I’m so excited about this butterbeer recipe! It is easy to  make with only 4 ingredients.  The first time my family saw the characters of Harry Potter enjoying this tasty drink we knew we had to have it. Off to Universal Studios we went! While I enjoy heading over to Universal Studios for some butterbeer with my family, not everyone is able to do the same. The good news is we have a delicious recipe you can enjoy at home and it is just as delicious!

Two mugs of butterbeer topped with whipping cream along with a stack of three Harry Potter books.
Butterbeer is easy to make with only four ingredients and ten minutes of time.

Delicious Butterbeer Recipe For Everyone

We are hosting a Harry Potter themed birthday party this year, and you better believe I am serving up some kid-safe, non alcoholic butterbeer, though we left some special notes for adults who want a more grown up version of this delicious drink.

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People of all ages love this tasty drink because it’s super sweet! The best part is, we don’t have to travel to the Three Broomsticks to enjoy this homemade butterbeer recipe! 

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What Is Butterbeer?

If you’re not familiar with the Harry Potter books or films, you might be wondering, What is butterbeer? Is it really beer? Does it contain alcohol?

Butterbeer is a (sort of) fictional beverage that the Harry Potter book characters drink when they visit “The Three Broomsticks” and “Hog’s Head Pub.” (Think cream soda meets butterscotch flavor with a whipped topping.)

Butterbeer keg at Disney
The long line for Butterbeer can be avoided by making it at home!

Butterbeer At Universal Studios

One of our favorite things to do as a family is to head to Universal Studios and check out the Harry Potter Theme Park.

When we’re there, we always try this frothy and yummy drink! Trust me: It’s delicious! It really is the perfect drink after riding rides and walking around.

According to a Universal spokesman, up to 50% of all the people that come through The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, try a Butterbeer before they leave!

If you don’t have plans to visit Universal Studios anytime soon and you’re curious about butterbeer, you can make this delicious beverage at home with just a few ingredients.

Although there are several butterbeer recipes floating around the web, the butterbeer recipe below comes from Muggle.net, and is based on the taste of the Butterbeer approved by JK Rowling at Universal’s Harry Potter theme Park.

It’s almost a copycat recipe with a few tweaks here and there, but this famed butterbeer is still delicious with a wizarding world feel.

Harry Potter Butterbeer Recipe

You need butter and butterscotch and cream soda to make Harry Potter butterbeer.
You just need a few ingredients to make butterbeer!

What is ButterBeer Made Of?

You’ll need just three ingredients to make Harry Potter butterbeer, and a fourth ingredient — heavy cream — to create the sweet topping. This popular wizarding drink is served cold, frozen, and sometimes hot (only in the winter time) at Universal Studios.

Ingredients Needed

What is butterbeer made of in Harry Potter?

No one is exactly sure what is inside the Harry Potter butterbeer vaguely described in the books, but it is assumed it was a non-alcoholic version of buttered beer.

What is butterbeer foam made of?

There are several different versions of butterbeer you can make that may have other ingredients creating the foam. In our recipe, the whipped cream makes a lovely butterbeer foam on top.

Pouring half a cup of butterscotch syrup into a bowl.
This recipe is easy to make with only four ingredients.

How to Make Butterbeer

Step 1

Let your butter sit out until it is softened.

Step 2

Then pour the butterscotch syrup into a bowl. Butterscotch is what gives the butterbeer its main flavor.

A pat of butter sitting in a bowl with butterscotch syrup.
Yep, you guessed it! Butterbeer does indeed have butter in it.

Step 3

Add the softened butter. Some recipes call for butter extract, but we like the creamy goodness of the real thing.

Step 4

Then combine the syrup and butter.

Pouring cream soda into the mixture of butterscotch syrup and butter.
Cream soda gives it more flavor and adds bubbles!

Step 5

Pour cream soda into the mixture and stir.

Step 6

Set aside.

A bowl of heavy cream that has been whipped using a hand mixer.
While the whipped heavy cream is optional, it gives the drink a nice frothy top layer.

Step 7

In a separate mixing bowl, whip heavy whipping cream until it forms stiff peaks. It will take a hot minute by hand, but will go faster with a stand mixer. Don’t over whip or you’ll end up with fresh butter.

Step 8

Pour the cream soda and butterscotch mixture into two clear mugs, and top with a dollop or two of whipped cream.

Two clear mugs of butterbeer topped with whipping cream along with a stack of three Harry Potter books.
Two perfect glasses of butterbeer, yum!

Notes from Our Experience Making Butterbeer at Home

Alcoholic Butter Beer for Adults

I did say this diy butterbeer was for adults too, and while this is fine as is, you could make this an adult drink (for ages 21+) and add butterscotch schnapps to your butterbeer or some vanilla vodka.

It’s a fun adult spin on the drink that still leaves the sweet fun. You’ll only want to add a little bit or else it may change the flavor. 

Make the Butterbeer Sweeter

If you want a sweeter whipped cream you can also add a couple tablespoons of powdered sugar and pure vanilla extract to the heavy whipped cream mixture.

How this Butterbeer Recipe Compares with Universal Studios

  • After having both the butterbeer in Universal and trying this butterbeer recipe, it tastes just like the real thing. This simple recipe will make you the most popular drink in the Harry Potter world that I think (almost) all Harry Potter fans will love.
  • This really is the best butterbeer recipe I have come across.
  • If butterbeer isn’t your thing, give this Pumpkin Juice a try. It tastes a lot like apple cider. Yum!
  • These two sweet Potterhead drinks, butterbeer and pumpkin juice, would be fun to make for a Harry Potter viewing party .
Yield: 2 mugs

Harry Potter Butter Beer Recipe

Two mugs of butterbeer topped with whipping cream along with a stack of three Harry Potter books.

A creamy, buttery, butterscotchy drink made famous by the Harry Potter books.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (8 oz) cream soda
  • ½ cup (4 oz) butterscotch syrup (ice cream topping)
  • ½ tablespoon butter
  • Heavy cream (optional)

Instructions

1. Pour the butterscotch syrup into a bowl.

2. Add the softened butter. Combine the syrup and butter.

3. Pour cream soda into the mixture and stir. Set aside.

4. In a separate mixing bowl, whip heavy cream until
it forms stiff peaks.

5. Pour the cream soda and butterscotch mixture into
clear mugs.

6. Top the butterbeer with a few dollops of whipped cream and enjoy!

MORE HARRY POTTER FUN FROM KIDS ACTIVITIES BLOG?

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What’s your favorite way to celebrate a Harry Potter themed party? How did your homemade butterbeer recipe turn out?



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43 Comments

  1. This didn’t turn out well for me either. The butter and butterscotch sauce solidified once I tried mixing the cold cream soda with it.

  2. My kids have been begging to try butterbeer since reading about it in Harry Potter. They’ll be happy to know I found this recipe so we can finally make some!

  3. We just rewatched all the movies with our kids as a family. I wish we had this butterbeer recipe then!! It would have been so fun to serve during the movies! Oh well, I guess that means we need to watch them again. LOL

  4. This butterbeer recipe makes such a fun follow up activity to reading the Harry Potter books and watching the movies!