If you have been to Universal Studios Harry Potter World, then chances are you have tried butterbeer (Frozen or Hot). This copycat recipe is quick, naturally gluten free, and absolutely delicious. You won’t be able to tell the difference! Make it today!
This is a big one guys, the recipe for butterbeer. This is the big kahuna, if you will. Readers and movie watchers first get a glimpse at butterbeer in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (which is my favorite of the series). It is supposed to be warming and comforting and just have the sweetest flavor. I have figured out how to make this recipe taste just like Universal Studios but the best part is, you can make it from your very own home! Let’s dive in.
Why a copycat butterbeer universal studios recipe?
I have been lucky enough to visit Universal Studios! I went in March of 2019 and as it turns out, March is a great time to visit because they have frozen and warm butterbeer on the menu. My friend I was with preferred the frozen whereas I preferred the hot! This recipe is essentially a copycat universal studios butterbeer recipe. It is as close as you are going to get, and it is so so easy! The recipe is so delicious and I knew I wanted to try to recreate it as soon as I got home!
Cream Soda?
The base of this recipe is cream soda. Sorry if you do not like cream soda, but, I promise, it doesn’t actually taste like cream soda. The best one to use is one that is darker in color (not a light cream soda) and it will be boiled down. This will enrich the flavor and act as the base sweetener of your butterbeer drink!
Warm Butterbeer Recipe vs Frozen Butterbeer Recipe
I love this butterbeer both ways! However, my preference is a warm butterbeer. If you wish to make this warm, then follow the instructions below and drink is right away. You can reheat it by warming it up in the microwave and or in a pot on the stove.
For frozen butterbeer, I would suggest you take the butterbeer you make and toss it in the fridge. You can either blend it with ice and make it frozen that way, or, you can freeze the butterbeer and blend it in a blender until it is sort of a smoothie like consistency. Whichever way you make it, it is absolutely delicious!
Is there beer in butterbeer?
No! There is not actually beer in butterbeer. It is slightly hinted at in the Harry Potter books that there may be alcohol in butterbeer but to make it as available as possible, Universal Studios never added beer or alcohol to the beverage!
What will you need for this copycat butterbeer Universal Studios recipe?
So, after referencing my palate and memory when I visited universal, and doing a ton of research, I have come up with a recipe for butterbeer that I think is as close to Universal’s version as one can possibly get.
You will need the following things:
- 2 tablespoon Butterscotch sauce (now, you can purchase a sauce, or make your own. I made my own and the recipe will follow).
- 3 cups of cream soda (you need to get the nectar colored one, not the clear)
- 2 cups of milk (I used 2%)
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoon butter
- Whipping cream (for the top!)
Recipe for butterscotch sauce:
- 4 tablespoon (½ stick) unsalted butter
- ½ cup dark brown sugar
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
How do you make your recipe for copycat Butterbeer Universal Studios recipe?
If you are making your butterscotch from scratch you will want to do the following:
- Melt your butter, brown sugar, and heavy cream in a pot on medium heat. You want to make sure everything is mixed together well. It will look like a caramel soup in the beginning but the longer it stays on the stove, it will thicken into a beautiful sauce.
- After about 5 minutes, it should be ready. Remove from heat, add your vanilla, and set it aside. Easy peasy.
To make your butterbeer:
- Now, let me preface this by saying that I do not like carbonated drinks (well, my body doesn’t) so what I did was boil the cream soda until the carbonation was gone.
- In a separate pot, take 3 cups of the cream soda, mix it with the two cups of milk, add the ¼ cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons of butter, and your 2 tablespoon of butterscotch and mix together. You do not necessarily want this to boil, so, keep it on a medium heat and get it to the point where it is steaming.
- While this is happening (should you choose to drink it warm) begin to make your whipped cream topping. It is really how much you want to make / use so, I did not put an exact measurement.
- If you are serving it warm, remove it from the stove, put your cream on top, and drink up!
- If you want to try it cold, transfer your mixture to a pitcher and place in the fridge for at least a few hours.
- When you decide to serve it, you can serve it over ice, or, not, that is your call. But you should make some whipped cream to put on top nonetheless.
- Drink up and experience the bliss that is butterbeer!
Looking for other Harry Potter Recipes?
Sorting Hat Cupcakes
Black Lake Brownies
Chocolate Frogs
Felix Felicis
Harry Potter Birthday Cake
Pumpkin Pasties
Mincemeat Pies
“Coconut Ice” Cream
Hagrid’s Rock Cakes
Treacle Tart
Polyjuice Potion
Philosopher’s Stones
Pumpkin Juice
Butterbeer
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon Butterscotch sauce now, you can purchase a sauce, or make your own. I made my own and the recipe will follow.
- 3 cups of cream soda you need to get the nectar colored one, not the clear
- 2 cups of milk I used 2%
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoon butter
- Whipping cream for the top!
Recipe for butterscotch sauce:
- 4 tablespoon ½ stick unsalted butter
- ½ cup dark brown sugar
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
If you are making your butterscotch from scratch you will want to do the following:
- Melt your butter, brown sugar, and heavy cream in a pot on medium heat. You want to make sure everything is mixed together well. It will look like a caramel soup in the beginning but the longer it stays on the stove, it will thicken into a beautiful sauce.
- After about 5 minutes, it should be ready. Remove from heat, add your vanilla, and set it aside. Easy peasy.
To make your butterbeer:
- Now, let me preface this by saying that I do not like carbonated drinks (well, my body doesn't) so what I did was boil the cream soda until the carbonation was gone.
- In a separate pot, take 3 cups of the cream soda, mix it with the two cups of milk, add the ¼ cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons of butter, and your 2 tablespoon of butterscotch and mix together. You do not necessarily want this to boil, so, keep it on a medium heat and get it to the point where it is steaming.
- While this is happening (should you choose to drink it warm) begin to make your whipped cream topping. It is really how much you want to make / use so, I did not put an exact measurement.
- If you are serving it warm, remove it from the stove, put your cream on top, and drink up!
- If you want to try it cold, transfer your mixture to a pitcher and place in the fridge for at least a few hours.
- When you decide to serve it, you can serve it over ice, or, not, that is your call. But you should make some whipped cream to put on top nonetheless.
- Drink up and experience the bliss that is butterbeer!
Nutrition
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Dianna Wilson says
Looks and sounds delicious! can’t wait to try.
siftrva says
Hope you love it!