Recipe

Butterbeer

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by James Ransom

Photo 2 of 2
by arielleclementine

This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Punch

This recipe was entered in the contest for A & M's Annual Smackdown / Your Best Hot Toddy
jvcooks's Testing Notes: More hot toddy than punch, this sweet concoction is inspired by Harry Potter's wizardry and will surely be enjoyed by both kids and adults. A sweet and buttery syrup combines with apple cider...
More hot toddy than punch, this sweet concoction is inspired by Harry Potter's wizardry and will surely be enjoyed by both kids and adults. A sweet and buttery syrup combines with apple cider and vanilla to create a velvety, warm cider base. The ginger ale adds a little pep and the unsweetened whipped cream balances out the 'almost' too sweet butterbeer. Do try the adult version, add a dash of rum to cut the sweetness.

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Chef
arielleclementine's Notes: Butterbeer (yes! from the magical world of harry potter!) is meant to taste "a little bit like less-sickly butterscotch." This version is nonalcoholic, so kids can have it too, but for an...
Butterbeer (yes! from the magical world of harry potter!) is meant to taste "a little bit like less-sickly butterscotch." This version is nonalcoholic, so kids can have it too, but for an adult butterbeer you can replace the cider with Woodchuck hard apple cider and add a few glugs of spiced rum for good measure!

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Serves 6-8

2 tablespoons unsalted butter Ask a question about this ingredient

1/4 cup packed brown sugar Ask a question about this ingredient

1/4 cup heavy cream Ask a question about this ingredient

1/4 teaspoon sea salt Ask a question about this ingredient

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract Ask a question about this ingredient

3 cups apple cider Ask a question about this ingredient

1 cup ginger ale Ask a question about this ingredient

whipped cream, for garnish Ask a question about this ingredient

Make the butterscotch syrup: melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add brown sugar, 1/4 cup cream, and sea salt. Whisk to combine. Bring to a gentle boil and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.
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Stir in vanilla and cider and heat until very hot, and the butterscotch syrup has dissolved. Remove from heat and whisk in ginger ale. Serve with loads of whipped cream on top.
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33 Comments on Butterbeer

Christine_K added 2 months ago

Has anyone try this cold? Thank you!

arielleclementine added 2 months ago

Hi! I haven't intentionally served this cold, but I have had it after it had come to room temperature, and I still thought it was pretty tasty. I think it would be pretty nice over ice! Please let me know how it goes if you end up trying it!

lapadia added 6 months ago

Lovely recipe and photo!

arielleclementine added 6 months ago

oh thank you! i wanted to put it in a big beer stein for the photo, but i didn't have one, so i settled for one of my mom's tea cups :)

sdebrango added 6 months ago

I had heard of butter beer but never knew what it was, now I do. What a wonderful recipe! Tippin the hat to Mr. Potter and crew. Thanks for posting this. Very festive!

arielleclementine added 6 months ago

thanks so much! anything warm, sweet, and apple-y, with gratuitous whipped cream is ok in my book :)

boulangere added 6 months ago

Oh love this - especially the two versions! I've wondered and wondered what butter beer was.

mrslarkin added 6 months ago

boulangere, this is really amazing stuff!! we make it a lot. arielleclementine, might be a good contender for this week's theme!!

boulangere added 6 months ago

Great to know, mrsl. I can so see making this when the "kids" are here for Christmas.

arielleclementine added 6 months ago

thanks friends! you guys are really nice :)

mrslarkin added 10 months ago

We've made this a few times already. It's awesome! On the menu for tomorrow's festivities, of course!

arielleclementine added 10 months ago

Oh hooray! And thank you! I'm lucky to live near the Alamo drafthouse, which allows you to bring your brand new (read: scream-y) baby to special matinees of new releases! Can't wait to see it!!

mrslarkin added 10 months ago

haha! isn't the alamo drafthouse the one that ejected the texting psycho lady? I want to go there! Kids are seeing it in 3-D tomorrow midnight.They will probably be scream-y too. And they're teenagers. :)

arielleclementine added 10 months ago

the very same! they're so cool. also, you're hilarious :)

campagnes added about 1 year ago

Holy cow.. this sounds wonderful!

arielleclementine added about 1 year ago

thanks so much!

ChezSuzanne added about 1 year ago

This looks just wonderful! I'm making this over the holidays for sure!!!

arielleclementine added about 1 year ago

hooray! thank you!

mrslarkin added about 1 year ago

Funny!!! The Literal Harry Potter Trailer is really funny too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MahTKZDHXaA

arielleclementine added about 1 year ago

yeeessss! love it!

healthierkitchen added about 1 year ago

I'm sure my daughter will want to try this!

arielleclementine added about 1 year ago

thanks! i hope she loves it :) i remember the first time my mom made us 'magic cookies' (what she called seven layer bars), i was captivated with the idea of them being magical. it's fun to be a kid!

hardlikearmour added about 1 year ago

Yummy....for an adult version I bet a rum or bourbon would be great in this!

arielleclementine added about 1 year ago

absolutely! this was my attempt to recreate the virgin butterbeer sold at the alamo drafthouse, the awesome theater here in austin where i saw the latest HP movie. they also sold an alchoholic one, which was made with woodchuck apple cider and sailor jerry spiced rum!

drbabs added about 1 year ago

Sounds yummy! (Even though I don't get the Harry Potter reference...am I the only person in the universe who hasn't read those books?!)

hardlikearmour added about 1 year ago

pretty much!

Lizthechef added about 1 year ago

It was the winter drink of choice for the magic students in the books ...I want to go to Hogwarts!

arielleclementine added about 1 year ago

thanks, drbabs! give the books a spin if you have a chance- they're really wonderful :)

arielleclementine added about 1 year ago

oh me too, Lizthechef! more specifically, i'd like to be at one of the Christmas feasts at Hogwarts!

mrslarkin added about 1 year ago

Oh, yum! My kids will lurv this! Perfect to bring along in a thermos to a quidditch tournament!

arielleclementine added about 1 year ago

thanks mrslarkin! oh man, did you see the quidditch world cup on the news a month or so ago? so much fun!

mrslarkin added about 1 year ago

yes! a blast! I loved the last movie (I got weepy at the end). Can't wait for the next one. Have you seen Potter Puppet Pals on youtube? So so funny.

arielleclementine added about 1 year ago

yes! i love love those! i also love brad neely's 'wizard people' - where he narrates the entire first movie terribly (nsfw!): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPVhmZodaLA