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This Easy Homemade Butterbeer is a sweet, creamy, and foamy drink inspired by the magical drink from the Harry Potter books. Chilled cream soda gets topped with a lightly spiced butterscotch cold foam for a sweet, rich, creamy, fizzy drink that’s perfect for Halloween parties and Harry Potter movie nights.

Then, watch the magic happen! Once the cold foam is stirred into the soda, it will fizzy and foam up, creating a magical treat!

a glass of butterbeer with Lego Harry Potter figures around it.

We appreciate your support

Please let me know if you have any questions about this recipe. I read all the comments myself and I try to help as soon as I can. I have readers from all levels of comfort and experience in the kitchen on my site, and I’ve tried to answer some of your questions already in the post. But if I’ve missed anything, please feel free to leave a comment and ask.

two butterbeers on a dark background with striped cloth in the back and Harry Potter figures at the bottom.

How to make

The complete recipe‘s below with full ingredient amounts and instructions. I have tips and tricks in the post for you.

It’s a fairly sweet treat. Start with 1 teaspoon lemon juice and add another teaspoon if you prefer a less-sweet Butterbeer. The additional lemon juice balances the sweetness of the cream soda and butterscotch. The lemon juice may seem like an unusual addition to a sweet drink, but a small amount helps balance the sweetness of the cream soda and butterscotch topping.

on left, a container with a whisk in it making cold foam and on right the completed cold foam.

For the best cold foam, use cold heavy whipping cream. The cold foam should be thick and foamy but still easy to spoon or pour over the soda. Be careful not to over-whip it into stiff whipped cream. If it thickens too much, simply stir in a little milk (even oatmilk) to thin it.

For the best texture and fizz, assemble the Butterbeer just before serving. And serve the Butterbeer immediately.

You could also garnish each glass with a small drizzle of butterscotch topping or a light sprinkle of cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice.

Storage and make ahead

Cold foam: Store tightly covered like in a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. For the best texture, use it within a few days. Give it a quick whisk or froth before using if it has separated.

Assembled Butterbeer: This is best served immediately. Once the soda and foam are combined, the drink will gradually lose carbonation and the foam will soften.

Cream soda: Keep unopened cans or bottles refrigerated until you’re ready to assemble the drinks.

Serving Suggestions

This Butterbeer would be especially good for:

Halloween parties
Harry Potter movie nights
Harry Potter-themed birthday parties
Fall gatherings
Kids’ parties
Halloween sleepovers
Book club or reading-night gatherings
Family movie nights

For a party, make the cold foam ahead of time and keep it refrigerated. Pour the cream soda just before serving so it stays fizzy.

We love Harry Potter around my house, and have several recipes that will be great at your parties! Breadstick Snakes, Cold Curing Apple Cider, Pretzel Rod Wizard Wands, and Puff Pastry Witches Brooms.

a black cat looking at a container with cold foam. — Have I ever mentioned just how much my cat loves whipped cream? Just look at that cute little face looking at it!

Variations

For an adult version, replace the butterscotch topping with 1 ounce butterscotch schnapps and add 1½ ounces gold or spiced rum to each glass along with the cream soda. Note: The boozy version is for adults only.

For a different flavor, you can also try ginger beer instead of cream soda. Ginger beer will give the drink more ginger spice and a sharper, less-sweet flavor. Note that ginger beer can vary considerably in sweetness and intensity, so it will produce a noticeably different drink.

looking down onto a butterbeer with Harry Potter figures around it.

FAQ

What is Butterbeer made of?

This homemade Butterbeer is made with chilled cream soda topped with a creamy butterscotch cold foam and a hint of cinnamon.

Is this recipe alcoholic?

No, the recipe is a non-alcoholic Butterbeer made with cream soda and butterscotch topping. An optional adult version could also be made using butterscotch schnapps and rum.

Can I make Butterbeer ahead of time?

You can make the cold foam ahead of time and refrigerate it until you’re ready to serve. For the best carbonation and texture, wait to pour the cream soda and assemble the Butterbeer until just before serving.

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Looking down on two glasses of butterbeer topped with butterscotch cold foam. — Don’t forget to pin this recipe!

Recipe

square crop of a glass of butterbeer with Lego Harry Potter figures around it.

Easy Homemade Butterbeer (Harry Potter-Inspired)

Debi

Chilled cream soda gets topped with a lightly spiced butterscotch cold foam for a sweet, rich, creamy, fizzy drink. Then, watch the magic happen! Once the cold foam is stirred into the soda, it will fizzy and foam up, creating a magical treat!

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 15

Cook Time 0

Total Time 15

Course Dessert, Drinks

Cuisine American

Servings servings

Calories 281 kcal

Ingredients

For the Butterscotch Cold Foam

½ cup heavy whipping cream
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
Pinch of salt
2 tablespoons butterscotch topping
1 teaspoons fresh lemon juice additional 1 teaspoon lemon juice if you want it less sweet

For the Butterbeer

6 cans or bottles cream soda 12 ounces each, chilled

Instructions

Freeze 6 mugs or pint glasses until icy, at least 15 minutes.
Add the heavy cream, cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice, and salt to a jar or measuring cup. Using a milk frother or the whisk attachment on an immersion blender, mix for 1–2 minutes, or until the cream thickens slightly and becomes foamy. You can also use a blender or whisk by hand.
Add the butterscotch topping and 1 teaspoon lemon juice. Mix again until thick and creamy. Taste and add the remaining 1 teaspoon lemon juice if you prefer a less-sweet drink.
Pour one can of chilled cream soda into each prepared mug. Top each drink with about 2 tablespoons of the butterscotch cold foam. Serve immediately while the soda is cold and fizzy and the foam is fresh.
Watch the magic happen. Stir the cold foam into the creme soda a bit, and it will fizz and foam up.

Notes

Start with 1 teaspoon lemon juice in the whipped topping; add up to 1 teaspoon more for a less sweet sipper.

Don’t over-whip the cream. You want a thick, foamy cold topping rather than stiff whipped cream. Stop mixing once the cream becomes airy and spoonable. If it thickens too much, simply stir in a little milk (even oatmilk) to thin it.

The cold foam topping can be stored in a tightly covered jar like a mason jar in the fridge for up to a week.

For a boozy version, sub out butterscotch topping for 1 ounce butterscotch schnapps and add 1½ ounces gold or spiced rum to each glass with the cream soda.

Nutrition

Calories: 281kcalCarbohydrates: 51gProtein: 1gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.4gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 22mgSodium: 53mgPotassium: 28mgFiber: 0.05gSugar: 51gVitamin A: 292IUVitamin C: 0.5mgCalcium: 33mgIron: 0.2mg

Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations, and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.

Keyword butterbeer, Halloween, Harry Potter

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