If you have fallen in love with the delicious Harry Potter Butterbeer Recipe from Universal Studios in Orlando, you are in luck! This drink tastes just like the original beverage that is so loved by adults and kids alike.
Original post: January 2019 | Updated: May 2023
Why This Harry Potter Recipe Works
If you have not made the famed butterbeer recipe yet, you must! It is great for birthday parties (with a Harry Potter theme or not!), desserts and hot summer weekends.
I read through the entire Harry Potter books twice before tasting an actual sip of Butterbeer with my own lips. Reading through the books, I drooled every time the delicious drink was described. Butter beer! what a dreamy sounding drink!
The name sounds slightly naughty like maybe kids shouldn’t indulge. But they can! Because there is nothing but glorious sugar hidden inside. J.K. Rowling knew what she was doing when she conjured up this sugary indulgence from The Three Broomsticks.
My family and I travel to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter nearly every year and we always order a couple cups of the sweet nectar, along with a few chocolate frogs, pumpkin juice and a bag of Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans.
We like to make our own homemade butterbeer recipe that tastes just like the real thing from the famous Harry Potter world. It is the perfect addition to any birthday party, summer gathering or a Harry Potter movie marathon!
Harry Potter Butterbeer Ingredients
Vanilla ice cream – If you stray from vanilla-flavored ice cream, you will alter the taste of the final product. Stick with vanilla if at all possible.
Cream soda – Sparkling water mixed with vanilla syrup can replace cream soda, if needed.
Butterscotch topping – While the butterscotch flavor is an essential part of this drink, caramel topping can be used in a pinch.
Whipped cream – Make your own whipped cream for an even tastier sweet ingredient. Simply beat 1 cup heavy cream with 2 tablespoons powdered sugar and a splash of vanilla extract with an electric mixer!
How To Make Butterbeer
Step 1
Place a few simple ingredients in a blender to make this copycat butterbeer recipe:
- 8 ice cubes
- Half of a 1.75-quart container of vanilla ice cream
- 3 cups of cream soda (24 oz.)
- 6 oz. butterscotch topping (found in the ice cream topping section)
Puree until smooth.
Step 2
Pour into glasses, top with whipped topping and a drizzle of butterscotch syrup and serve this easy recipe immediately!
Is Butterbeer Alcoholic At Universal Studios
The fictitious sweet treat from the Harry Potter movie and books is an actual drink at Universal Orlando in Florida. Is butterbeer alcoholic at Universal Orlando Resort? Read on to get the details about this popular drink, Harry Potter fans!
Alcoholic Butterbeer Recipe
If you would like to create an alcoholic beverage from this yummy drink, simply add 1/2 cup of vodka (regular or vanilla vodka) or rum to the blender after all of the other ingredients have been pureed. Mix and serve!
Optional floater: butterscotch schnapps.
To give the drink a rum flavoring without adding alcohol, add 1 teaspoon of rum extract to the blender along with the remaining ingredients. A little bit of butter extract will go a long way, as well.
Recipe Notes
- A heaping scoop of whipped cream on top can’t hurt! Grab a pint of heavy whipping cream if you plan to make your own.
- Make this delicious dessert as close to serving time as possible.
- Here are some party ideas! This is a great recipe for a Harry Potter birthday party or any gathering where kids will be present. Think Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas or Fourth of July, and they don’t have to be Harry Potter themed! You can also enjoy a mug during your next Harry Potter movie marathon.
- After prepping, throw into the freezer for 30-60 minutes to experience what frozen butterbeer tastes like.
What Is Butterbeer
If you are not a Harry Potter fan, you might be wondering what the fuss is about this drink! Harry Potter’s Butterbeer is a cold, frothy, sweet drink that tastes like a buttery version of cream soda that has been made famous by the Harry Potter series.
When the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened at Universal in Orlando, they created a version of the drink based on the description from the book series.
In the books, Harry and his friends get the privilege of going to a place near their wizarding school called Hogsmeade. In Hogsmeade, their favorite place to grab a treat is called The Three Broomsticks, where they enjoy a cold, delicious Butterbeer every time.
What Is Butterbeer Made Of
The ingredient list to make this yummy drink is a short and easy one! The only ingredients you’ll need to make Butterbeer in your very own kitchen are vanilla ice cream, cream soda, butterscotch sauce and whipped cream as a topping. Easy peasy!
What Does Butterbeer Taste Like
The deliciously amazing thing about this famous drink is that it contains such an array of flavors! As you sip on it, different flavors are picked up.
Here are a few descriptors to best give you an idea about what to expect: flavors of butterscotch, butter, brown sugar, caramel, cream soda and vanilla are all wrapped into a single sip!
Where To Buy Butterbeer
Universal in Orlando is the only place that sells authentic butter beer, but there is a product called butterscotch beer that sounds very similar. I have not tried this version myself, so can’t vouch for it. It sounds delicious, though!
There are a few different kinds of butterbeer recipes to try if you visit Universal’s Harry Potter theme park! Choose between the regular cold version, hot butterbeer, the frozen version and butterbeer ice cream.
Is Butterbeer Gluten Free
Both the version you’ll find at the park and the version in this recipe are indeed gluten free. Great news for people who can’t consume gluten!
Copycat Recipes – Drinks For Kids
Check out some of our other kid-friendly copycat recipes:
Favorite Recipes
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Harry Potter Butterbeer Recipe from Universal Studios
Ingredients
- 8 ice cubes
- 1/2 quart vanilla ice cream
- 24 oz cream soda
- 6 oz butterscotch topping plus extra for drizzling on top
- whipped cream topping for butterbeer
Instructions
- Place the ice cubes, ice cream, cream soda and 6 oz. of butterscotch topping in a blender. Puree until smooth.8 ice cubes, 1/2 quart vanilla ice cream, 24 oz cream soda, 6 oz butterscotch topping
- Pour into glasses, top with whipped cream and a drizzle of butterscotch topping and serve immediately!6 oz butterscotch topping
Notes
- A heaping scoop of whipped cream on top can’t hurt! Grab a pint of heavy whipping cream if you plan to make your own.
- Make this delicious dessert as close to serving time as possible.
- Here are some party ideas! This is a great recipe for a Harry Potter birthday party or any gathering where kids will be present. Think Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas or Fourth of July, and they don’t have to be Harry Potter themed! You can also enjoy a mug during your next Harry Potter movie marathon.
- After prepping, throw into the freezer for 30-60 minutes to experience what frozen butterbeer tastes like.
If you want to add alcohol, try dekypper butterschnapps. It tastes like butterscotch
That sounds delicious! So yummy. Definitely for the adults!
I can’t get any butterscotch syrup – would caramel be a reasonable substitute?
They are similar enough. Butterscotch is made with brown sugar and caramel is with white sugar. I’m sure every sip will be enjoyed!
What is the longest that I can leave the Butterbeer unserved for?
Since it has ice cream and pop in it, it will melt quickly. Try not to prepare it until you are ready to serve for best results.
I thought that these sounded delicious! My daughter is having a Harry Potter party and we are trying to recreate Hogsmeade, so this will be perfect!
What a fun celebration – glad you can make this treat – we’ve had it at many birthday celebrations too! Thank you for commenting!
What size ice cubes were used to develop this recipe? Any idea about total weight or volume of ice? I’m picturing it is about equal to the volume of ice cream, but I know there are a lot of different sizes of ice cubes out there, so I may need to experiment for taste. I’m guessing you don’t want so much ice that you end up with a smoothie or milkshake, is that correct?
I have never measured mine but I used a standard ice cube tray. 🙂 Thanks for asking!
Sooooooooo good I love Butterbeer
As much as I love eating the infinite
Pizza box scp yum 😸
What brand of cream soda would you recommend for this recipe? I’m willing to try this out!
You can use any kind! I have used generic and A&W and both are great! Enjoy because it’s a fun treat!
I gotta try this soon been looking for a simple version for a while now.
It really is so easy and it’s easy to drink one or two!
If I wanted to make this a decently strong alcoholic beverage, what should I add? And how much? I am basically an idiot when it comes to making drinks/ cooking so I have no idea. but thanks!
I believe an ounce of butterscotch schnapps and an ounce of vanilla vodka would replace the ice cream in this recipe and add them to the cream soda – however there are a lot of variations out there. I hope you enjoy it!