Top RumChata Drinks

RumChata is a popular cinnamon-spiced cream liqueur that’s perfect for coffee drinks, dessert cocktails, and sweet shots! Here are my favorite RumChata drinks from coffee cocktails to the viral Cinnamon Toast Crunch shot.

Rumchata Coffee

You may have seen it’s signature gold cap and glossy white bottle, emblazoned with the words “Horchata Con Ron.” Yes, it’s RumChata! This rum-based cream liqueur has blown up in popularity, and I’ll admit it: at first I was skeptical. (Another sugary liqueur competing with Baileys?)

After trying a splash in my coffee, I did see the appeal of the cinnamon-spiced finish to each sip. While it’s extremely sweet (and definitely not for people who like spirit-forward drinks), there’s a time and place it. Here are my top RumChata drinks and cocktails for using this creamy liqueur!

Note: If you’re not a fan of sweet cocktails and dessert drinks, skip these in favor of something more balanced and boozy (like these 40 best cocktail recipes).

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Shot

The most popular RumChata drink is the famous Cinnamon Toast Crunch shot! The sugary cereal is recreated as a cocktail using RumChata and Fireball whisky. It tastes creamy and sugary sweet, full of spicy cinnamon flavor.

Ingredients: RumChata, Fireball whisky

RumChata Coffee

One of the best uses for a bottle RumChata, in my opinion, is RumChata Coffee! The cinnamon and vanilla notes blend perfectly into a cup of joe, with a dark Caribbean rum hint on the finish. Make this boozy coffee anytime you’d crave an Irish Coffee: it’s ideal as an afternoon pick-me-up or tasty dessert drink.

Ingredients: RumChata, coffee

RumChata White Russian

If you’re a lover of sweet and creamy drinks, you'll love the Rumchata White Russian! This spin on the classic drink is an ideal use for the cinnamon and cream liqueur, pairing it with coffee liqueur and vodka. It’s intensely sweet, so plan on nursing this slow sipper all evening.

Ingredients: Vodka, Kahlua, RumChata

RumChata Chocolate Martini

This RumChata chocolate martini recipe is the perfect cocktail for a chocoholic. The drink is rich and creamy, basically a dessert in a glass. It stars RumChata and creme de cacao for maximum flavor, like the liquid version of your favorite cinnamon-spiced chocolate bar. 

Ingredients: RumChata, Creme de Cacao, vodka

RumChata Mudslide

The RumChata Mudslide is creamy, spiced, and delicious! Shake up this tasty liqueur with Kahlua and serve it up in a cocktail glass with a chocolate syrup rim. Substitute equal parts RumChata for the Irish cream in the linked recipe.

Ingredients: Vodka, Kahlua, RumChata, heavy cream

RumChata Espresso Martini

Here’s the coffee cocktail for you: the Espresso Martini! Each sip is a burst of flavor, pairing bitter coffee with sweet vanilla, creamy chocolate and the cinnamon finish of RumChata. It’s the ideal RumChata drink for coffee addicts.

Ingredients: Coffee, Kahlua, RumChata, vodka

What Makes RumChata Special

RumChata is a cream liqueur with Caribbean rum, cream, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla. Released in 2009, it’s similar to Baileys Irish Cream, but Baileys is made in Ireland with Irish whiskey. RumChata was inspired by the Mexican and Spanish drink horchata, a creamy drink made with soaked rice or almonds and cinnamon that resembles milk.

Despite its name and the Spanish on its bottle, RumChata has no roots in Hispanic culture. It’s made in Pewaukee, Wisconsin and was invented by a guy named Tom Maas, who spent his career developing alcohol brands. (Cultural appropriation? Maybe.)

Maas originally tried marketing RumChata to Mexican restaurants, but they weren’t interested. It wasn’t until people started comparing the flavor to Cinnamon Toast Crunch that it caught on. Maas encouraged bartenders to give away single servings of the cereal with a shot, and later the liqueur was combined with Fireball whiskey to create the Cinnamon Toast Crunch shot.

Is It Really Horchata with Rum?

No. The RumChata bottle proudly states “Horchata con Ron” (“Horchata with Rum” in Spanish), but it does not in fact contain horchata. Horchata is a Mexican and Spanish drink made with soaked rice or almonds: it’s creamy without using dairy products. But RumChata is made with dairy cream.

How can RumChata claim to contain horchata when it really doesn’t? I’m not sure. (Can I complain somewhere?)

What does RumChata Taste Like?

RumChata tastes very sweet, with a creamy body. It has vanilla, cinnamon, and dark rum notes on the finish. It tastes similar to Baileys Irish Cream with a cinnamon finish. In fact, it’s often compared to the milk left in the bowl after eating the cereal Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

How much alcohol is in RumChata? It is 13.75% ABV (alcohol by volume), which is similar to other cream liqueurs.

Are there any substitutes? Ricura Horchata Cream Liqueur appears to be a product with a closer flavor to Horchata.

Is it worth buying? Compared to other liquors, RumChata is moderately expensive: a 750 ml bottle costs about $20. If you love sweet drinks, you’ll enjoy RumChata. If you prefer more balanced drinks like I do, skip buying this bottle.

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Top Rumchata Drinks

Rumchata Coffee
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RumChata is a popular cinnamon-spiced cream liqueur that’s perfect for coffee drinks, dessert cocktails, and sweet shots! Here are my favorite RumChata drinks from coffee cocktails to the viral Cinnamon Toast Crunch shot.

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 1 drink
  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Stirred
  • Cuisine: Cocktails
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

For the Cinnamon Toast Crunch Shot

  • 1 ounce Fireball whisky
  • 1 ounce RumChata
  • For the rim: 4 teaspoon granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon

For the RumChata Coffee

  • 6 ounces (¾ cup) hot coffee
  • 1 ½ ounces (3 tablespoons) RumChata
  • Sweetened whipped cream, whipped to soft peaks

For the RumChata White Russian: 

  • 2 ounces vodka
  • ½ ounce Kahlua (or other coffee liqueur)
  • 1 ounce RumChata (or reduce for a less sweet drink; see Notes)
  • Ice, for serving (try clear ice)

Instructions

  1. For the Cinnamon Toast Crunch Shot: Place the cinnamon and sugar on a plate. Run your finger around the edge of a shot glass (or a small glass if serving as a cocktail). Dip the edge of the rim into a plate of cinnamon and sugar. Stir the Fireball and RumChata together the glass. If desired, you can serve over ice as a cocktail.
  2. For the RumChata Coffee: Make the coffee, using your favorite method (Pourover, French Press, Aeropress, or Moka Pot). Make the homemade whipped cream, making sure to whip to soft peaks. Add the coffee to a glass or Irish coffee mug, then stir in the RumChata. Gently float the whipped cream on top using the back of a spoon.
  3. For the RumChata White Russian:  Add the vodka and Kahlua to a low ball glass. Fill it with ice. Top with the Rumchata. Stir until cold (or stir just a bit to get the swirl effect).

Notes

To convert to tablespoons, 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons. 

This level of RumChata makes a pretty sweet drink. If you’re worried about sweetness level, cut down the RumChata (the Kahlua is already reduced vs a classic White Russian).

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Sonja Overhiser
December 09, 2025 at 12:05PM

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