Harry Potter Butterbeer Recipe - Curly Girl Kitchen (2024)

;

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

by Heather Smoke Leave a Comment

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Calling all Harry Potter fans for a sweet glass of homemade butterbeer! This festive drink is made with spiced rum, butterscotch schnapps and cream soda, topped with whipped cream and a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg. It’s sweet, warming, and perfect for a Christmas celebration or Harry Potter themed party. Be sure to read through the post for a non-alcoholic version, too!

Looking for more Christmas inspiration? You’ll love this hot chocolate cake with homemade marshmallows, baked gingerbread doughnuts, and no churn chocolate peppermint ice cream.

Harry Potter Butterbeer Recipe - Curly Girl Kitchen (2)

This site contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that I may make a small commission if you purchase a product using those links. This in no way affects my opinion of those products and services. All opinions expressed on this site are my own.

What is Butterbeer?

Butterbeer is a popular drink in the wizarding world of Harry Potter, described in the books as tasting “a little bit like less sickly butterscotch”. It has a slight alcoholic content, and students of Hogwarts would frequently order it when visiting the Three Broomsticks Inn in the town of Hogsmeade. It was served cold in bottles, or hot in foaming tankards.

In the books, butterbeer is made of just butterscotch, sugar and water. Since no one really knows exactly what butterbeer tastes like, there are quite a few variations of the recipe to be found, but most contain a combination of spiced rum, butterscotch schnapps and cream soda. It’s a very sweet drink!

Harry Potter Butterbeer Recipe - Curly Girl Kitchen (3)

See the recipe card at the end of the post for the full ingredients list and instructions.

Ingredients

  • Whipped Cream or Vanilla Ice Cream
  • Dark Spiced Rum
  • Butterscotch Schnapps or Liqueur
  • Cream Soda
  • Nutmeg

TIP: For a non-alcoholic version, replace the rum and butterscotch schnapps with butterscotch syrup or sauce.

Harry Potter Butterbeer Recipe - Curly Girl Kitchen (4)

Instructions

  • Spoon vanilla ice cream or lightly sweetened whipped cream into two glasses.
  • Pour the rum and butterscotch schnapps over the cream.
  • Slowly pour in the cream soda, waiting for the fizz to setting down before adding more.
  • Sprinkle the top with nutmeg and serve.
Harry Potter Butterbeer Recipe - Curly Girl Kitchen (5)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there supposed to be beer in butterbeer?

No, butterbeer doesn’t contain any beer. Sort of like how ginger beer doesn’t contain beer.

Should butterbeer be cloudy or clear?

I’ve made it two ways to show you both options.

  • Filling the glasses with the ice cream or whipped cream first will give you more of a yellow-colored, foamy glass of butter beer that’s a bit more traditional.
  • For a clear drink, combine the rum, butterscotch schnapps and cream soda first, then add whipped cream on top.

How can I make this non-alcoholic?

For a non-alcoholic version, replace the rum and butterscotch schnapps with butterscotch syrup or sauce.

Harry Potter Butterbeer Recipe - Curly Girl Kitchen (6)

You Might Also Like

Please check out my Amazon Shop for a curated collection of some of my favorite cake pans from trusted brands, baking tools, ingredients, pretty things and fashion finds. I recommend products that I buy and use every day!

Did you love today’s recipe? Please rate the recipe and let me know in the comments what you thought! Also, be sure to follow Curly Girl Kitchen on Instagram, and tag me when you try one of my recipes so I can see all your delicious creations!

Harry Potter Butterbeer Recipe - Curly Girl Kitchen (11)

Harry Potter Butterbeer

Heather Smoke

Butterbeer is a sweet, festive drink featured in Harry Potter, made with rum and butterscotch schnapps.

All recipes on Curly Girl Kitchen are developed for high altitude at 5,280 feet. See FAQs for adjusting to higher or lower elevations.

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Course Drinks

Cuisine American, British

Servings2

Ingredients

  • vanilla ice cream or whipped cream
  • 3 oz dark spiced rum
  • 2 oz butterscotch schnapps or liqueur
  • 1 bottle cream soda
  • 1 pinch nutmeg

Instructions

  • Spoon vanilla ice cream or lightly sweetened whipped cream into two glasses.

  • Pour the rum and butterscotch schnapps over the cream.

  • Slowly pour in the cream soda, waiting for the fizz to setting down before adding more.

  • Sprinkle the top with nutmeg and serve.

Notes

  • Filling the glasses with the ice cream or whipped cream first will give you more of a yellow-colored, foamy glass of butterbeer that’s a bit more traditional.
  • For a clear drink (as photographed in today’s post) combine the rum, butterscotch schnapps and cream soda first, then add whipped cream on top.
  • For a non-alcoholic version, replace the rum and butterscotch schnapps with 1 tablespoon of butterscotch syrup or sauce.

Keyword Butter Beer, Christmas, Harry Potter

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

https://curlygirlkitchen.com/

Previous Post: « High Altitude Hot Chocolate Cake with Homemade Marshmallows

Next Post: Easy High Altitude White Sandwich Bread »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply

Footer

Harry Potter Butterbeer Recipe - Curly Girl Kitchen (12)I'm Heather, and welcome to Curly Girl Kitchen, where you will find high-altitude tested recipes for beautifully photographed cakes and sweets. I believe that the kitchen is the heart of a home, and everyone is welcome in mine. So stay a while, sip a cup of coffee, and bake something sweet with me!

  • Email

Privacy Policy

About

FAQs

Work With Me

Contact

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkNoPrivacy Policy

Harry Potter Butterbeer Recipe - Curly Girl Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

Harry Potter Butterbeer Recipe - Curly Girl Kitchen? ›

The version sold at The Wizarding World was tasted and approved by Rowling herself. Visitors to the park see a large wooden barrel that bears the word "BUTTERBEER" as soon as they enter, and they can buy it from a street cart and inside The Three Broomsticks restaurant and Hog's Head pub.

Did J.K. Rowling approve Butterbeer? ›

The version sold at The Wizarding World was tasted and approved by Rowling herself. Visitors to the park see a large wooden barrel that bears the word "BUTTERBEER" as soon as they enter, and they can buy it from a street cart and inside The Three Broomsticks restaurant and Hog's Head pub.

What is Harry Potter's Butterbeer made of? ›

A simple brown sugar and butter syrup gets topped with cream soda and a dollop of cream in this wildly popular drink. Next time you are having a Harry Potter movie marathon, book club meeting, or even a Halloween party, pull out all the stops with this sweet drink that even Harry, Ron, and Hermione would approve of.

What is Butterbeer foam made of? ›

Regular Butterbeer

Start with the creamy foam. Combine heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, a pinch of salt, and 1 tbsp of butterscotch in a mixing bowl. Whisk the cream until the mixture starts to thicken.

Is Butterbeer in Harry Potter meant to be alcoholic? ›

Known ingredients. Butterbeer was a popular wizarding beverage described as tasting "a little bit like less-sickly butterscotch". It was served at numerous locations in the wizarding world and had a very slight alcoholic content.

Was Hermione drunk after Butterbeer? ›

↑ In the film version of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, however, Hermione Granger appears to act slightly tipsy after a visit to the Three Broomsticks Inn where she was shown drinking some; this can be seen just before the discovery of Katie Bell.

Where do Harry Ron and Hermione drink Butterbeer? ›

The Story Behind The Books, The Movies And What You Can Get At The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter. Harry, Ron and Hermione visit the Three Broomsticks for some Butterbeer. . If you're a fan of J.K. Rowling's magical world, chances are you've heard of Butterbeer.

Is Butterbeer better hot or cold? ›

If this is your first Butterbeer, I'd recommend the cold version. As a Harry Potter fan, this drink comes the closest to how I imagined it. It can be served in a regular cup or a souvenir tankard.

What is Butterbeer from Harry Potter supposed to taste like? ›

Just as Rowling imagined, there's more flavor here than sugar, or at least that's how it drinks — essentially, you're getting a butterscotch cream soda with a float of something like toasted marshmallow crème; there's no escaping the inevitable foam mustache, and while you can try, you'll never outdrink the head.

What percentage of alcohol is in Butterbeer? ›

Butterbeer in the Harry Potter series implies a low alcohol content, as seen through subtle hints and the reactions of characters like Hermione and Winky. At Universal Studios, Butterbeer is non-alcoholic to create an inclusive experience for fans of all ages, prioritizing accessibility and family-friendliness.

What are the three types of Butterbeer? ›

The Three Broomsticks (in Hogsmeade) and The Leaky Cauldron (in Diagon Alley): Cold Butterbeer. Frozen Butterbeer. Hot Butterbeer.

What is in Butterbeer at Disney? ›

Butterbeer: Take a really rich cream soda, top it with creamy foam that tastes something like a Werther's candy. Comes in both frozen and soda consistencies. There's no doubt it's sweet. You might get a Butterbeer moustache from the foam.

What is Disney Butterbeer? ›

It's not actual beer, but a dessert drink similar to a milkshake. The Butterbeer you get at Universal Orlando is a very sweet cream soda and butterscotch tasting drink. It comes in a frozen version or regular topped with a tasty sweet foam.

Why can kids drink Butterbeer in Harry Potter? ›

Butterbeer had a slight alcoholic content and although was safe for children to drink, it could affect creatures (such as house-elves) if consumed in to high a quantity. Harry enjoyed his first Butterbeer in Hogsmeade.

What does real Butterbeer taste like? ›

It really depends. If you're drinking the butter beer from the Tudor era, it likely tastes like a creamy, foamy, warm, spiced, ale. If you're drinking the butter beer from Harry Potter, it's probably closer to a lightly alcoholic cream soda with a hint of butter scotch.

What was the legal drinking age in the wizarding world? ›

Alcohol was regulated in magical society by the Department of Intoxicating Substances and licenced by the Licensing Wizengamot of Great Britain. Beverages with heavy alcohol were usually restricted to wizards that were "of age", that was, seventeen or older.

What is Butterbeer according to J.K. Rowling? ›

J.K. Rowling did not base butterbeer on a real drink (although there were historical drinks called buttered beer or ale), she simply made it up for the books. When Rowling was asked by Bon Appétit magazine in 2002 what it tastes like, she said: “I made it up. I imagine it to taste a bit like less sickly butterscotch.

Does J.K. Rowling make money from Butterbeer? ›

Royalty Payments

Every time you purchase a Butterbeer, licensed product, on-ride photograph, or even a bottle of Gillywater from one of the Wizarding World lands at a Universal Park around the world, a percentage of that sale will go directly to the rights holders (Warner Bros. and J.K. Rowling).

Was Butterbeer alcoholic in the books? ›

Butterbeer had a slight alcoholic content and although was safe for children to drink, it could affect creatures (such as house-elves) if consumed in to high a quantity. Harry enjoyed his first Butterbeer in Hogsmeade.

Who made butterbeer in Harry Potter? ›

Turns out, it was muggles. It's a beverage that both muggles and wizards enjoyed historically, but it fell out of favor with mugglefolk, whereas the wizards kept it around.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Greg O'Connell

Last Updated:

Views: 6665

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (62 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Greg O'Connell

Birthday: 1992-01-10

Address: Suite 517 2436 Jefferey Pass, Shanitaside, UT 27519

Phone: +2614651609714

Job: Education Developer

Hobby: Cooking, Gambling, Pottery, Shooting, Baseball, Singing, Snowboarding

Introduction: My name is Greg O'Connell, I am a delightful, colorful, talented, kind, lively, modern, tender person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.