This party dip is a play on a Hot Buttered Rum cocktail. It uses apples, butter, spices, and dark rum to make a cream cheese dip that’s perfect for spreading on crackers. The Hot Buttered Rum Apples made in this recipe can also be used to as pound cake toppings, to flavor oatmeal, or as an ice cream mixing. This recipe is for those 21+.
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One of my favorite foods in the world is nachos. Following that is dips and chips. Invite me to a dip dinner or dip party and I’m going to show up with my eating pants on. Since we are in peak hot cocktail season, I thought what better idea than to try and come up with a cocktail themed dip to take around this season. The product of that is this sweet and salty Hot Buttered Apple Rum Dip! If you’re unfamiliar a Hot Buttered Rum cocktail consists of melting butter with hot water or cider, rum, spices, and sugar until it’s combined together making a delicious warm drink. It’s got everything you need for a cold winter night. Which make it even more perfect as a holiday dip recipe for a Christmas party. It’s buttery, sweet, and spiced that takes on this sweet and salty combination when topped on crackers. You’re going to just love it.
HOT BUTTERED APPLE RUM DIP
This recipe is pretty simple to make. You’re going to cook down the apples in butter until they soften. From there you make a glaze with the apples, rum, and brown sugar until it’s thick but still ribbons off a spoon. Stir in some spices and vanilla to give it a warmth of flavor. Then you pour it over top of a block of room temperature cream cheese.
If you like sweet and salty things, I recommend serving it with salted crackers. If you want to make it more of a dessert dip you can serve it with graham crackers. Once you pick your cracker let guests dive in. It’s so so good. B could not stop repeating how good it was, so this is a husband seal of approval dip.
Note that the alcohol does not fully cook out of this recipe. I’m a firm believer in alcohol not fully cooking out of recipes in general, and urge readers to use non-alcoholic substitutes when serving a guest who can not or should not consume alcohol. In the case of this recipe (it’s in the recipe card), you can substitute rum for apple cider or apple juice.
This party dip is a play on a Hot Buttered Rum cocktail. It uses apples, butter, spices, and dark rum to make a cream cheese dip that's perfect for spreading on crackers.
- 2 Gala Apples (or any sweet red)
- 3 tablespoons Light Brown Sugar
- 2 tablespoons Unsalted Butter
- 1 ounce Dark Rum (no alcohol version add in apple juice or apple cider)
- 1/4 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon Allspice
- pinch Salt
- 8 ounces Cream Cheese (softened)
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Chop the apples into small bite-size pieces.
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Over medium-low heat in a non-stick pan melt the butter. Add in the apples and cook until the apples start to soften. About 5-8 minutes.
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Stir in the brown sugar, then carefully pour in the dark rum. Let it bubble up and then reduce the heat to low. Stir the mixture until it forms a glaze (coats a spoon but runs off in a thin ribbon) and coats the apples.
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Add in vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and salt. Stir until well combined with apples and glaze for 2 minutes.
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Remove from heat and let sit for one minute. Pour over an 8oz block of cream cheese. Serve with salted crackers or graham crackers.
*Not all the alcohol is burned out of this recipe, as intended. It's my suggestion if you have pregnant guests, children, or those who do not drink consuming recipes with booze to make a booze-free version. In the case of this recipe, you can replace the rum with apple cider or apple juice.
The glaze will begin to thicken more as it cools down, hence not wanting to make a really thick glaze in the pan. In the past though, I’ve made these Hot Buttered Rum Apples for oatmeal for an adult brunch party. In that case, I let the glaze thicken up a bit more in the pan to where it created ribbons off the spoon but in a much slower motion. These glazed apple toppers are versatile so don’t limit yourself to just this dip. Add it to the top of pound cakes, ice cream, or even pork chops!
Let me know down below if you make this Hot Buttered Apple Rum Dip or if you use the Hot Buttered Rum Apples! You can tag me over on my Instagram in your food photos as well! What is your go-to holiday dip?