Delicious, light, and a touch sweet, these Rum Logs are a festive, melt-in-your-mouth holiday cookie your entire family will enjoy. Perfect on a cookie tray or when you want a light sweet treat, this rum logs recipe is easy to make and requires no chill time for the dough!
Rum Logs Recipe
Surprise your fellow holiday celebration guests with these amazing Rum Logs. With just a hint of vanilla and light on the sweetness, this will quickly become one of your favorite cookie recipes.
This recipe is made by my sister-in-law for us every Christmas Eve. I asked her for the recipe in order to share it with you. These Rum Logs are actually quite light, and they do not taste all that rum-y. I was surprised at how well balanced these Rum Logs were – slightly sweet, slightly vanilla, and melt in your mouth delicious! They can make these for me anytime!
One of the best parts about this cookie is the matching frosting. Of course, the rum logs are delicious without frosting (hush your mouth!), but the frosting does add the perfect amount of sweetness to the cookie. The frosting completes it – like a great relationship, ha!
These cookies use few ingredients and they do not require any chilling time, which makes them a great cookie for around the holidays. A huge plus if your holidays are filled with friends, family, parties, and shopping.
How to Make Rum Logs
1. Make the dough – Mix together flour and nutmeg. In a separate bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Mix in egg, vanilla, and rum. Mix in the flour thoroughly.
2. Make the logs – On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into logs about ½ inch by 3 inches.
3. Bake – Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and cook on 325 degrees for 12-15 minutes. Cool on rack.
4. Make the frosting – Cream together all ingredients, saving the milk for last. Add to cookies when cooled.
5. Serve – Allow the frosting to dry before serving. Enjoy!
Tips and variations for making this rum logs recipe:
● For my UK and Australian friends: confectioners sugar is icing sugar (powdered sugar, 10x).
● Change up the colors – Add a dab of food coloring to your cookie dough and make these cookies fun colors for the holidays or to fit a theme!
● Change up the flavor – Change the rum and vanilla flavor to another flavoring if desired. For example, some fun choices might be an orange extract, hazelnut extract, espresso, lemon, etc. It would be fun to experiment with various flavors.
● Make them vegan – If you would like a vegan version of these cookies, you will only need to make a couple of adjustments. Change the milk in the frosting recipe to almond milk or your favorite vegan-friendly option. Use ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce in place of the egg and use vegan-friendly butter.
● Make them gluten-free – The only ingredient you will need to change in order to make gluten-free rum log cookies is the flour. Simply use a gluten-free all-purpose flour mix and use the same amount as called for in the recipe.
● Use real rum instead of rum extract – If preferred, you can just use straight rum instead of the extract. However, you will need to use more rum, especially if you are using a light rum.
● Make in advance – These cookies are great for whipping up 1-3 days in advance if need be. They don’t lose their charm over this period of time, making them a pretty convenient cookie.
● Storage – Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. You can refrigerate or freeze these cookies if desired. However, do note that they may become crumbly when being thawed from the freezer. Keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks and in the freezer for up to 2 months.
● Reheating – Do not reheat in the microwave or oven if the frosting has already been applied. For best results when reheating from the fridge or freezer is to let the rum cookies come to room temperature on their own.
Common Questions About Rum Logs
Can You Use Rum Instead of Rum Extract?
You may use rum instead of rum extract. However, you will need to use more of the rum than you would the rum extract. The rum extract is more concentrated. As a basic guideline, for every teaspoon of rum flavoring, use 3 tablespoons of rum. For light rum, you will want to use a little more as it is not as strong as dark rum, when it comes to baking. It is also important to note that these cookies are not cooked long enough for all the alcohol to be cooked out, but there will not be enough alcohol content to be noticeable even if you eat the entire batch.
How Much Alcohol is in Rum Extract?
It changes from brand to brand on how much alcohol is in rum extract. However, it ranges from 35%-45% with most brands you will commonly find in most grocery stores. It sounds like a lot, but it is such a small quantity used in a recipe that it is really not as much alcohol as it sounds like.
Does Rum Extract Get You Drunk?
Rum extract does contain a lot of alcohol, but it comes in such small amounts, you are unlikely to get tipsy. Further, rum extract does not taste very good at all, so it would not be an enjoyable way to enjoy an adult beverage.
Rum Logs Recipe Ingredients:
Cookie Ingredients:
● 3 cups Flour
● 1 tsp Nutmeg
● 1 cup Butter
● ¾ cup Sugar
● 1 Egg
● 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
● 2 tsp Rum Extract
Rum Frosting Ingredients:
● 3 TBSP Butter
● ½ tsp Vanilla Extract
● 1 tsp Rum Extract
● 2½ cups Confectioners Sugar, sifted
● 2-3 TBSP Milk
Rum Logs Mise en Place:
● Measuring Cup
● Measuring Spoons
● Sifter
● Stand Mixer, bowl and beaters.
● Spatula
● Baking Sheet(s)
● Wire Rack
Rum Logs Recipe Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. To make the cookie dough:
3. Sift together flour and nutmeg, set aside.
4. Using a stand mixer, cream butter, gradually add the sugar.
5. Blend in egg, vanilla extract, and rum flavoring.
6. Add the sifted flour and nutmeg mixture slowly, until combined.
7. On a lightly floured board, shape pieces of dough into long logs ½” in diameter. Cut into 3″ lengths, and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.
8. Bake at 350° for 12-15 minutes, or until lightly browned.
9. Cool on a wire rack.
10. While the cookies are cooling, prepare the rum frosting:
11. Cream together 3 tablespoons of butter and ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon of rum extract, and sifted confectioners sugar.
12. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of milk to the sugar mixture, blend until smooth.
13. Frost cookie logs when cool.
14. Place on racks and allow frosting to dry.
Rum Logs Recipe
Delicious, light, and a touch sweet, these Rum Logs are a festive, melt-in-your-mouth holiday cookie your entire family will enjoy.
Ingredients
- Cookie Ingredients:
- 3 cups Flour
- 1 tsp Nutmeg
- 1 cup Butter
- ¾ cup Sugar
- 1 Egg
- 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 2 tsp Rum Flavoring
- Rum Frosting Ingredients:
- 3 TBSP Butter
- ½ tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 tsp Rum Flavoring
- 2½ cups Confectioners Sugar, sifted
- 2-3 TBSP Milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- To make the cookie dough:
- Sift together flour and nutmeg, set aside.
- Using a stand mixer, cream butter, gradually add the sugar.
- Blend in egg, vanilla extract, and rum flavoring.
- Add the sifted flour and nutmeg mixture slowly, until combined.
- On a lightly floured board, shape pieces of dough into long logs ½” in diameter. Cut into 3″ lengths, and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.
- Bake at 350° for 12-15 minutes, or until lightly browned.
- Cool on a wire rack.
- While the cookies are cooling, prepare the rum frosting:
- Cream together 3 tablespoons of butter and ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon of rum extract, and sifted confectioners sugar.
- Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of milk to the sugar mixture, blend until smooth.
- Frost cookie logs when cool.
- Place on racks and allow frosting to dry.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
48Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 115Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 42mgCarbohydrates: 16gFiber: 0gSugar: 9gProtein: 1g
Note: for exact nutritional information, consult your dietitian. All nutritional information provided is simply a guideline.
If you enjoy holiday cookies, you will want to make these great Christmas cookies:
● Candy Cane Cookies Recipe (not quite what you think)
● Cranberry Noels Cookies Recipe (also from my sister in-law)
● Fruitcake Cookies Recipe (fruit cake gets a bad rap! Try these yummy cookies!)
● For more Recipes on Ann’s Entitled Life, click here.
● If you enjoyed this post, be sure to sign up for the Ann’s Entitled Life weekly newsletter, and never miss another article!
Wendy Robbins says
These rum logs look delicious. I’m having a party this weekend and need something to “stick out” of a cute vintage Santa cup. I think these will work!
Karly says
These looks look delicious! Thanks for linking up with What’s Cookin’ Wednesday!