Madam
Rosmerta would agree that no wizard party is complete without a pint of
freshly-brewed Butterbeer. With our house elf now missing, it took us
quite a few iterations before we discovered the perfect potion for this
usually overly-sweet concoction. A hint of ginger and the sweetness of
butterscotch combine to create a delightful and refreshing non-alcoholic drink,
capable of making even Severus Snape smile.
Butterbeer Recipe
12 oz. (one bottle) ginger beer
36 oz. (three bottles) cream soda
3 T butterscotch ice cream topping
Thoroughly chill unopened ginger beer and cream soda in refrigerator until icy-cold. Refrigerate empty, glass pitcher as well. Once beverages are chilled, in a small mixing bowl or tall glass, stir 1-2 oz. of cream soda into butterscotch topping till thoroughly combined. Pour all remaining soda into chilled pitcher. Quickly add butterscotch mixture to pitcher. Stir till just combined; do not over-stir. Pour over ice and serve immediately. Serves 6.
For a frothy sparkle, dip the rim of each glass in corn syrup, pulling drips of syrup downward with a toothpick. Then dip each glass rim in a mixture of colored sugar. Before dipping, spread the corn syrup & sugar mixture each onto a separate, flat-bottomed plate.
For an old-world, textured effect, mix fine, yellow sugar with coarser, gold sugar. Colored sugars are available at many grocery stores and craft chains. The sugars shown here are both from Michael's.
Isaac
& I went to a midnight showing of The Half-Blood Prince with friends last
night. It was amazing -- definitely my favorite HP movie so far -- BY
FAR. We were surrounded by eight packed theatres of screaming,
costumed teenagers. It was a sight.
• Cockroach Clusters recipe here.
Sneaked away to see the movie this afternoon. Agree that it's the best so far. A very nice redemption from #5. Thanks for another fun recipe. I'll be serving it soon in Kansas City!
Posted by: Jen T | July 15, 2009 at 08:56 PM
I am so jealous. I want to see it... I can almost smell the sweetness of that butterbeer.
Posted by: Karen | July 15, 2009 at 08:57 PM
You are the coolest person ever!! Thanks for such a great recipe. You make muggles proud.
Posted by: Lisa | July 15, 2009 at 09:12 PM
HA! This is fantastic!! You rock, Miss. H!
Posted by: Kim | July 15, 2009 at 09:16 PM
no way! that is so dang cool! and i LOVE butterscotch!
Posted by: kristen | July 15, 2009 at 09:38 PM
I love these recipes! We just got back from seeing the movie, and it was definitely my fav so far too!
Posted by: Elaine | July 15, 2009 at 09:49 PM
I think this is the cutest drink I've ever seen! I love it! I can't wait to see the movie this weekend!! This makes me more excited!!
Posted by: Rachel Velder | July 15, 2009 at 10:05 PM
Heather, I am loving how you are coming up with such fun HP goodies! Are you planning a party? I took my 15 year old daughter this morning to the 9am showing and it was PACKED! no costumed teens... that would've been fun. we LOVED it too!!!
:) Missy
Posted by: Missy | July 15, 2009 at 10:15 PM
This is so awesome! I'm going to have to try this out.
Posted by: Laurel | July 15, 2009 at 10:47 PM
You are so creative!
Posted by: Kimberly C. | July 15, 2009 at 11:33 PM
That looks so sweet and colourful. Great! I can't wait untill we can see that movie here.
Posted by: karin | July 16, 2009 at 03:35 AM
Brilliant!! Thank you, Heather.
Posted by: irene | July 16, 2009 at 05:23 AM
Thanks for the recipes! They are so cute. And I totally agree... best movie yet!
Posted by: Kelly | July 16, 2009 at 05:31 AM
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these recipes! We are planning a HP party as a family and I plan to use your recipe's. I'll link to your site when I share our party on my blog!! (It will be a while though, I'm slow)
Posted by: Kathryn | July 16, 2009 at 05:31 AM
I'm just blown away by your creativity!
Posted by: susan@tickledpaisley | July 16, 2009 at 05:39 AM
Heather, you are just too cute with your cockroaches and broomsticks! I'm a big fan of yours, this blog is one of my homepages and I always enjoy checking in to see what is new in your world. All the best to you!
Posted by: Sabrina | July 16, 2009 at 06:39 AM
This sounds delicious. =)
I saw HP last night. It was definitely the best film by far. I still can't help but love the books more. But I enjoyed the movie. The acting was stronger, the cinematography better, and the overall pace of the film was less choppy, and more detailed.
Posted by: Christina | July 16, 2009 at 06:54 AM
How fun! Our middle daughter is at ROTC camp until next week so we are all waiting for her return so we can see the movie together. I'll surprise her with your recipes--thanks.
Posted by: kathi | July 16, 2009 at 06:55 AM
These Harry Potter ideas are so much fun! I think I'm going to have to make them both and have a viewing of a couple of the past movies before seing the newest!
I just made a Happy Stacker and it turned out so cute. I liked it so much I'm making another! I just put a picture of it on my (rather ordinary) blog!
Cheers from STL!
Posted by: Mary Claire | July 16, 2009 at 08:21 AM
I really love the colored sugar rimmed glasses... such a great idea
Posted by: Nicole Ioma | July 16, 2009 at 08:33 AM
I'd love to get my hands on a tall glass of that Butterbeer!
We saw the movie yesterday and I agree- this was the best of them all.
Posted by: Rebekah | July 16, 2009 at 09:48 AM
This is totally clever! I can't wait to try it! Don't be shocked if Isaac requests a Harry Potter Themed Halloween Party this year- you would do brilliantly at planning loads of cool things!!
- Christine
http://www.monkeycbaby.etsy.com
Posted by: Christine | July 16, 2009 at 10:29 AM
What a wonderful treat for after the movie! The rimmed glasses are very cool. I'm surprised - I just noticed the the little 2-plex in my town actually has HP on opening week! (It usually takes a few weeks for movies to get here...) :-)
Posted by: Kristin | July 16, 2009 at 10:42 AM
Amazing, we went to see the film as well.
I thought it was the best one yet.
And very funny.
Thanks for the recipe, my family will love it.
Posted by: Cele | July 16, 2009 at 12:19 PM
I can't agree with you on the movie, *spolier* hated the omission of the battle at Hogwarts and the heart wrenching funeral. However, I can agree that you are the bomb diggity for sharing this delicious recipe, can’t wait try it out.
Posted by: EquisBuffy | July 16, 2009 at 02:38 PM
You are amazing! I love it and can't wait to try it out!
Posted by: Sunni Standing | July 16, 2009 at 05:14 PM
Where did you get the little straw brooms? Did you make them or buy them?
I'm a grad student and I LOVE with Halloween, and I've made it my business to throw a party for our department every year. I will definitely be making these drinks and the cockroach clusters this year! Do you have any more Halloween-ish ideas? I would love to see what else you have up your sleeves...
Posted by: Emily | July 16, 2009 at 08:34 PM
Your recipe sounds perfect and I love the presentation. Now I just need a recipe for butter pies from "A Tale of Time City".
Posted by: Kath | July 16, 2009 at 09:13 PM
You're in luck, Emily. I just posted a tutorial for the brooms. If there was a link to your site, I'd stop by to let you know. Hopefully you'll be back by soon to see the broom how-tos.
Posted by: Heather Bailey | July 16, 2009 at 09:36 PM
this receipe sound wonderfull! I love the presentation!
Posted by: Andréann | July 18, 2009 at 09:06 AM
This looks delicious! Do you think it would work as well with a butterscotch essence instead? I've never seen Butterscotch flavoured icecream topping here in NZ, but occasionally I'll see a small bottle of Butterscotch essence. I suspect the syrupy-ness of the topping adds to charm of the drink though :(
Posted by: DeVille | July 18, 2009 at 03:21 PM
Where did you find the butterscotch ice cream topping? I was looking at Wal-mart and they didn't even have a place for it.
Posted by: Kira =] | July 19, 2009 at 11:57 AM
sweet!! some friends and i were lucky enough to get to see the screening a couple of days before it opened and had mentioned afterwards how butter beer always looks so amazing!! and here you are...supplying a recipe. YOU are amazing! :)
Posted by: Starla | July 19, 2009 at 03:20 PM
I've favorited all the Harry Potter Hoopla posts to use with my girls. They are going to die!
I'm writing a post about all the wonderful Harry Potter creations you have and was wondering if I may use one of the photos (preferably the butterbeer with the broomsticks) to make it more enticing for readers to come visit. I'd make the picture a link itself as well. I plan on posting it on Tuesday. Please let me know either way at chocolateonmycranium [at] live [dot] com.
Thanks!
Posted by: Chocolate on my Cranium | July 19, 2009 at 09:39 PM
That recipe sounds super-yummy! Your site is totally adorable! I love it!
Posted by: Suzanne Carvlin, The Party Girl | July 20, 2009 at 11:08 AM
Heather...I love you! Let me tell you these Harry Potter Hoopla's posts are the coolest! During the movie when then were all drinking their butter beer I was thinking, "that looks so good, I wish it were a real drink!" And whala! You have made it. Brilliant!
Posted by: Chelsea | July 21, 2009 at 01:11 AM
That looks amazing. Now all i need is my magic wand!
Posted by: chocolate shavings | July 21, 2009 at 06:16 AM
I've found a very easy recipe for butterscotch sauce here: http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/how_to_make_butterscotch/
So for those of us who can't find the pre-made stuff, we can still make butter beer!
Posted by: DeVille | July 21, 2009 at 02:09 PM
You're awesome, DeVille! Thanks for posting this link.
Posted by: Heather Bailey | July 22, 2009 at 02:53 AM
I totally am in love with this idea! I'll have to save it for next year, I alternate Halloween and Christmas parties, and this year is Christmas. Is it ok to post about it on my site?
Posted by: Not Just a Mommy! | August 23, 2009 at 03:39 PM
mmmmm...delish, i want some of this sweetness now :)
Posted by: andrea gutierrez | October 01, 2009 at 09:20 AM