So my friend Heather is a rumchata drinker, but complained that it was so expensive. I came up with my own recipe for her and she loved it. Super easy too, you should have most things on hand already. As for the milk I think that 2 percent or whole would taste better or you could add a little half and half to some skim milk.
So basically your making the non alcoholic base for the drink then adding in vanilla rum and ice to taste. This makes a small pitcher of rumchata then add 1/2 cup rum and some ice. If you want to make just the base and pour singe drinks, then add a shot (or a half shot) of rum and half a glass of ice to a glass, the pour base over that until full.
- Base:
- 3 cups milk
- 1 cup simple syrup ( ½ cup sugar, ½ cup water)
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- a pinch of nutmag (a little goes a long way)
- Add to your liking:
- ice
- vanilla rum
- first make the simple syrup in a small pan on the stove top with sugar and water a heat on medium heat until sugar is dissolved
- let simple syrup cool
- in pitcher add milk, syrup, cinnamon, vanilla and nutmeg.
- mix well
- add ice and rum to taste (I started with about ½ cup of rum)
- serve immediately
Excellent recipe! I just made it and it came out well. I’m going to link to your recipe from my blog (with my own pictures) if you don’t mind! :) It will post on Tuesday if so.
Hi Danielle, I’m glad you liked the recipe! We don’t mind if you link to our recipe. Thanks! :)
Do you think this would work out well with soy or almond milk?
My first guess would be to try one of them in a vanilla flavor. You will have to let me know how you like it if you give it a try.
How do you keep it from curdling when you add alcohol?
I’ve made these several time and never had that happen. I did do some reading and they say the higher the fat, the less likely to curdle, so heavy cream and whole milk would be best if you are having that problem. I have always used 2 percent milk when making mine.
This may sound like a silly question, but i was a bit unsure of the durections. Does this make a large bottle of it , or do you mix the milk mixture with 1/2 cup of the rum when you serve it only?
So not a silly question! It makes a bottle/small pitcher of it (no alcohol), then when your ready to serve add alcohol and ice. If your just pouring single glasses, then add a shot of rum and ice to the glass then pour the mixture over it. Hope this helps :)
Thanks for the inspiration! I modified the recipe like so:
2 c. milk
2. c. homemade rice milk (1:4 ratio, rice to water)
1/2 c. sugar
cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg as you had it in the original.
better than homemade eggnog for sure!
Sounds great Dianna, I will have to try it like that!
Can this be made, minus the ice, jarred in mason jars?? I’d like to make this and give as part of teacher Christmas gifts!
Hi Denise, yeah that would be fine as long as you keep it refrigerated. Thanks!
How long will this last refridgerated?
Several days as long as you don’t add the ice, add it when you serve it.
Hi! I just stumbled upon your site looking to hack rumchata;-) This is great! I am a fitness junkie, so I am going to try to lighten it up. If it works, I would love to post on my site and give you mad props! This is the best recipe I have found for this. Thanks!
Thanks! Let me know how it turns out :)
Do you think I can add the rum to this recipe and bottle it for gifts? I will make sure it stays refridgerated.
Hi Diane. Yes, that would be fine. Just make sure not to add the ice. Let them add the ice when they drink it.
We own a distillery in Southern Virginia and I would love to try this with our brown sugar cinnamon whiskey! We have to mix the alcohol when we serve so wondering if I make the milk, would that keep a weekend in the fridge? I would do 4 oz. cocktails with .5 ounce whiskey. Also wonder if this is like a milk punch?
Thank you!
Hi Kelley, that sounds amazing! Yes, the mix should last all weekend in the fridge. It’s similar to milk punch, but this has cinnamon and it’s a little sweeter. Personally I like this way better than milk punch. Let me know if you like it!
Funny- I came across your recipe for the very same reason! I tried it and WOW! I modified it slightly by adding a shot of DeKeuper’s Vanilla Liqueur when I added the rum – my guests swear they preferred your recipe to the real thing!! THANK YOU! ?
Thanks Stacy! I’m so glad you guys like it :) I will have to try with the vanilla liqueur.
The first time I made this I didn’t have rum so I used vanilla vodka..yum, the 2nd time I made it i used amber rum..OMG yummy! Both times I used coconut palm sugar, and coconut milk.
Hi Brenda, Sounds delish! I’m glad you liked the recipe. Thanks for taking the time to comment, we appreciate it!
Can this be made w sweetened condensed milk?
I wouldn’t recommend it. Sweet condensed milk is very thick and sweet. You would have to water it down a lot and not add the simple syrup, but I’m still unsure it would work.
I don’t have vanilla rum, just regular rum. Do you think I should add an extra tsp of vanilla? Can’t wait to make this!
Hi, That should work. I would try adding in a 1/4 teaspoon at a time until you get the flavor that you like. Thanks!