Best Recipes: Hot Buttered Rum Fruit

 by: Donna Monday

Enjoying a mug of hot buttered rum is one of those long-standing holiday traditions. It recalls scenes of sitting by a fireplace watching the fire crackle red and blue as the snowflakes gently fall outside.

Maybe this is why hot buttered rum recipes are so popular around holiday time. It’s a nice drink to have with friends and family.

While serving traditional hot buttered rum is always a welcome idea, you might consider doing something a bit different this year. How about making your guests a nice little side dish of Hot Buttered Rum Fruit?

Fruit goes well with any meal and the rum and apple cider give it a spicy twist. I think you’ll be pleased with the reactions you’ll get when they taste this delicious holiday fruit dish.

Hot Buttered Rum Fruit

• 1 20 oz can pineapple chunks, drained

• 1 15-1/4 oz can peach halves, drained and halved

• 1 15 oz can pear halves, drained and halved

• ¼ cup sweetened dried cranberries

• 1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar

• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

• ½ teaspoon nutmeg

• ½ cup apple cider or juice

• 2 tablespoons margarine or butter

• ¼ cup rum

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Arrange fruit in an ungreased 12x8-inch baking dish.

In a medium saucepan, combine brown sugar, cornstarch, nutmeg and apple cider; mix well. Cook over medium heat until bubbly and thickened, stirring frequently.

Stir in margarine; cook until melted. Remove from heat; stir in rum. Pour over fruit.

Bake for 25 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Makes 10 half-cup servings.