In fact, this might be a place to experiment with any leftover spiced rum (which can be divisive as a drinking option even among rum lovers). And since it’s all so steak-y, you can use richer, darker flavors like soy and even coffee in the marinade. Just don’t forget the oil. 

DIY Rum Ice Cream (Yes, You Can Skip The Raisins)

Rum ice cream isn’t hard to make―especially if you have your own ice cream maker. Recipes vary, but plenty of them skip on the raisins altogether. Of course, follow your heart, raisin-wise. But if you choose to go without raisins, don’t forget that there are plenty of other goodies you can add in―whether it’s something sophisticated like candied pecans or something just awesome and nostalgic, like those semi-new Reese’s Pieces with Chocolate Cookie centers. FYI: not all recipes incorporate rum before cooking, so, as with most rum ball recipes, this dessert might drink like, well, a good rum.