Rum Raisin Butter Recipe

Raisin Butter is a nostalgic appetizer in Japan during the 1970s and 1980s. It’s a simple mixture of butter and raisins shaped into a log, which is then cut into thin rounds. The raisins add sweetness and a chewy texture to the butter, creating a flavorful and slightly fruity appetizer. The slices of raisin butter were enjoyed either by itself or with crackers, often paired with alcoholic drinks, particularly whisky and brandy. Placing sliced portions of raisin butter on top of crushed ice used to be the popular style, and it was often served almost exclusively for adults due to its strong association with alcoholic drinks.

Raisin butter can still be found at almost any supermarket in Japan, although it is a little less popular today because of health concerns. Nevertheless, it remains an easy and tasty appetizer to make at home. It won’t be harmful if consumed in moderation and not too frequently. We strongly recommend not to eat the whole log by yourself in one sitting. Leave some for the rest of us.

We gave our raisin butter a little twist by adding some rum flavor to the regular raisin butter. The flavor and aroma from the rum make it more special and worthy to be a holiday snack and appetizer to serve to guests. The butter used for it can be salted or unsalted, but we prefer the salted one because we think it tastes better. After all, we are eating “butter” here, so it’s not too useful to worry about a small amount of sodium at this point. Instead, enjoy this totally retro and obscure snack from 1970s Japan.

Serve Rum Raisin Butter with your favorite crackers and simple cookies. The slices can be topped or sandwiched by them. Raisin butter can also be used on bread, toast, muffins, or as a topping for pancakes and waffles. We hope you try it this holiday season!