How to Make Butterbeer

Last Updated: January 23, 2023 Tested

Have you always wished you could swing by the Three Broomsticks for a refreshing glass of butterbeer? You may not get to have a round with Harry, Ron, and Hermione, but you can certainly make this brew in your own kitchen. Read on for four different butterbeer recipes - frozen, hot, or fancy.

Ingredients

Frozen Butterbeer

1 pint vanilla ice cream (softened)
1/2 stick butter (softened)
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 quart apple cider
1 teaspoon of vanilla

Hot Butterbeer

1 cup cream soda
1/2 cup butterscotch syrup
1/2 tablespoon butter
Whipped cream

Fancy Butterbeer

1 cup light or dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons water
6 tablespoons butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup heavy cream, divided
4 shots of rum
4 12-ounce bottles cream soda

Cold Butter Beer For Children

1/2 stick butter
2 teaspoons of cinnamon
2 teaspoons of white sugar
1 pint vanilla ice cream, softened
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 quart apple cider
1 cup cream soda
whipped cream
caramel

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Making Frozen Butterbeer

1
Mix the cream, butter, sugar and spices together.
2
Beat in the vanilla ice cream until the combination is thoroughly mixed.

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3
Re-freeze the mixture. Place it in the freezer until it's firm.
4
Scoop out the frozen mixture into a glass.
5
Pour hot Apple cider over the ice cream mixture.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Making Hot Butterbeer

1
Melt the butter in a saucepan.
2
Mix in the butterscotch.
3
Pour the mixture into a large bowl.
4
Carefully add the club soda.
5
Ladle the butterbeer into serving glasses.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Making Fancy Butterbeer

1
Boil the sugar and water. Place a saucepan over medium heat. Add the sugar and water and bring them to a boil. Stir the mixture until the temperature reaches 240 degrees. Check the temperature frequently with a candy thermometer.^{[1]
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2
Stir in the butter, salt, and 1/4 cup of cream.
3
Set the mixture aside to cool.
4
Stir in the rum once the mixture has cooled.
5
Beat 2 tablespoons of the cooled mixture with the remaining cream. Transfer the remaining cream to a mixing bowl. Measure out 2 tablespoons of the cooled mixture, and add it to the cream. Beat together until the cream is fluffy and whipped.
6
Pour equal parts of the caramel butter mixture into four glasses.
7
Top the glasses off with cream soda and stir.
8
Add whipped cream.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Making Cold Butter Beer For Children

1
Stir butter with cinnamon, white sugar, and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl.
2
Blend that mixture with vanilla ice cream, apple cider, and cream soda in a blender.
3
Pour into glasses and top with whipped cream and caramel. This will make a tasty treat of 6 servings.

Community Q&A

Question

Do I have to add alcohol?

Community Answer

No, use the non-alcoholic versions if you don't want alcohol to be included. As for the fancy version above, it contains rum. You don't have to add alcohol, but the rum in this one definitely adds key flavor to the drink. You could substitute the rum with rum extract, which has very minimal alcohol, but if you want to go non-alcoholic, you can use Perrier mineral water, rum syrup, or coca-cola with a little molasses mixed in.
Question

Do I have to add apple cider?

Community Answer

No, but it will adjust the taste a bit if you do not add it.
Question

Isn't butterbeer served hot in the books?

Community Answer

It has been served both hot and cold in various places throughout the Harry Potter story.