"Here -- you've earned a drink -- something from the Three Broomsticks. You won't have tried it before --" Lupin pulled two bottles out of his briefcase. "Butterbeer!" said Harry, without thinking. "Yeah, I like that stuff!"
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
What is Butterbeer, exactly?
Described in the Harry Potter universe as "A delicious wizard drink served warm and foaming in tankards or chilled in bottles" with a flavor "a little bit like less-sickly butterscotch."
Of all of the delicious things mentioned in Harry Potter, Butterbeer is definitely my favorite. There's something particularly magic about the idea of drinking a Butterbeer in the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade village and I love that it always seemed to mark moments of friendship.
Butterbeer reimagined as Butterbeer Ice Cream
Though there are many tasty versions of Butterbeer as a drink, I thought it would be really spectacular reimagined as an ice cream flavor. Considering the descriptor of a "less-sickly butterscotch," it was important that the base of the Butterbeer Frozen Custard was rich, without being overly sweet.
This Butterbeer Ice Cream includes a creamy brown butter speckled base with a whisper of almond extract, which makes the flavor feel a little nuttier, fragrant, and a little nostalgic. Ribbons of salty-sweet butterscotch weave through the ice cream base to achieve the optimal Butterbeer flavor.
This Butterbeer Ice Cream is a perfect tribute to the Butterbeer I imagined when first reading the Harry Potter books.
The function of egg yolks in ice cream
The base of this Butterbeer Ice Cream is ultra-rich and creamy owing to an addition of 7* egg yolks in the base, which adds additional fat to help produce a smoother, richer ice cream, and also contributes to the stability of the ice cream so it doesn't melt as quickly.
Depending on how it's churned, one could technically call this ice cream 'Butterbeer Frozen Custard' as the ratio of eggs (which must include 1.4% yolk or more to be considered custard) is so generous. However, frozen custard is generally churned in a specialty machine that allows the least amount of air possible into the custard.
One could also classify it as 'French-style' ice cream as the custard base is made with egg yolks, rather than a 'Philadelphia-style' ice cream, which is a combination of cream and milk without eggs.
*For those Harry Potter super-nerds like me, you'll know that the number 7 is considered the most magical number in the wizarding world. The number 7 is also very integral to Harry's journey, cropping up many times throughout the books and films. Therefore, you will find 7 egg yolks in this Butterbeer Ice Cream.
What tools do I need to make this recipe?
- An ice cream maker
- A kitchen scale
- Liquid measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- A large pot or saucepan
- A medium saucepan
- A large prep/storage bowl with a lid
- A small prep bowl
- A silicone spatula
- A whisk
- A fine mesh strainer
- A thermometer
- A freezer-safe container to store the ice cream in (I like using a loaf pan)
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Looking for more ice cream inspiration?
Love this recipe for Butterbeer Ice Cream? Here are some more of my favorite ice cream recipes:
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Butterbeer Ice Cream
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Chill Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours 25 minutes
- Yield: About 7 cups 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop / Freezer
- Cuisine: British
Description
This Butterbeer Ice Cream is a perfect tribute to the Butterbeer I imagined when first reading the Harry Potter books. It includes a creamy brown butter speckled base with a whisper of almond extract, which makes the flavor feel a little nuttier, fragrant, and a little nostalgic. Ribbons of salty-sweet butterscotch weave through the ice cream base to achieve the optimal Butterbeer flavor.
Ingredients
For the ice cream base:
- 113 g (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 24 oz (3 cups) heavy cream
- 8 oz (1 cup) whole milk
- 200 g (1 cup) granulated sugar
- 7 large egg yolks, room temperature
- ¼ tsp almond extract
- ¼ tsp sea salt
For the butterscotch sauce:
- 57 g (4 tbsp) unsalted butter
- 100 g (½ cup) brown sugar
- 1 tsp sea salt (can add more if you like it extra salty)
- 4 oz (½ cup) heavy cream
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp gold rum (optional)
Instructions
For the ice cream base:
- Brown the butter. Set a large pot or saucepan (the same one that you'll use for your custard) over medium heat. Add butter and allow to melt, stirring with a silicone spatula occasionally. As the butter melts it will begin to foam. Watch the pan closely during this process as the color will quickly change from buttery yellow, to golden, to toasty brown. Once the butter has reached a stage where it is golden brown, remove it from the stove immediately and carefully transfer the butter to a medium heatproof prep bowl. Reserve to the side.
- In the same pot over medium heat, add the heavy cream and whole milk. Allow the mixture to heat, stirring occasionally, until it just starts to simmer (you should see bubbles beginning to form around the outside ring of the mixture). Then remove from heat.
- While the heavy cream cooks, prepare your eggs. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk the egg yolks and sugar until smooth and pale yellow in color.
- Temper your eggs with your warm cream mixture by gradually adding very small amounts of cream to the eggs, while continuously whisking. I like to use a small ladle or a spouted heat-safe measuring cup to slowly stream the warm cream mixture into the eggs while whisking. It's important that you take this step slowly and continue to whisk as the heat from the cream mixture can scramble the eggs if added too quickly. Continue tempering until atleast ⅓ or more of the cream mixture has been combined with the egg mixture.
- Add the tempered egg mixture to the pot along with the remaining cream mixture and stir to combine. Return the pot to heat over low. Continue to cook, stirring frequently until the mixture reaches 170 degrees F (77 C) and coats the back of a spoon. To test this, dip a spoon into the mixture and then run your finger across the back of the spoon. If a clear path is made through the middle and the rest of the spoon remains coated, your mixture is ready to be removed from the heat.
- Pour the mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a large, heat-proof bowl. The strainer will catch any unwanted bits of egg that might not have tempered properly to ensure your ice cream is smooth.
- Combine the brown butter with the strained ice cream base. If your brown butter has cooled and hardened by this time you may need to reheat it briefly before adding to the ice cream base so that it does not solidify into clumps.
- Allow the mixture to cool for about 30 minutes then add the almond extract and salt, and whisk to combine well. If the mixture is cool to the touch at this point, cover and refrigerate overnight or until it has reached 40 degrees F (4 C) or below. If making ice cream the same day, this will likely take a minimum of 4-hours, but may take 6-hours or more, depending on the size and shape of your bowl and the temperature of your refrigerator.
- The next day (or later that same day) after the ice cream base has fully completed its fridge chill, churn your ice cream. Pour into an ice cream maker and process according to the manufacturer's directions. For my ice cream maker this requires a frozen bowl. Churning should take approximately 20-30 minutes, depending on your ice cream maker.
For the butterscotch sauce:
While the ice cream is churning, make the butterscotch sauce. The reason I like to make this at this stage and not far in advance is that the butterscotch will thicken and firm up as it cools. You'll want the butterscotch to still be warm enough to drizzle, but not so hot that it completely melts the ice cream upon contact. If you have to reheat to drizzle in the ice cream, the sauce will not be as emulsified and smooth.
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.
- Add the brown sugar, salt, and heavy cream and whisk to combine.
- Bring the mixture to a low boil for 4-5 minutes, whisking occasionally, until smooth and thickened. Then remove from heat.
- Whisk in the vanilla and rum and taste for salt. Add additional salt if desired and whisk until combined. Reserve to the side to cool just slightly.
To assemble:
- Once the ice cream base is fully churned, transfer approximately ⅓ of it to a freezer-safe container (I like to use a loaf pan). Drizzle approximately ⅓ of the warm butterscotch over the top. Do not attempt to move the butterscotch too much once drizzled as it will firm up quickly upon hitting the frozen ice cream. Top with an additional ⅓ of the churned ice cream, and repeat with another ⅓ of the butterscotch sauce. Top with the remaining ice cream and butterscotch sauce.
- Cover the container and transfer to the freezer to firm up. This will take as few as 2-hours for softer ice cream and 4-hours for former ice cream. I find that this ice cream is best when consumed within 1 week.
Notes
Nutritional information on Whip & Wander is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.
7/29/22 This recipe was updated and may no longer fit specified dietary preferences from previous versions of this post.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/14 recipe (about ½ cup)
- Calories: 225
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 223 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg
Angela says
Oh wow!!! That butterscotch sauce sounds so good! Love this! Cant wait to give this recipe a try!
Tisha says
This looks fantastic!!! I love your themed desserts to match the books!!!
Whip & Wander says
It's been a really fun series to write recipes for!
Cynthia | What A Girl Eats says
I've been following a few of your Harry Potter posts on Instagram. We're huge HP fans here. (I had HP birthdays for both of my girls, now 23 and 17 when they were younger.) I wish I'd had Butterbeer ice cream then!
Whip & Wander says
Glad to meet a fellow Harry Potter fan! I'm sure they would still appreciate this ice cream as adults. Sometimes it's fun to embrace your childhood!
Heidy L. McCallum says
This frozen custard looks like it might be calling my name...lol It looks so refreshing and cold. I'm dying in the heat here in Florida so I could really go for a nice bowl of this.
ali randall says
Wow this is a keeper. My kids would love this and I have an ice cream maker so guess what is on the list for next flavor of ice cream to make at home 🙂
Whip & Wander says
Perfect! It's the perfect weather to bust that ice cream maker out!
Aurola Wedman says
This looks delicious! I had never tried custard until last year, I can't believe I waited so long!!
Whip & Wander says
It's really the creamiest!
Chelsea says
Oh my gosh yuuuuuum. I really want to go to Harry Potter World and drink Butterbeer, haha. This looks like a great substitute in the meantime!
Steph says
OH my yummy! We need to make this for a Harry Potter movie marathon!
Catherine Brown says
Gosh this looks AMAZING!! Great flavors goin' on here! 🙂
Whitney Kutch says
Yum!! I feel like this would be SO great for a Harry Potter movie marathon night. Thanks for the idea!
Becca Wilson says
This looks like it would taste so amazing. I have never had anything like this but am definitely giving it a try!
Jessica Formicola says
This is such a fun flavor! Perfect for Harry Potter fans!
rebecca says
ok, I totally have to make this! looks delicious & easy
Anvita says
This post brings back childhood memories and ofcourse the kids are going to love Harry Potter Theme.
Beth says
The Harry Potter books were so fun! My son hated reading before they came out. After I read him Sorcerer's Stone, he read all of the rest himself! This butterbeer custard looks amazing! And I can actually eat it! (lactose intolerant!) I'm totally trying this!!
Whip & Wander says
I'm so glad that the books inspired him to get into reading! I try to keep the lactose low in our house too, so I'm glad that they make such great lactose-free dairy products these days.
Stephanie says
This sounds so good. I've never heard of butterbeer but this sounds like something I'd love to try!
Stephanie says
This sounds so good. I've never heard of butterbeer but this sounds like something I'd love to try!
Patricia says
I've never heard of this before but it sure looks tasty!!
Lisa @happylifeblogspot says
Butterbeer is the best! This recipe looks fabulous!!
jenna @ the urben life says
HOW FUN! I love that you made it lactose-free. I need to fugure out how to make it egg-free, as well.