This hot toddy recipe is made with spiced rum (and optional whiskey), pineapple, honey, and warm spices. It’s the perfect festive fall or winter drink to soothe the body or to simply enjoy with good company. Even better than it’s delicious taste is, this warm drink recipe has some great nutritional benefits, too! Alcohol Free Version included.
Can we say CHEERS to almost Friday? Yes, yes we can! Especially with today’s Spiced Pineapple Rum Hot Toddy Recipe. This recipe is festive, yes, but also a go to for me during those brutally cold mornings. You see, a few weeks ago we were blasted with a random snow storm. You know, the kind that come out of nowhere? I was at the studio and all of a sudden I saw white, just white, out the window. The day before it was 60F, and now…. 20F. My studio (the gathering place studio) is located inside an old school building (built in 1912), so you can imagine the lack of modern heat circulation. I busted out the space heater, chunky knit blanket, and got back to work. But not without making a batch of this. A cozy, comforting, hot toddy! Hey, gotta do, whatcha gotta do, right?
I know what you’re thinking. A hot toddy? Please. That’s an old man medicinal drink. Yes it is, but this one has many purposes. More than medicinal. Hear me out!
Just letting you know this toddy recipe was originally published in 2015. I retested, rephotographed, updated content and URL.
What’s in a hot toddy?
Traditionally, an Irish hot toddy is a warm drink made with a mixture of honey, whiskey, and lemon. There are a lot of variations of it nowadays. It can be made using any type of strong booze, but typically, you’ll find whiskey, bourbon or rum hot toddies.
My ideal purpose for this recipe is to combine the yumminess and chillax factor of a Hot Butter Rum drink with the medicinal purposes of a hot toddy. But also, this drink is somewhat healthy for your digestion.
Do hot toddies REALLY work?
There are enough health benefits in this warm cocktail to soothe your body of its aches and pains of a cold. Whisky is a fantastic decongestant, and rum helps to keep your blood thin and flowing well.
I replaced the extra sugar with pineapple juice. Which also happens to contain bromelain, an enzyme that can help breakdown protein for better digestion. It also has anti-inflammatory properties is loaded with Vitamin C. On top of that, a serving (1.5 -2oz) of rum is gluten free and has been shown to provide anti-microbial properties which may help when suffering from common cold. Can we say SUPER FOOD? Yes!
I don’t know about you, but I’m happy to drink to that. Healthy digestion, which we all are going to need after a big holiday meal or too many sugar cookies, just sayin…
Healthy immunity, because it is cold and flu season. I’ll take all the immunity boosting factors I can get (hot toddy being that the bonus booster).
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HOT TODDY with Rum {NATURALLY SWEETENED}
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 2-3 1x
Description
This hot toddy recipe is made with rum, pineapple, honey, and warm spices. It’s the perfect festive fall or winter drink to soothe the body or to simply enjoy with good company. It has some great nutritional benefits, too!
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups pineapple juice or orange juice
- 2 cups water
- 3 Tablespoons honey (preferably raw)
- 6 to 8 ounces spiced rum and/or whiskey (combine if desired)
- 8 ounces ginger ale (diet if you prefer) or sparkling water with ginger bitters
- 2 cinnamon sticks and pinch of cinnamon (or 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon)
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Orange peel or slices to garnish
- Star anise or whole cloves to garnish
Optional mix ins
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 4 oz non dairy cream or 2 Tablespoons butter (warmed)
Instructions
- Place juice, water, honey, ginger ale, and alcohol in a small pot on stove. Simmer on medium until combined and honey is dissolved, about 2 minutes.
- Add in cinnamon sticks and remaining spices. Continue simmering on low or medium low for another 5 minutes. If you are adding cream/butter and/or vanilla extract, do so here. Heat and stir until combined.
- Pour into 2-3 glasses and then garnish with star anise, orange slices, and a sprinkle of cinnamon on top if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
For the non-alcoholic hot toddy version.
Repace 4 ounces of rum or whiskey with a 6 ounces of ginger or cinnamon herbal tea. Still warming for the soul!
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 10
- Category: drink
- Method: stove
- Cuisine: american
Keywords: hot toddy, hot toddy recipe, hot toddy with rum
How many warm rum cocktails can I have??
Because I know that is what really you’re wondering! Haha, kidding. Kinda
This Spiced Pineapple Hot Toddy is DARN TASTY and so SOOTHING to drink! A drink you want to nurse on over a period of time.
If you walked in the kitchen while I was making this for you, you’d smell the sweet aroma of citrus all bundled up with cozy cinnamon and a hint of honey. Just imagine that for a second, mm k? Like if you came for our friendsgiving studio open house (see bottom of post here), we all hung out post snacking and enjoyed a drink together. And when I say drink, I mean one glass. Come on now, we don’t want the health perks to backfire, right?
That being said, I invite you all over for a cozy comforting cuppa Hot Toddy anytime. The more the merrier.
P.S ….
For the non-alcoholic hot toddy version.
Repace 4 ounces of rum or whiskey with a 6 ounces of ginger or cinnamon herbal tea. Still warming for the soul!
Other Cozy Hot Drinks to try!
Favorite Holiday drink? Do tell!
LC
This was delightful, thank you.
★★★★★
Wonderful! Thanks for feedback Anna
So good! Just was reminded to make these again soon!
★★★★★
Wow I had no idea that rum has health benefits! This sounds so warming and relaxing. I will keep this one e in mind for winter time. 🙂
You’d love!! Next winter for sure!
omg this could possibly be the best looking cocktail I have ever seen. pinning it and definitely making it for christmas. gahhhh I am drooling.
awesome! let me know if you do!
What if I don’t want the virgin version…holy hell that’s a tongue twister.
I love the sound of this drink, with or without the rum, even though I’d prefer the latter. Also, I adore pineapple and add frozen pineapple to my morning smoothies for my sweet factor and also the magical benefits of it. Super food indeed.
You’re on a roll, my friend!
Pineapples always remind me of summer and cinnamon always reminds me of fall. I think this is the perfect combination, because I love summer-ish drinks year round. Getting in some vitamins while having some rum is never a bad idea either.
Um, YUM!!! Psyched to learn that rum is a superfood 🙂 I’m all about this!
yep! so we better make it a daily consumption. Kidding.. kinda.
That looks so amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am not really a drinker but I do love me a coffee drink. It is just that I like my coffee HOT, not lukewarm, hot & drink them too fast! 🙂
Yum this sounds amazing! Perfect for a holiday cocktail.
You know… I’ve never had a rum toddy. This must change.
we must change that! 😉
Beautiful photos! I love hot toddys and I swear that they do keep winter colds at bay.
Totally! a must for winter.
You know I love hot toddies – this looks amazing!! Cheers!
so thought of you and kirk! hope i made you proud! haha
Woah, this looks amazing!! Love that you replaced the sugar with pineapple juice, and the coconut milk gives it a tropical yet holiday festive feel 🙂 Gorgeous pictures too! I’ll take all the immunity boosters I can get during the holidays too!
totally! and i think you’d love this. We have similar tastes. xxoo
Yum! I’ll be over for sure!!! 🙂
YES – I am coming over for a virgin hot toddy! Imagining that “citrus all bundled up with cozy cinnamon and a hint of honey” with the pineapple and coconut cream is intoxicating! Hehe – no pun intended!
haah love you! PUNNY!
You better believe I’d be up for that! Just be gentle — it’d be my first time 😉 I’ve never and a hot toddy before, but now you’ve got me all sorts of intrigued.
this would be perfect post snowboarding in the mountains…. DO IT!
I’ve never had a hot toddy! But, Ray’s dad makes this Swedish concoction of red wine and liquors and spices each year during the holidays, so strong, but so good.
oh man, i want ray’s dad to make me that!! please?
A Hot Toddy cures everything! 🙂
you know it! xxoo
I will TOTALLY come over for a Hot Toddy (for my health!) and girl chat. 🙂
yes, come tonight, ok?
Hot cocktails are a MUST at this time of year. In fact, it’s Friday — I’d like one NOW! 🙂 Cheers!
yes! cheers to that friend
Fruit juice makes this breakfast appropriate, yes?
yep! plus it’s 5 oclock somewhere
i have never had hot toddy but im convinced that this is a super food and i need this in my life..like pronto! and photography is just amazingggggggg 🙂
Yum! I don’t even like to drink and you got me hooked!
um WHY did it never ever occur to me I COULD whip this up virgin?!
You’ve outdone yourself! And I think you need to make this for me this weekend – just saying! Love that it’s healthy and the pictures are out of this world!