How to Make Butterbeer!

Ever since we returned from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando, my boys have been dreaming about Butterbeer! We tried a regular and a frozen Butterbeer in the park and they have determined it was the best beverage ever!

As soon as we got home my oldest son located the recipe online and they have been begging me to make it ever since...so we did! This recipe tasted just like the Butterbeer in the park and would be a fun addition to a Harry Potter birthday party. We found this recipe on the Winona Daily News website.

Authentic Harry Potter Butterbeer Recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup light or dark brown sugar

2 tablespoons water

6 tablespoon butter

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cider vinegar

3/4 cup heavy cream, divided

1/2 teaspoon rum extract

Four 12-ounce bottles cream soda (I used cold cream soda)

Directions:

In a small saucepan over medium, combine the brown sugar and water. Bring to a gentle boil and cook, stirring often, until the mixture reads 240 degrees on a candy thermometer.

Stir in the butter, salt, vinegar and 1/4 heavy cream.

Set aside to cool to room temperature.

Once the mixture has cooled, stir in the rum extract.

In a medium bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of the brown sugar mixture and the remaining 1/2 cup of heavy cream. Use an electric mixer to beat until just thickened, but not completely whipped, about 2 to 3 minutes.



To serve, divide the brown sugar mixture between 4 tall glasses (about 1/4 cup for each glass). Add 1/4 cup of cream soda to each glass, then stir to combine.



Fill each glass nearly to the top with additional cream soda, then spoon the whipped topping over each.

Drink a toast to your favorite wizard!



We tried the Butterbeer like this and also put some (minus the whipped cream) into the blender with ice to make a frozen version like they have at the park. After it was blended, we topped it with the whipped cream. The kids preferred the frozen version and I preferred the straight version.



Aside from being delicious, something about the combo of cream soda and whipped cream causes the drink to be super foamy and the whipped cream seems to grow as you drink it...like magic!

**Now, we made this recipe as-is - for us the process was as fun as the result. However, if you are not interested in making this an activity, just mix ready made caramel sauce with the rum extract and add it to the cream soda.

**We made many small drinks for friends rather than 4 large drinks with this recipe since this is a very rich drink. Just remember the 1:1 ratio of caramel to cream soda then stir then top off with more cream soda and whipped cream. We easily had enough for 8 drinks.