Butter beer is a fantastic wizard drink, served in mugs, warm and foamy.

There is a very popular book series that made butterbeer a go-to drink for kids and adults alike. Many people around the world have heard of this drink thanks to the wildly popular wizarding books that feature butterbeer. But what is butterbeer? Let us explain.
Disclosure: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, we will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
What is Butter Beer?
Butterbeer is not actually beer at all. Eliminate all thoughts that this tasty drink is a kind of craft beer- it’s not! Butterbeer is a non alcoholic, sweet soda drink. It is the hallmark drink of the wizarding world of Harry Potter and became very popular thanks to Universal Orlando and die-hard harry potter fans.
What’s in Butterbeer?
Butterbeer starts with a delicious cream soda which is flavored with caramel extract and butter extract. Caramel and butter are the two main flavors of the drink.
Maybe you can see why kids love it so much- it is super sweet! You can find caramel and butter extracts in most grocery stores or easily online.
kids love it so much- it is super sweet!


Another key to making a delicious drink is the topping. A big dollop of whipped cream and a drizzle of butterscotch makes the drink more of a dessert than a regular soda. You can use fresh whipped cream, whipped cream from a can or even dairy free whipped cream topping. They will all taste great!
Butter Beer Variations
We love playing around with drink recipes, making them better and tastier than ever. Here are a few ways to can switch up this recipe to switch it up a little.
- Drizzle some peanut butter and chocolate over the whipped cream topping. Rich peanut butter and chocolate flavor are perfect with this drink. Add a peanut butter cup for even more decadence.
- Freeze the cream soda and extract mix to make a homemade butter beer slushy
- Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to make a butterbeer milkshake
- Use a peanut butter milk stout or other craft beer in place of the cream soda for an alcoholic version
So many possibilities! You can have it every day. Give this delicious, homemade, kid-approved, popular drink a try and you will be hooked! You can’t go wrong when you make this sweet treat.
You Asked, We’re Answering!
Have a few questions about making butter beer at home? Here are some of the top questions we recipe. Hopefully, the answers help you make this tasty drink perfectly.
What is butterbeer made of?
Cream soda, vanilla extract, butter extract, whipped cream, and butterscotch sauce are what we use in our recipe.
Is there alcohol in butterbeer?
Nope! Our virgin butterbeer recipe is alcohol free.
Is butterbeer a real thing?
It sure is! Butterbeer may have been invented by the writer of Harry Potter but, since then, it has been created in real life to be a tasty, amazing drink.
How to make peanut butter beer?
Melt 2 tablespoons of peanut butter in the microwave and gently whisk the liquid peanut butter into the cream soda. Now you have peanut butter beer!
What does butterbeer taste like?
Butterbeer tastes like a creamy, sweet soda. It is thick and buttery, sugary, and slightly caramel flavored. It’s simply delicious!
Is butter beer vegan?
Our butterbeer is not vegan. It is made with cream soda which can have trace amounts of dairy. It is also topped with whipped cream which has lots of dairy.
Is there a recipe for this using UK available ingredients? I can't seem to find the extracts in supermarkets here 🙁