Rumtopf Brownies – Diary of a Mad Housewife

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I had these Rumtopf Brownies on my mind when I started my Rumtopf in June. Making them for the holidays is a no-brainer. So, it’s a great way to use up some of that gorgeous alcohol-soaked fruit.

What is a Rumtof (Rum Pot)?

I discovered this delicious delight through a German thrift store. It’s one I frequent when I am home. I kept seeing large ceramic lidded jars with “Rumtof: inscribed on them in large letters. I flipped it over, and it said “Made in West Germany” on the bottom. So I knew it was old. The pot was about 8 euros. Consequently, I had the idea to use it as a cookie jar. When I brought it home, my mother-in-law spotted it and asked me if I was going to make a rumtopf. Huh? I was far away from making Rumtopf brownies at this point.

Then she explained. Starting in early summer, when fruits come into season, add 2 cups of them to the pot along with one cup each of brown sugar and 54% dark rum. Repeat this every few weeks as other varieties of fruit ripen. For example, start with strawberries, then cherries, and later add apricots and plums. Do this until the pot is full. Store the rumtopf in a cool, dark place. Then by Christmas time, one has a gorgeous pot of fruit-flavored rum and alcohol-soaked fruit. I was hooked.

What to do with Rumtopf? Eat it like a fruit cocktail. Pour it over ice cream or yogurt. Splash some of the liquid into a glass of Prosecco. Add a spoonful of fruit, and you have yourself a gorgeous holiday cocktail. Also, you can divide the Rumtopf into smaller jars, tie them with a decorative ribbon for lovely host/hostess gifts.

Adding the fruit to brownies to make them Christmassy Rumtopf Brownies is a great idea. I am so glad I did. Rumtopf Brownies definitely make for a festive dessert. I used one cup of the fruit, well-strained. Then, adding some of the delicious liquid to the batter upped the flavor.

So, do you like these Rumtopf Brownies? Then also check out some of these other delicious recipes: