Instructions: You need a Rumtopf crock with lid to make this properly. If you cant find one of the authentic versions, you can use a small lidded crock with a volume of 2-3 gallons. Or, depending on the quantity you want to make or the variety of fruits you add, you can use a crock as large as you want.

Fruits such as strawberries, cherries, peaches, plums, blackberries, boysenberries, raspberries, and pineapple are best to use. Apples dont work too well in rumtopf.

In a medium sized bowl, put 1 lb strawberries, and cover with 2 cups of sugar. let sit until all sugar is liquefied and a syrup is formed. You can use the strawberries whole, or sliced in half, or in bite sized pieces if you have very large strawberries. I prefer strawberries that are about the size of the first joint of my thumb and cut in half. Place the strawberries in a Rumtopf crock with lid, and add enough rum to cover. Use an inverted saucer which fits the crock to hold the strawberries under the rum. Cover the crock with an elastic plastic cover and place the lid on top. Let stand until the next fruit comes into season.

When in season, place one pound of cherries in a medium sized bowl and cover with 1 cup of sugar. Let sit until sugar liquefies. Cherries can be pitted and sliced in half, pitted and left whole, or just left as without the stem. You can make up a batch of each version and add each to the crock, adding more rum as needed to cover. Remember to use the inverted saucer to hold the fruit under the rum and cover the crock as before. Peel and slice the peaches before placing 1 pound in a medium sized bowl and covering with 1 cup of sugar. Repeat the procedures for the strawberries and cherries add the peaches to the mixture. Continue to add rum as necessary to cover the fruit. As they come in season add the plums (pitted and sliced) and whole blackberries, following the same procedures for the previous fruit. I find that frozen whole blackberries work fine since fresh blackberries are rather hard to come by where I now live at reasonable cost and quality.

By this time you should have traveled through the year to August or September. Now to finish it all, I buy a fresh pineapple at my local supermarket and peel, core, and slice it and cut up into bite-sized chunks. Place a pound of it into a medium sized bowl and cover with 1 cup of sugar, and let sit until the sugar liquefies. Add to the crock and add all the remaining rum. Cover with the inverted saucer, elastic plastic cover and crock lid and let sit until November or December......then ENJOY for as long as it lasts.

Rumtopf is great over ice cream, pound cake, and just by itself. It also adds a new touch when a spoonful of Rumtopf is placed in a glass of white wine. Use your imagination....

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