Vegan Butterbeer Recipe - Humbly Homemade (2024)

by Carissa Erzen 7 Comments

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If you've ever read the Harry Potter books or watched the movies, you're probably familiar with butterbeer. It's a sweet, butterscotch drink that can be served hot or cold. It doesn't contain any "beer" but it most certainly does contain butter. This vegan butterbeer recipe creates a thick, delicious drink without any dairy!

Vegan Butterbeer Recipe - Humbly Homemade (1)

Butterbeer first appears in the beloved wizarding world in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban at Hogsmeade. And you can try butterbeer at Universal Studios Wizarding World of Harry Potter! But making it at home means you can stay in your cozy pajamas while binge-watching the entire Harry Potter series. Win.

Butterbeer has been in the U.K. for several centuries. Some sources say it can be traced all the way back to 1588! Back then it was made with real beer along with egg yolks. But I much prefer this kid-friendly sweet version.

Ever since I was a kid, I've been obsessed with Harry Potter. And if you love Harry Potter as much as I do, you can try more of my recipes inspired by the wizarding world! For example, you can try chunky butterbeer cookies dunked into your mug of hot butterbeer!

Vegan Butterbeer Recipe - Humbly Homemade (2)

Why You'll Love this Recipe

  • It's vegan, dairy free and gluten free!
  • It's made from scratch without any butterscotch pudding mix.
  • This hot butterbeer doesn't contain any alcohol, so it's kid-friendly!
  • This tastes just like how you'd imagine it'd taste at the Three Broomsticks or the Leaky Cauldron!
Vegan Butterbeer Recipe - Humbly Homemade (3)
Vegan Butterbeer Recipe - Humbly Homemade (4)

Ingredients

  • Cornstarch - Helps thicken the drink so it's thick and creamy
  • Brown sugar - Adds a sweet caramel flavor
  • Milk - Use any dairy free milk; my favorite is oat milk
  • Butter - Use unsalted vegan butter or homemade vegan butter
  • Salt - Just a small pinch of salt balances the sugar and brings forth the buttery, caramel flavors in this vegan butterbeer recipe
  • Aquafaba - Also known as the juice from canned chickpeas
  • Granulated sugar - Helps aerate and sweeten the aquafaba to form vegan whipped cream
  • Caramel sauce - This optional topping gives the final touch to the perfect drink - use my vegan caramel sauce recipe to make your own at home!
Vegan Butterbeer Recipe - Humbly Homemade (5)

How to Make Vegan Butterbeer

Whisk aquafaba to form soft peaks: In a stand mixer, add aquafaba (aka the liquid in canned chickpeas). Mix with a whisk attachment on high until it forms soft peaks. This can take up to 30 minutes.

Add sugar to the vegan whipped cream: Add the granulated sugar one spoonful at a time with the mixer still whisking on high speed. Continue whisking until if forms firm peaks. This only takes an additional 5 to 10 minutes.

Refrigerate the vegan whipped cream: Set aside in the fridge while you make the butterbeer.

Whisk the cornstarch with milk & sugar: In a saucepan, add the cornstarch, brown sugar, and ¼ cup of the milk. Whisk until the cornstarch is fully dissolved and no lumps remain.

Add milk and boil: Turn the stove on to medium-high heat and whisk in the remaining milk. Bring the mixture to a boil for one minute, to activate the cornstarch's thickening powers.

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Add butter and simmer: Turn the heat down to low and add the vegan butter. Stir until the butter is melted and incorporated.

Let cool and thicken: Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow to cool and thicken further for at least 10 minutes.

Serve & enjoy: Strain your vegan butterbeer into two glasses or mugs. Top with several hefty dollops of vegan whipped cream, and a drizzle of vegan caramel sauce. Enjoy!!

Vegan Butterbeer Recipe - Humbly Homemade (7)

Recipe FAQ

What is the butterbeer in Harry Potter?

Butterbeer is a popular drink in the wizarding world that has a sweet butterscotch flavor.

Is there alcohol in butterbeer?

There is no alcohol in this vegan butterbeer recipe. But the butterbeer in the Harry Potter books may have had a little alcohol in it, since the house elves are able to get drunk from it.

Is butterbeer served hot or cold?

Both! Butterbeer tastes great both hot and cold! This vegan butterbeer recipe is best served hot. It's like a cozy hug-in-a-mug of buttery, caramelized goodness.

Is butterbeer gluten free?

This butterbeer is gluten free, since it's thickened with cornstarch instead of flour.

Can you get vegan butterbeer at Universal Sudios?

As of 2023, you can now purchase the vegan version of butterbeer at both Universal Studios Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood!

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Recipe Tips and Variations

  • Aquafaba can take a while to whisk and form soft peaks. Patience is key, and sometimes it can take up to 30 minutes.
  • If you don't want to make aquafaba whipped cream, you can make coconut whipped cream or use a store bought version.
  • If you want a more fizzy version of butterbeer, mix cream soda into the cooled butterbeer mixture.

More Harry Potter Recipes

If you're planning a movie marathon, a Harry Potter party, or just want to cure some Hogwarts homesick blues, try these other Harry Potter recipes!

  • Harry Potter Sugar Cookies
  • Hagrid's Hut Gingerbread House
  • Bangers and Mash
  • Pumpkin Pasties
  • Harry Potter Bonbons
  • Butterbeer Cookies
Vegan Butterbeer Recipe - Humbly Homemade (9)

Vegan Butterbeer Recipe - Humbly Homemade (10)

Vegan Butterbeer Recipe

Carissa Erzen

This sweet and creamy vegan butterbeer recipe brings the Harry Potter books to life! Enjoy a warm butterscotch flavored drink topped with vegan whipped cream. It's magical!

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 45 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 55 minutes mins

Course Drinks

Cuisine British

Servings 2 people

Calories 566 kcal

Ingredients

Vegan Whipped Cream Topping

  • ½ cup aquafaba (the liquid drained from one can of chickpeas)
  • ½ cup granulated sugar

Vegan Butterbeer

  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 3 cups dairy free milk, divided
  • tablespoon vegan butter
  • pinch salt

Instructions

Vegan Whipped Cream Topping

  • In a stand mixer, add the aquafaba (aka the liquid in canned chickpeas).

    Mix with a whisk attachment on high until it forms soft peaks. This can take up to 30 minutes.

  • Add the granulated sugar one spoonful at a time with the mixer still whisking on high speed. Continue whisking until if forms firm peaks. This only takes an additional 5 to 10 minutes.

    Set aside in the fridge while you make the butterbeer.

Vegan Butterbeer

  • In a saucepan, add the cornstarch, brown sugar, and ¼ cup of the milk. Whisk until the cornstarch is fully dissolved and no lumps remain.

  • Turn the stove on to medium-high heat and whisk in the remaining milk. Bring the mixture to a boil for one minute, to activate the cornstarch's thickening powers.

  • Turn the heat down to low and add the vegan butter and salt. Stir until the butter is melted and incorporated.

  • Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow to cool and thicken further for at least 10 minutes.

  • Use a fine mesh strainer to strain your vegan butterbeer into two mugs or glasses. Top with several hefty dollops of vegan whipped cream, and an optional drizzle of vegan caramel sauce.

Notes

  • Aquafaba can take a while to whisk and form soft peaks. Patience is key, as sometimes it can take up to 30 minutes.
  • If you don't want to make vegan whipped cream at home, you can use a store bought version.
  • Store extra butterbeer in the fridge for up to 3 days. Store the butterbeer in jars with lids, like mason jars, and store the vegan frosting separately in an airtight container. When ready to serve, heat the butterbeer in the microwave on 30 second intervals, then top with the whipped cream.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 566kcalCarbohydrates: 116gProtein: 6gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.04gSodium: 246mgPotassium: 218mgFiber: 3gSugar: 105gVitamin A: 1139IUCalcium: 541mgIron: 3mg

Keyword butterbeer recipe, Harry Potter butterbeer, vegan butterbeer, vegan whipped cream

Did you make this recipe?I want to know!! Leave a comment below & recipe rating above!

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Vegan Butterbeer Recipe - Humbly Homemade (11)

About Carissa Erzen

Growing up in Germany, I fell head-over-heels in love with ALL the German baked goods, from Lebkuchen to pretzels. Now I'm the founder, recipe developer, and food photographer behind Humbly Homemade, where I test and share German sweets lovingly created from scratch. So pull up a chair, and stay a while!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Markus + Micah

    I am certain this is what dreams are made of.

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    Reply

    • Humbly Homemade

      Hahaha! This is at least what my dreams are made of 😂 Swimming in a pool of butterbeer... 😝

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      Reply

  2. Yum-number1

    Much needed for a Harry Potter marathon

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    Reply

    • Humbly Homemade

      YESSS! I'll take any excuse/reason for a Harry Potter marathon. 😁

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      Reply

  3. Jennifer Johnson

    do you think tapicoa starch or arrowroot flour would be better in place of Corn starch?

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    Reply

Leave a comment!

Vegan Butterbeer Recipe - Humbly Homemade (2024)

FAQs

What is vegan Butterbeer made of? ›

Place butterscotch and vegan butter into a 16 oz glass. Microwave on high for 1 to 1½ minutes, or until syrup is bubbly and vegan butter is completely mixed in. Stir for 30 seconds and allow to cool. Slowly mix in club soda.

What is Hogwarts Butterbeer made of? ›

A simple brown sugar and butter syrup gets topped with cream soda and a dollop of cream in this wildly popular drink. Next time you are having a Harry Potter movie marathon, book club meeting, or even a Halloween party, pull out all the stops with this sweet drink that even Harry, Ron, and Hermione would approve of.

Is Universal Studios Butterbeer vegan? ›

Vegans, realize your wizarding fantasies at long last; vegan Butterbeer is finally available in both cold and frozen options! The non-dairy beverage, which was just announced, is as delicious as the original, with flavors reminiscent of butterscotch and shortbread topped with a special vegan-friendly froth.

What is Butterbeer made of for kids? ›

Cream Soda – Good old-fashioned cream soda is the base for this sparkling beverage. Caramel Syrup – Adds a little caramel flavor (optional if you want to taste the butter flavor more). Butter Extract – This gives your recipe that nice butterscotch flavor.

Did JK Rowling make butterbeer? ›

In the Harry Potter books, butterbeer appears to have an inebriating effect, and some older online recipes include butterscotch schnapps, but the Universal version is nonalcoholic. In Bon Appetit's January 2002 issue, author J.K. Rowling was asked what butterbeer tastes like, and she said: "I made it up.

What are the three types of butterbeer? ›

The Three Broomsticks (in Hogsmeade) and The Leaky Cauldron (in Diagon Alley): Cold Butterbeer. Frozen Butterbeer. Hot Butterbeer.

Did Butterbeer exist before Harry Potter? ›

This is a reality. But its origin dates back much further than J.K. Rowling's films. Butterbeer, or “Buttered beere” as it was described in 1594, has existed for many centuries. At the time of the Tudors, beer was already a typical and commonly consumed drink.

Was Hermione drunk after Butterbeer? ›

↑ In the film version of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, however, Hermione Granger appears to act slightly tipsy after a visit to the Three Broomsticks Inn where she was shown drinking some; this can be seen just before the discovery of Katie Bell.

What is in Universal's Butterbeer? ›

The Universal Studios Orlando's butterbeer recipe is still top secret, but according to the books, it is made out of butterscotch, sugar, and water.

What is butterbeer vegan? ›

Now, as of March 2nd [sic] 2023, butterbeer is available as a fully vegan drink– foam and all! The certified vegan version of the creamy, frothy topping is crafted from plant-based ingredients, making the beloved beverage now accessible for those who choose to avoid animal-based ingredients like cow's milk.

Why is butterbeer not vegan? ›

But, the “froth” in Butterbeer contained dairy and without the froth, Butterbeer is, well, extremely sweet cream soda and tastes more muggle than magical. The rest of the day, Hannah encountered much the same issue, with very few vegan options.

Can you order butterbeer without the foam? ›

A: No, the Universal Orlando butterbeer as is, is not vegan. While we do not know the exact recipe, the butterbeer at Universal has dairy and is not vegan-safe. You can now order the Universal Butterbeer without the topping, which makes the recipe vegan-safe!

Can 12 year olds drink Butterbeer? ›

Butterbeer had a slight alcoholic content and although was safe for children to drink, it could affect creatures (such as house-elves) if consumed in to high a quantity. Harry enjoyed his first Butterbeer in Hogsmeade.

Can 10 year olds drink Butterbeer? ›

Is Butterbeer/bottled Butterbeer alcoholic? No, both types of Butterbeer are soft drinks and can be enjoyed by those of all ages.

Was there ever alcoholic butterbeer? ›

Known ingredients

Butterbeer was a popular wizarding beverage described as tasting "a little bit like less-sickly butterscotch". It was served at numerous locations in the wizarding world and had a very slight alcoholic content.

What is Universal Studios butterbeer made of? ›

The Universal Studios Orlando's butterbeer recipe is still top secret, but according to the books, it is made out of butterscotch, sugar, and water.

Is the butterbeer in Harry Potter vegan? ›

While the actual beverage comes with a dairy froth on the top, you can now Accio a Butterbeer with a non-dairy topping at both Universal Studios Orlando and Hollywood. Before the non-dairy version was available, vegans had to order the Butterbeer drink sans topping.

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