Orange Hot Buttered Rum with a Toasted Almond Biscotti

Today is National Hot Buttered Rum Day, celebrating this venerable cocktail.  With documented origins in Colonial times, Hot buttered rum is a mixed drink containing rum, butter, and various spices. A perfect cocktail, served hot to ward off the winter chill.  

Certain Hot Cocktails call for something special and this Orange Hot Buttered Rum screams for a dunking partner.

Toasted Almond Biscotti with Orange Glaze

Toasted Almond Biscotti

·      2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour

·      1 teaspoon baking powder

·      1/4 teaspoon salt

·      4 tablespoons 1/2 stick unsalted butter

·      1 cup sugar

·      2 large eggs

·      3/4 teaspoon almond extract

·      3/4 cup sliced almonds toasted and cooled.

Orange Glaze

·      1 cup powdered sugar, sifted

·      1 teaspoon orange extract

·      1 tablespoon butter, melted

·      1 tablespoon milk

·      Pinch of sea salt

Instructions

1.    Preheat oven to 350° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2.    In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

3.    By hand or using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the eggs 1 at a time, then the almond extract. Stir in the almonds. Sprinkle the dry ingredients over the egg mixture, then fold in until the dough is just mixed.

4.    Halve the dough and turn both portions onto the prepared baking sheet. Using floured hands, quickly stretch each portion of dough into a rough 13-inch by 2-inch log. Place the loaves about three inches apart on the baking sheet, patting each one smooth.

5.    Bake until the loaves until are golden and just beginning to crack on top, about 35 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through the baking time.

6.    Cool the loaves for 10 minutes, lower the oven temperature to 325° F. Transfer the loaves to a cutting board. With a serrated knife cut each loaf diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Lay the slices about 1/2-inch apart on the baking sheet, cut-side up, and return them to the oven. Bake, turning over each cookie halfway through baking, until crisp and golden brown on both sides, about 15 minutes. Transfer the biscotti to a wire rack to cool completely.

7.    For the glaze, whisk together confectioners’ sugar, orange extract, butter, milk and salt until combined. Add more milk if necessary, for desired consistency.

8.    When biscotti is cooled drizzle Orange glaze over one side of biscotti and finish by zesting fresh orange peel over the top of glaze.

If you do not have Orange extract you can substitute with some Orange Liqueur or fresh squeezed Orange juice.

Now that the Biscotti ready, you can start the Orange Hot Buttered Rum.

The compound butter will keep for several weeks in an airtight container in the fridge, and the spices will only get more intense over time.

Orange Hot Buttered Rum (Yields 4 Drinks)

For the orange butter, mix together:

• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon orange zest
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• Pinch ground cloves
• Pinch sea salt

To serve: per mug

• 3 to 4 Tbsp orange butter
• 1.5 ounces dark spiced rum
• 3/4 cup of near-boiling hot water

Add hot water and spiced rum, stir until the butter and sugar melts.

All that is left to do is to sit back and enjoy this orange infused Hot Buttered Rum and Toasted Almond Biscotti.

Images and content ©Drink In Nature Photography/Drink In Life Blog