Calling all Harry Potter fans for a sweet glass of homemade butterbeer! This festive drink is made with spiced rum, butterscotch schnapps and cream soda, topped with whipped cream and a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg. It’s sweet, warming, and perfect for a Christmas celebration or Harry Potter themed party. Be sure to read through the post for a non-alcoholic version, too!

Looking for more Christmas inspiration? You’ll love this hot chocolate cake with homemade marshmallows, baked gingerbread doughnuts, and no churn chocolate peppermint ice cream.

A glass of butter beer topped with whipped cream, with lights twinkling in the background.

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What is Butterbeer?

Butterbeer is a popular drink in the wizarding world of Harry Potter, described in the books as tasting “a little bit like less sickly butterscotch”. It has a slight alcoholic content, and students of Hogwarts would frequently order it when visiting the Three Broomsticks Inn in the town of Hogsmeade. It was served cold in bottles, or hot in foaming tankards.

In the books, butterbeer is made of just butterscotch, sugar and water. Since no one really knows exactly what butterbeer tastes like, there are quite a few variations of the recipe to be found, but most contain a combination of spiced rum, butterscotch schnapps and cream soda. It’s a very sweet drink!

Butter beer being poured into a foaming glass in a dark and moody scene.

See the recipe card at the end of the post for the full ingredients list and instructions.

Ingredients

Whipped Cream or Vanilla Ice Cream
Dark Spiced Rum
Butterscotch Schnapps or Liqueur
Cream Soda
Nutmeg

TIP: For a non-alcoholic version, replace the rum and butterscotch schnapps with butterscotch syrup or sauce.

A moody scene with a glass of butter beer next to Harry Potter glasses on a silver tray.

Instructions

Spoon vanilla ice cream or lightly sweetened whipped cream into two glasses.
Pour the rum and butterscotch schnapps over the cream.
Slowly pour in the cream soda, waiting for the fizz to setting down before adding more.
Sprinkle the top with nutmeg and serve.

A dark and moody scene with a glass of butter beer, candles, and a silver tea pot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there supposed to be beer in butterbeer?

No, butterbeer doesn’t contain any beer. Sort of like how ginger beer doesn’t contain beer.

Should butterbeer be cloudy or clear?

I’ve made it two ways to show you both options.

Filling the glasses with the ice cream or whipped cream first will give you more of a yellow-colored, foamy glass of butter beer that’s a bit more traditional.
For a clear drink, combine the rum, butterscotch schnapps and cream soda first, then add whipped cream on top.

How can I make this non-alcoholic?

For a non-alcoholic version, replace the rum and butterscotch schnapps with butterscotch syrup or sauce.

Homemade hot chocolate mix in a vintage measuring cup. — Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

A hot chocolate cake for Christmas with chocolate cake, vanilla bean buttercream and homemade marshmallows. — Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

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