No need to head to Universal Studios—discover why huge Harry Potter fans are obsessed with our Best Butterbeer recipe! With thousands of 5-star reviews across our site, Pinterest, and Facebook, this easy homemade butterbeer recipe tastes just like the original tasty treat in frozen form, only better!
Our Harry Potter Butterbeer recipe converts a hot Harry Potter butterbeer recipe into a frozen blended delicious treat. With its cold, fizzy milkshake base and thick and creamy foamy topping, a warm butterbeer may be perfect for a cold winter day, but this frozen version may be my favorite!
If you’ve ever visited Universal Studios Orlando theme park and are familiar with the Harry Potter World, then you’re well aware of the most famous drink in all the books and movies – Harry Potter Butterbeer! Contrary to its name, this delicious cold treat is completely alcohol-free, although it can easily be spiked for adults.
Perfect for a Halloween party or Harry Potter movie marathon, this butter beer recipe will wow your guests!
What is Butterbeer
Butterbeer is a well-known beverage mentioned throughout the Harry Potter book series. It is a delicious drink served to the students of Hogwarts in the town of Hogsmeade at the pub, The Three Broomsticks Inn. When the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened at Universal Orlando, it became an immediate sensation!
Adult Butterbeer Recipe
Our easy Alcoholic Butterbeer Cocktail recipe may be unfit for the underage Harry Potter fan, but for the over 21 crowd, it turns the bona fide beverage into a creamy, sweet treat with a kick!
This tasty drink has the same buttery flavor as the classic butter beer found at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. With the addition of some vanilla vodka (or try some butterscotch schnapps, too), this boozy butter beer cocktail recipe is even better because each sip is spiked!
Harry Potter Butterbeer Ingredients
- Vanilla ice cream: Boosts the vanilla flavor even further! Splurge and use the full-fat version!!
- Cream soda: Serves as the base of the frozen beverage and provides a sweet, vanilla-like flavor that mimics the classic butterbeer taste.
- Imitation butter extract: Adds a rich, buttery, and caramel-like taste, reinforcing the butter flavor of butterbeer.
- Rum extract: If you don’t have rum extract, you can use vanilla. You can also substitute a brown liquor like an actual dark rum (don’t worry, you only use a tiny bit). Just swap it for the same amount as in the recipe.
- Butterscotch syrup or butterscotch ice cream topping: The butterscotch flavor makes the drink sweeter and richer and adds a thicker, more indulgent texture. Feel free to drizzle some homemade salted caramel sauce on top instead.
- Salt
- Whipped topping: Heavy whipping cream adds a rich, velvety texture to the top of the drink, creating a creamy layer that mimics the frothy head of traditional butterbeer. This topping enhances the drink’s mouthfeel, making it more indulgent and dessert-like. Feel free to try our homemade whipped cream recipe!
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make The Best Harry Potter Butterbeer
- Create The Cubes: Pour one can of cream soda into ice cube trays and place in the freezer for at least 4 hours.
- Blend Into A Beverage: Blend the frozen soda cubes with ice cream, butter extract, rum extract, cream soda, butterscotch topping, and salt until smooth.
- Serve: Pour the mixture into frosted mugs and garnish with a dollop of whipped cream and a drizzle of butterscotch topping or some caramel syrup. Start sipping and enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
There are tons of copycat Butterbeer recipes trending on TikTok right now, but none are as easy as this one! Grab your straw and get ready to sip the best frozen butterbeer for your next Harry Potter themed party, Harry Potter movie night, or simply to enjoy with family and friends!
Travel Tips
Planning a trip to Universal Orlando? Then be sure to check out my Tips for Visiting Universal Orlando and Tips for Visiting Universal Orlando During the Holidays! You won’t want to go without reading these first!
Proper Storage
- To Store: This frozen Butterbeer beverage should be consumed right away.
Frequently Asked Questions
In J.K. Rollings Harry Potter books, it is said that butterbeer contains the slightest bit of alcohol, but we decided to make it without any alcohol so the kids could enjoy it!
If you have read or watched any of the Harry Potter books or movies, you will know that butterbeer has a sweet butterscotch taste with a frothy topping but doesn’t actually contain or taste like beer. It is a sweet treat more like a milkshake.
You can find butterbeer in the following locations at Universal Studios Florida:
The Three Broomsticks (in Hogsmeade
The Leaky Cauldron (in Diagon Alley)
The Hog’s Head Pub (Hogsmeade)
The Fountain of Fair Fortune (Diagon Alley)
The Hopping Pot (Diagon Alley)
Street carts (Hogsmeade)
More Harry Potter Recipes
- Polyjuice Potion
- Butterbeer Jell-O Shots
- Harry Potter Butterbeer Ice Cream
- Harry Potter Butterbeer Fudge
If you tried this Butterbeer Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!!!
The Best Harry Potter Butterbeer
Video
Ingredients
- 2 cups vanilla ice cream splurge and use the full fat version!!
- 2 cups cream soda ice cubes see below on how to make them
- 2 teaspoons imitation butter extract
- 1 teaspoon rum extract
- 4 tablespoons butterscotch topping
- 1 cup cream soda
- 1 pinch of salt
- Whipped cream
Instructions
- Pour one can of cream soda into ice cube trays and freeze at least 4 hours
- Once the cream soda is frozen, measure 2 cups of cream soda ice cubes and place in blender
- Add in ice cream, imitation butter extract, rum extract, 1 cup of cream soda, butterscotch topping, salt and blend until smooth
- Pour into your favorite frosted mug
- Add whipped cream and drizzle with butterscotch topping
Jenn’s Notes
Nutrition Info
Originally posted December 1, 2014
Any good ideas for a cream soda in India ?
The recipe is lovely and I just can’t wait to try it out !
Is cream soda the same as ice cream soda?
No, use A&W cream soda.
Cream soda is a sweet carbonated soft drink, often flavored with vanilla.
Ice cream soda is starts with approximately 1 oz of chocolate syrup, then several scoops of chocolate ice cream in a tall glass. Unflavored carbonated water is added until the glass is filled and the resulting foam rises above the top of the glass
If I’m making butterbeers for 4 kiddos and at least one parent, should I double this? I’m not seeing a “Serves #” anywhere…. THANK YOU!!!
Hi Michelle – I would for sure double it.
Is the butterscotch topping going into new the blender or is it just for drizzling on top? Sounds so yummy I want to get I think right
BOTH! Add it to the mix and drizzle at the end!!
Would love the hot version!!! Please post. This sounds just like it only served warm. But I’m having fond memories due to our recent visit only days ago for the first time! Need. Butter. Beer. Now!:)
Thanks for doing all that research!
OMG…every time I stumble onto something amazing on Pinterest; it was pinned by you. This looks amazing I will most definitely be making this in the summer.
You are so sweet – glad you are liking the things I am pinning!!
Sounds delish, but can you please tell me what imitation butter extract is and where I might be able to find it? I’ve never heard of it. Thanks!
Hi Bev – It is similar to imitation vanilla extract – it just replicates the taste. You can get it by the spices – here is a link to see a picture or to purchase on Amazon – http://rstyle.me/n/vyd4wq5te
When you say “butterscotch topping”, what do you mean?
I believe its the butterscotch syrup you would put on a sundae (instead of caramel or fudge syrup). It should be sold next to ice cream toppings, schmuckers brand makes one; in the supermarket.
Would so love to make this but unfortunately we don’t have cream soda in Australia
Schwepps ‘traditional creamy soda’, Kirk’s Sno-Drop, Woodroofe’s Sno-Top, Golden Circle, etc — there’s a lot of them! Anything with a nice robust ‘butter vanilla’ flavor to it would work good.
I’m Australian (born & bred, 35 years!!) & have been enjoying cream soda since I was a little kid??? Schweppes traditional cream soda would work best in this recipe (the brown cans) because of it’s rich vanilla taste.
Yes we do it’s called creaming soda we also have ice cream soda 😉
What are you talking about? Kirks makes creaming soda in australia. Its stocked in all coles and woolworths.
Wow! This was a great find.Thank you! I’m already hitting the breaks on the wheels that are turning out of control on a warm version.lol after ask it’s a lil chilli out. I dint know how your fairing in this direction I think simply washing the cream soda and using whole milk or your fav substitute with added vanilla flavoring…hum not thought they after all the wheels started out if control lol will think on it how to see your warm version asap! God bless & have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS~
Do you have a recipe for a not frozen butter beer?