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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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Hi there! I want to make this for just two people. What’s the recipe for that? I’m dying to make this but it’s only for me and my husband.
Hi Karin, for just two people you can use two cans of cream soda – one for each of you. Pick a quality cream soda like A&W or IBC. Pour the drinks into a pitcher and add 1/8 of a teaspoon of butter OR caramel flavoring, not both. You can also eliminate the butter and caramel flavorings altogether. They will be overpowering for that small of a serving size. For the butterscotch cream topping use 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream, 2 Tbsp butterscotch topping, and 1 Tbsp powdered sugar. Enjoy your butterbeer!
amazing! loved it
This was delicious. Our Publix didn’t have the caramel or butter extract, so we just left that out. I just left the topping separate since we weren’t going to drink it all at once. The next evening, I used the leftovers and added caramel vodka. Quite a treat! Would definitely make it again.
This is very very nice, thanks for a great recipe.
This turned out amazing, thank you for sharing this recipe!
5 stars it was perfect
Hello! I can’t get the butter extract but my store has X-tra Touch artificial butter flavoring. Not ideal, but I don’t want to lose the buttery taste – any idea if this would work ?
I haven’t seen that brand before, so I am not 100% sure, but it sounds like it would work! I would try it in a small amount first and taste test it.
Butter flavoring is going to be a completely different, oil based product. Probably not something you want to mix with soda.
Thank you, I like your style.
So this works pretty well for the cold version, but we wanted the hot one and I think we will have to keep experimenting to get the hot recipe – that’s my absolute favourite version of butterbeer. Thank you for this though, I appreciate the work you did for this 🤍
Is it only 1/4 tsp per 2L? Or per bottle of soda?
It is 1/4 teaspoon per 2 L of soda. The extracts are very strong!
It it better to use real butter extract (like McCormick), or imitation butter extract? Or if it doesn’t matter too much?
It isn’t a deal breaker, but we do love using the real stuff!
Hello, I was just wondering if there’s a way to make it hot, like in the books. Thanks, this looks like a great recipe!
We haven’t served it hot, but let us know how it turns out if you try it!
If I don’t have butter extract, can I use actual butter? And if so, how much should butter would equal 1/4 tsp extract?
You can use 1/8 tsp of butter instead of butter extract.
Why is this recipe different from your recipe for frozen butterbeer?
They make them a little differently at Harry Potter World so we wanted recipes that reflected that.
How would you make this into the frozen butter beer?
We have a recipe for the frozen butterbeer! https://www.favfamilyrecipes.com/frozen-butterbeer-harry-potter/
Did you use the jar of butterscotch or the syrup in the squeeze bottle. Washington seems to hate butterscotch.
We’ve used both! It is usually easier to find the squeeze bottle.
Needed a little adjustment but came out great.
Can I make the whipped topping a day ahead of serving it? Will the consistency stay the same?
Yes it should stay good til the next day!
perfect recipe, my friends tried it. I thought it was perfectly delineated in the recipe, but I just didn’t like it. I love Rum but I would never get a “hot buttered rum”. I’m juat not that interested in butter flavoured things. My friends thought it was brilliant though.
Thanks for this recipe.
My hatband and I just went to Universal and could not get how great the butterbeer was. This recipe tasted exactly like it! I took another comment suggestion and added 5 drops of the caramel and butter extract to a single can of cream soda since I didn’t want to make a huge batch. I then made half of the amount of topping which left me with some leftovers.