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Our recipe for Harry Potter Butterbeer tastes just like the drink they sell at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios. A no-cook method that is SO easy!
Harry Potter Butterbeer
We took a trip to Universal Studios and we fell in LOVE with this tasty drink. I knew I had to recreate it once I got home. It turns out it is so easy to make! I will definitely be whipping up a batch for my next Harry Potter movie marathon. You can make this recipe two ways. If you are going for super authentic, you can add caramel and butter extracts to the cream soda. This really adds that extra butter-y flavor and makes it taste exactly like the real thing.
Ingredients in Butterbeer
Making homemade Butterbeer is quick and easy with just a few ingredients!
- Cream Soda
- Caramel Extract
- Butter Extract
- Heavy Whipping Cream
- Butterscotch Topping
- Powdered Sugar
TIP: If you are looking for a simplified recipe, you can just use plain cream soda. It’s not quite as authentic, but still tastes SUPER yummy and you don’t have to spend the extra money on extracts.
How to Make Butterbeer
Follow these simple steps to create this delicious, creamy drink inspired by the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
- Prepare the Butterscotch Topping:
- Use a stand mixer or a mixing bowl and a hand mixer to whip the cream until it forms stiff peaks.
- Blend in the powdered sugar and butterscotch topping until well combined.
- Mix the Butterbeer Base:
- Empty the two-liters of cream soda into a pitcher. Stir in the butter and caramel extracts.
- Pour the Butterbeer into glasses, leaving room at the top for the whipped topping.
- Top and Serve:
- Spoon or pipe the butterscotch whipped topping over the Butterbeer.
- Serve immediately and enjoy this magical treat!
Where can I find Butterbeer at Universal Studios?
Butterbeer can easily be found inside of Universal Studios. As you enter The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, there is a bright red Butterbeer cart where you can purchase Butterbeer and Frozen Butterbeer. It is also on the menu at The Three Broomsticks, of course!
A very blurry photo of us at Universal Studios Hollywood drinking our Butterbeer. The cream on top is the best part!
Frequently Asked Questions about Butterbeer
For best results, prepare the topping on the same day you plan to serve it. Making it a few hours in advance is fine if you keep it refrigerated.
I use A&W Cream Soda, which has a caramel color. If your cream soda is clear, the appearance will be different, but it won’t necessarily affect the taste.
If butterscotch syrup isn’t available locally, consider purchasing it online through retailers like Amazon.
Yes! You can use a dairy-free whipped topping. It’s pretty easy to find a coconut or almond-based alternative.
Harry Potter Butterbeer Copycat Recipe
Video
Equipment
- Hand Mixer
- Butterbeer Mugs (the BEST glasses for serving)
- Piping Bags (we like these ones!)
Ingredients
- 2 liters cream soda, chilled
- ¼ teaspoon caramel extract
- ¼ teaspoon butter extract
Butterscotch Cream Topping
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup butterscotch topping
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- In a large pitcher, mix the cream soda with the caramel and butter extracts. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to whip heavy cream until it forms stiff peaks.
- Add butterscotch topping and powdered sugar. Mix to combine.
- Pour the soda mixture into clear cups or mugs. Pipe butterscotch cream topping over the butterbeer.
- Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition Information
More Delicious Drink Recipes
We love this Harry Potter Butterbeer! Here are a few more of our favorite drink recipes:
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I love this app and the simple steps to make a delicious drink from everybody’s favorite,Harry Potter.
no instructions on how to do it
The instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of the post!
This turned out AMAZING! I didn’t want the topping too sweet so I eliminated the sugar and I couldn’t find butter extract so I replaced that with a little bit of the butter scotch and some butter flavoured table syrup I found. It tasted so damn good!
I have a question about the whipped topping. when you add the powdered sugar and caramel topping, are you whipping it? or folding it in? cant wait to try this for my grands…my Gdaughter is going to Halloween as Hermoine Granger!!!!
You whip it in so that the sugar dissolves!
What is the best brand of cream soda to use? I’ve noticed there is a big flavor difference between brands especially in New York .
We usually use A&W or IBC!
Any suggestions if i cant get the watkin’s brand quick enough? I dragged my feet and now can’t get it here in time.
In a pinch, you can just use the cream soda and the whipped topping!
hey I am wanting to use this recipe but I was wondering what the closest swap would be for the caramel extract. could I use caramel syrup instead. like torani syrup?
Yes that would work!
Torani is mild and sweet. Extract is concentrated flavor and no sweetness. I would use the syrup myself as a sub.
Our cream soda is bright pink, do you know if it tastes the same as the gold cream soda?
I’ve never seen pink cream soda, so I can’t say for sure!
Do you fold in the butterscotch and powdered sugar or beat it in?
We beat the powdered sugar and butterscotch in!
What is the best brand of cream soda to use? I’ve noticed there is a big flavor difference between brands especially in the USA.
We love the A&W brand!
Your recipe says a 2-liter of crème soda but your affiliate link is for 4 (12?)oz bottles. Is the proportion you mention of the two extracts the proper amount for 48oz or for 2 liters?
The recipe is for 2 liters of cream soda. Sometimes the Amazon products change depending on what is in stock.
Any recommendations for the butterscotch topping? Are talking more like coffee syrup or sundae topping? Movie marathon and a mock Great Hall feast for Halloween this year. Want to make sure to get this one right!
It is the ice cream topping! Sounds like fun!
How did Halloween party turnout you just can’t leave us wondering 😉😂
I´m in the party comittee for this years christmas party at my work and we have planned a Harry Potter theme. It would be so funny to start with a butterbeer and I think your recipe is the right one to try.
I live in Denmark so it’s difficult to find cream soda in a shop, but luckily it’s possible to buy it online. I’ve read that you prefer the cream soda from A&W.
It seems to me that A&W is a little lighter in colour, than the one from Dr.Pepper, which make the A&W more equal to the “real” one I tasted in Leavesden Studios in London
As it is a little easier to find Dr.Pepper online, I would like to hear if you have any experience with that one? E.g, does the darker colour make a noticeable difference of the final result (colour or taste)?
I will prefer to mix the cream soda with caramel and butter extract at home, but I’m afraid that it’ll goes flat if I mix it to early.
How early in advance do you think I can mix it and still be sure that it is carbonated, when serving?
Hi! A Harry Potter themed Christmas party sounds so fun! For the cream soda, are you referring to the Dr Pepper & Cream Soda drink? Or is there a Dr Pepper brand cream soda? I haven’t seen that in the US so I wasn’t sure. As far as the timing, the carbonation will flatten pretty quickly, so I would actually wait as long as possible to pour and mix it.
I´m referring to the Dr.Pepper & Cream Soda drink. Have you tried that one?
To be sure it won’t flatten I think I’ll just wait mixing it on my work. But I guess it’s not a problem to mix the cream topping in advance?
Dr. Pepper itself has a very distinctive flavor that would certainly effect the taste and color the final product, even with the mixture of cream soda in it.
I have tried that drink and it is delicious, but I am not sure how well it would work for this particular recipe. Let us know how it goes if you try it that way! And yes, you can make the cream topping beforehand!
I was just in Universal a couple weeks ago and tried the actual butterbeer. My only regret at the time was we got rained out later in the day so I couldn’t get a second glass. So I took to the internet to figure out how to make it at home.
This recipe is very good. Probably 90% similar to the universal version. Maybe the other 10% is just actually being in Universal. That being said, highly recommend trying this if you want to get as close to the actual taste of real butterbeer as possible.
The only changes I made: I added a big dollop of marshmallow fluff to the whipped cream and reduced the amount of butterscotch topping by maybe 1/3rd. I think it would have been a bit too much butterscotch flavor otherwise, and my result tasted identical to the Universal version. The only issue I had was that the whipped cream was slightly too thick, which was the case prior to adding the fluff. I’ll try mixing in some cream without whipping it to thin it out a little. But once it mixes with the soda a little, it thins out as well. Not a huge deal either way.
The whip cream was amazing! But the cream soda tasted like medicine 🥴 not as expected. Maybe it’s like the one in the amusement park but in the books it seems more buttery and warm, like eggnog. Oh well!
My family loved this! Tastes just like the Butterbeer at Universal Studios!!
IF YOU MEAN THE KID FRIENDLY BUTTER BEER THEN YES !!!!!!!!!!!I HAVENT TRIED IT YET BUT I AM GONNA HAVE IT FOR MY B DAY( I HAD A HARRY POTTER THEMED PARTY LAST YEAR AND I AM GONNA HAVE THE SAME THING THIS YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I AM 8 YEARS OLD
Happy Birthday Carrie! I hope you have a fabulous party with lots of delicious Butterbeer!
This recipe is amazing! I took half of the cream soda and froze in an ice tray and then added the rest when I put the cubes into my blender!!! AMMMMAZING!!!! We were lucky enough to have tried Butterbeer at Universal while traveling for work and I was hooked!! So thankful I found this recipe!!
I’m so glad you love it as much as we do!
I did the conversion for those that don’t want to make 2 liters of it all at once. If you just want to do an individual can of cream soda, just add 5 drops of each (butter and carmel extract). I will usually split a can with my daughter. I still do the normal recipe for the whipped topping. It stores great in the fridge for a few days and goes great on top of waffles.
Thank you so much, Jay! I will add your comment to our post in the recipe notes.
Your last name is Black just like Sirius! I absolutely LOVE that!
I can’t find caramel extract anywhere. What should I use instead?
It is sometimes hard to find. I’ve found it on Amazon before, but I think it’s seasonal at many grocery stores. You can substitute butterscotch extract or double the butter extract. Thanks for asking!
Hi thats brilliant
I haven’t tried to make it yet but it taste good at universal worth the price `10/10
yeah agree