Harry Potter Nights: Butter Beer Recipe (Two Ways!)

Note: 2020 Edits with 3rd recipe coming – just sorting out a few bugs.

Super easy butter beer

(2019 Edits added below!)
Potterheads- I know you’re out there…’cause when I posted about my schweet HP satchel from the UK on instastories, you all wanted in on that! And I love that. But its also no surprise, because WHO doesn’t love Potter, right? Well, this one is just for you…

So, long time readers would know how big we go on all holidays, and just how much of a nut I am about Halloween, and all about our Annual Halloween Bash we host. You’d also know I’ve been wanting to throw a Harry Potter themed since 2015, but each year something has come up. This year, a little surpise pregnancy has definitely thrown a spanner in those plans. But what I’ve discovered since last year’s Potter night (see here), is that whilst it may not be this massive bash with props, frills and spills I had envisioned, it was still very well received.

We spent a lot time last year trying to get the Butter beer recipe just right for our shenanigans. The girls even tried using their wands that we made earlier, trying to magically get it just right. And I think we eventually did.

So much so, that this year, we have not one, BUT TWO recipes to share with you! And I promise they are both super easy!
Butter recipe no1.:

What you will need:
-1 litre ice cream (2019: I’ve found that the ICE-CREAM should be optional actually, and the cream compulsory.)
-1 litre crème soda
– whipped cream (optional) (2019: The cream is a MUST OVER the icecream! It just flavour better with the butterscotch syrup/flavour, mixes better with it to and create a better looking froth than the icecream)
– 60ml (1/4 cup) Butter scotch Syrup (or use butterscotch flavouring drops and follow the instructions on the product. I got mine from the Baking supplies store. I used Flavour Nation brand.) 2019: I FINALLY found butterscotch syrup. Checkers stocks a great make that goes for R29, and tastes light, and works beautifully in butterbeer!

Method:

1. Blend all except the ice-cream/whipped cream (2019: Meaning, gently stir in the syrup or flavouring into the cream soda, to maintain as much gas in it as possible)
2. Mix the ice-cream with butterscotch extra flavouring/syrup until it’s nice and smooth/ 2019: Whip the cream until stiff, then add extra syrup or flavouring until mixed in.
3. Pour the cream soda mix into glasses, then top with the ice-cream/cream – eventually it’ll froth ontop
4. Top with extra butterscotch and whipped cream (optional) and more butterscotch or other syrup if you wanna go crazy.

Boom. You’re done!

Now, Tips:

1. Butterscotch syrup is actually very popular and goes out of stock very quickly. So last year, I used the American Fudge flavour and it also worked nicely – although you wont get the signature butterscotch flavour everyone goes on about. ) 2019: Checkers stocks it!
2. Butter beer is supposed to be more brownish, orangish right? For that whole beer looking effect. But, alas, South Africa is the only place Cream Soda comes in green! So t get it more beerish, simply add a dot of brown food colouring, or if you’re in a pinch for colour choices, a dot or two of red food colouring till you get the right shade of brown you’re looking for.
3. Or you could just pop in at Makro and grab a few Franky’s brand of cream soda and colour it straight with brown food colouring, with a touch of orange to get it really looking beer-esque, and bob’s your uncle.
4. Or you can check out recipe no 2 over here:

And now for our favourite version so far of this recipe:
Butter recipe no2.:

What you will need:

– Iron Brew (this really made it great. We loved this version the most!
– Cream soda
– Whipping cream ( I use the ready whipped one with a nozzle) or ice-cream/ 2019: Using fresh cream that you then whip up, works FAR better than the nozzled cream. And in fact, I recommend using the cream over the icecream in general. We used cream this year, and it was just so much better!
– Butterscotch syrup or flavouring. 2019: Checkers stocks a yummy butterscotch syrup!

Method

1. Pour a quarter glass of Iron Brew (NOT ginger beer – that is not as tasty. Blegh!),
2. Then top up till almost the top with cream soda. (Vary your iron brew levels to make it stronger or weaker according to your preferences.)
3. Stir in your butterscotch flavouring (or stir in your dessert spoon of syrup).2019: i recommend the syrup!
4. Next whip up the cream and flavour with the butterscotch syrup or flavoring drops.
5. Finally top up with that whipped cream/ice-cream and butterscotch flavouring.

Now, go clink your glasses, fix your Potter spectacles, curl up onto the couch and enjoy a Harry potter movie fest!
Bottoms up!

To view our 2018’s potter night see here.
Or 2017’s Potter night, when we FIRST introduced the girls to Potter, which was very very low key as I had a newborn little Yuriko-Mae on my boob still, see here.
2019’s Potter night which was so fun, is coming soon to the blog!