Hog's Head Harry Potter Butterbeer Floats

 This simple 4-Ingredient recipe, has all the goodness of Butterbeer, paired with creamy vanilla ice cream. I'm sure Harry, Ron and Hermione would approve!

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Ever since I read the first chapter of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer Stone, I have been hooked. There is just something about the magical world that I love. The possibility that things are more than we see is something I've always day dreamed about as a child. 

Once my children came into the world, I shared my love of Harry Potter with them. I've read them the books, we've watched the movies (more time than I can count) and I've made a few Harry Potter themed movie nights. 

Since clear cream soda is something we usually do not have in Canada (ours is pink), I've never been able to try and recreate Butterbeer. Until this past week!

What is Butterbeer?

In the Harry Potter series of novels and movies, you see Harry, Ron and Hermione enjoy Butterbeer at a pub called the Hog's Head. It is described in the books as being "a little bit like less-sickly Butterscotch", which is served hot in a mug, or cold in a bottle. It may have a very low alcoholic content, know to affect house elves, while having less of an effect on humans. When mentioned in the books, Butterbeer is most often enjoyed warm, during the winter months, close to Christmas. 

What is Butterbeer made of?

We've never had the chance to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, so I've done some online research to see what main ingredients were in Butterbeer. Their version of Butterbeer has a taste similar to cream soda with Butterscotch-like foam on top. In this float recipe I use clear cream soda, butterscotch ice cream topping, vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. You could omit the whipped cream, since the combination of ice cream and soda creates an airy foam.

I've seen many Butterbeer recipes on line over the years, some ranging from adding real butter, to others as simple as topping cream soda with whipped cream. It's really hard to tell which online version would be closest to what J.K. Rowling was envisioning when she wrote the books.

How to Make Butterbeer Floats

I've made these floats a few times since my first attempt a few weeks ago. I've always poured the cream soda over the ice cream, in the mug, but I found that it always foamed up too much, to have a decent amount of cream soda in the mug. So, this last time I added cream soda 1/4 ways in my mugs, before adding the ice cream, and then topping the mug up with a bit more cream soda. 

Since the ice cream and cream soda combination foams up, you can omit the whipped cream if preferred. I, however, LOVE whipped cream, so I always top mine, so I can drizzle it with more butterscotch. Once you start mixing everything together, the combination is so creamy, cold and super delish.

If you wanted to make an adult version of these floats, I would add a shot of either Butterscotch Schnapps, or your favourite vanilla rum before adding the ice cream. I haven't tried an alcoholic version, so I can not attest to if it would taste delicious or not.

Ingredients and Equipment Needed for this Recipe

• mugs (I used mason jar mugs we have on hand)
• reusable straws
• spoon
• ice cream scoop
• clear cream soda
• vanilla ice cream
• butterscotch ice cream topping
• whipped cream (store bought or homemade)

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Harry Potter Butterbeer Floats
(makes 2 mugs)

4 scoops vanilla ice cream

1/3 C butterscotch ice cream topping

1- 355ml bottle clear cream soda

whipped cream (either store bought aerosol or homemade)

Spoon 2 Tbs of butterscotch topping around inside of the mugs.

Fill each mug 1/4 of the way with cream soda. 

Carefully add in 2 scoops of ice cream and top equally with remaining cream soda.

Top with a generous amount of whipped cream and drizzle with remaining butterscotch topping. 

Add in a straw and enjoy!