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Bring the magic of the wizarding world to your home with a glass of this delectable homemade butter beer! With creamy, butterscotch flavor and whipped cream topping, everyone in your family will be wanting a refill.
Homemade drinks are a great way to add a little pizzazz to meals with your family! I have a few more recipes on the blog inspired by some of my favorite drinks. You’ll have to add this copycat Starbucks pink drink, Chick-fil-A lemonade, and mint julep to the lineup! They’re all so refreshing and delicious!
Reasons You’ll LOVE This Recipe
- Easy: This delicious drink is packed with flavor but you can make it iwith only 4 ingredients!
- Variations: You can make the drink version OR the frozen version! Instructions for both are in this post!
- Perfect for holidays: I love making this around Halloween because it’s a great change-up for the classic homemade root beer (although that’s delicious too)!
Homemade Butter Beer Recipe
Calling all Harry Potter fans! This drink is for you! My family just got back from Universal Studios and one of the highlights of the trip was trying some tasty butterbeer. It tastes as magical as it seems in the Harry Potter movies! We got some from the Three Broomsticks tavern. It’s frothy, creamy, and wonderfully buttery with hints of caramel and butterscotch. As soon as we got back I knew I had to try to recreate it!
This homemade butterbeer tastes just as good (if not better!) than what we got from Universal Studios, and it only takes 4 simple ingredients to make! It’s the perfect addition to any Harry Potter themed birthday party or when you’re just craving something sweet and refreshing! (Although if you’re looking for an adults-only version made with alcohol, I have some extra tips below.)
What is Butterbeer?
In the Harry Potter books, it’s a butterscotch-flavored drink that the students would enjoy when visiting Hogsmeade. Butter beer is recreated using cream soda, butter syrup, butterscotch, and cream. Although the Harry Potter series made it popular, butterbeer actually originates from England and was a drink made with black beer in the 1500s!
Ingredients You’ll Need
With how simple the ingredients are to make yourself some butterbeer, you’ll want it all the time! Ever since we got back from Universal Studios, my kids have been begging for me to make it on the daily. With how tasty it is, I don’t blame them! I know your family will love it just as much.
- Cream Soda: You can use canned or bottled cream soda, but bottled is my fave because it tends to have richer flavor.
- Butterscotch Syrup: Gives this drink its signature nutty, sweet flavor. You can also use caramel syrup if you’d like! Both are so tasty.
- Butter Extract: It wouldn’t be butter beer without the butter! I used Watkins butter extract. It’s so yummy!
- Whipped Cream: Add some on top for a little extra decadence! I recommend whipping up homemade whipped cream using heavy whipping cream for the best flavor possible.
How to Make Butter Beer
This homemade butter beer is so easy to make and will transport you to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter after one sip! It only takes a couple minutes to mix together. This recipe is kid-friendly, but you can easily add your favorite alcohol to make a boozy version for Harry Potter themed parties! It’s so fun to serve!
- Cream Soda: Pour chilled butter beer into large mugs or glasses. Make sure the cream soda is nice and chilled before making the butter beer!
- Butterscotch Syrup: Add 1 tablespoon of butterscotch syrup into each glass.
- Butter Extract: Add 1 teaspoon of butter extract into each glass. Feel free to use more if you like a lot of butter flavor!
- Mix: Whisk together the ingredients in the glasses until fully mixed.
Make it Frozen
For a version of butterbeer that’s perfect for warmer weather, try it frozen! It’s super easy to make. Simply add your cream soda, syrups, and ice cubes to a blender and blend until smooth. Top it off with some whipped cream and you have a cool, refreshing treat ready to enjoy!
Adding Alcohol
If you’re wanting to make your butter beer with alcohol, here’s how to do it! Feel free to add a splash of vanilla vodka, butterscotch schnapps, bourbon, or even mix it with black beer like Guinness for a more traditional take on the drink.
Can I Make Butter Beer Ahead of Time?
Butter beer is best enjoyed immediately after you make it. It can be stored for an hour or two in the fridge if you’re wanting to make it ahead, but the cream soda may get flat the longer it sits.
More Tasty Homemade Drinks
If you loved this butter beer, I know you’ll love these other homemade drinks! They’re so easy to make but will have the whole family hooked. For more delicious beverages that will complement your meals perfectly, find my full list of recipes here.
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Butter Beer
Ingredients
- 2 cans or bottled cream soda (bottled is my fave)
- 2 tablespoons butterscotch syrup, more for drizzle
- 2 teaspoons butter extract
- 1 cup whipped cream
Instructions
- Pour chilled butter beer into large mugs or glasses. Make sure the cream soda is nice and chilled before making the butter beer!
- Add 1 tablespoon of butterscotch syrup into each glass.
- Add 1 teaspoon of butter extract into each glass. Feel free to use more if you like a lot of butter flavor!
- Whisk together the ingredients in the glasses until fully mixed.
- Top with whipped cream, and drizzle more butterscotch on top if desired!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Hi Alyssa. Question?? I’m making the butter beer for thanksgiving. I’ll like to know which alcohol beverage is best to add.
Hi Virginia, thank you for your question. This will be so fun to serve for Thanksgiving! If you’re wanting to make your butter beer with alcohol, feel free to add a splash of vanilla vodka, butterscotch schnapps, bourbon, or even mix it with black beer like Guinness for a more traditional take on the drink. I hope this helps.
This sounds so yummy!
What did you drizzle over the top of the whipped cream in the butter beer picture?
I just drizzled more of the butterscotch syrup on top of the whipped cream. I hope this helps!
Is there a subsitution for cream for(rootbeer) in buttrr beer?
Hi Vonnie, thanks for your question. I want to make sure I understand what you are asking. Are you asking if there is substitute for the whipped cream? You do not have to top the drink with whipping cream, that is optional. Or are you asking if you can use something besides cream soda for the base of the drink? You typed root beer, which is different than cream soda. But you could use root beer if that is something you prefer. It won’t taste the same, but would work. Let me know if I answered your question!
Thank you for providing a reference to the actual, historic Butter Beere (aka Hot Buttered Beere) that was served in ale houses of Tudor England! This rich hot drink from the 1500’s, made with ale, spices, sugar, egg yolks and butter, is delicious in its own right, although I understand why it needed to be changed before marketing the Harry Potter drink to children!