Rum raisins.....

[Nanzi]

I've tried soaking raisins in rum a couple of times and they didn't even soften. How long do you need to soak them to make them soft and flavorful? I was hesitant(read chicken!) to put heat to them.

[lilgi]

As Ljs said they should be heated gently with water. You can try adding a little rum after they plump and light with a torch, swirling until the flame goes out and let them cool before using.

[LJS]

To get raisins to plump back up, you have to heat them or have them soak in boiling water. If it is only the flavour of the rum you want to add, then I would boil up a 1/2 cup and add the raisins for a 20-minute soak. If you want the "punch" of rum added to the raisins, you could try warming the rum gently, but not boiling, and adding the raisins for a day-long soak.