Butterbeer

Name: Butterbeer
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 24 ounces cream soda (two 12 ounce cans or bottles); 3 Tablespoons butterscotch syrup (divided); 1 teaspoon butter extract (optional); 1 cup whipped cream

This fictitious, magical butterbeer recipe from Harry Potter is brought to life with a quick mix of cream soda, butterscotch syrup, and butter extract.

Why this recipe works

What is butterbeer you ask? It’s an iconic butterscotch-flavored beverage from the Harry Potter book series. You can catch the students sipping on them when visiting the Hog’s Head Pub and The Three Broomsticks. In the real world, you can find them at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios that’s available in not only the regular chilled version, but also in frozen, hot, and ice cream variations.

This butterbeer recipe is alcohol-free and kid-friendly. It’s creamy, fizzy, and topped with whipped cream and an additional drizzle of butterscotch syrup to tie it all together. If you’re looking for a similar-tasting drink for adults, you’ll love our butterscotch milkshake cocktail.

Butterscotch syrup being drizzled over Butterbeer

Ingredients you will need

Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.

Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions

INGREDIENTS – It’s a simple mixture of cream soda, butterscotch syrup (such as ice cream topping), and butter extract. The butter extract is optional but definitely helps drive home the Butterbeer flavor.

TOPPING – You can take the quicker route and purchase a bottle of spray whipped cream, or even use Cool Whip dolloped on top, but if you want to make it a little more special you can easily whip 1/2 cup of heavy whipping cream with 1 tsp of powdered sugar with a mixer until stiff peaks form.

How to Make Butterbeer

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.

To each of the 2 large glass mugs (16 ounces), add 12 ounces of cream soda, 1 tablespoon butterscotch syrup, and 1/2 teaspoon butter extract, and stir until combined.

EXPERT TIP – Don’t over-stir or you’ll lose all the carbonation in the cream soda.
Top each with 1/2 cup of whipped cream, and then drizzle 1/2 tablespoon butterscotch syrup on each.
Serve immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips

Does butterbeer have alcohol?

This butterbeer recipe is alcohol-free, along with most other recipes unless otherwise stated. Though you can easily add a splash of rum for a boozy twist!

Can I make it frozen?

Definitely. To make frozen butterbeer, I would suggest pouring 1/3 – 1/2 of the cream soda called for into ice cube trays and freezing it until solid. Place the remaining cream soda, butterscotch syrup, butter extract, and the cream soda ice cubes into a blender and blitz until incorporated. To make it creamier, add a small scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Two glasses of Butterbeer topped with whipped cream and butterscotch syrup

Serving Suggestions

Before serving butterbeer, we like to freeze the mugs for 20 minutes so the drinks are nice and chilled. Don’t forget the whipped cream and extra drizzle of butterscotch syrup before you cozy up on the couch for a Harry Potter marathon.

More Fun Drink Recipes

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Butterbeer

Skip the long lines at Universal for an easy 4-ingredient butterbeer recipe that requires no cooking, no complicated steps, just a creamy delicious butterscotch drink made in only 5 minutes.

5 from 2 votes

IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!

Print It Rate It Save It

Course: Beverages

Cuisine: American, British

Servings: drinks

Calories: 321

Author: Amanda Davis

Ingredients

▢ 24 ounces cream soda two 12 ounce cans or bottles
▢ 3 Tablespoons butterscotch syrup divided
▢ 1 teaspoon butter extract optional
▢ 1 cup whipped cream

Things You’ll Need

▢
2 large glass mugs 16 – 22 ounces

Before You Begin

To keep your drinks colder longer, freeze the mugs for 20 minutes before you want to make your Butterbeer.
The butter extract is optional, but really drives home the Butterbeer flavor!
You can take the quicker route and purchase a bottle of spray whipped cream, or even use Cool Whip dolloped on top, but if you want to make it a little more special you can easily whip 1/2 cup of heavy whipping cream with 1 tsp of powdered sugar with a mixer until stiff peaks form.

Instructions

To each of 2 large glass mugs, add 12 ounces of cream soda, 1 tablespoon butterscotch syrup, and 1/2 teaspoon butter extract, and stir until combined.
TIP – Don’t over-stir or you’ll lose all the carbonation in the cream soda.
Top each with 1/2 cup of whipped cream, and then drizzle 1/2 tablespoon butterscotch syrup on each.
Serve immediately.

Nutrition

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Lindsay Formaro

Assistant Editor at Amanda's Creative Studio, Inc.

Lindsay is the full time Assistant Editor and staff photographer for Amanda's Cookin'. When she's not working to help bring great recipes to you, she's riding her motorcycle, driving her souped up car, and cooking at home with family.