Butterbeer Buttercream Frosting – Harry Potter fans unite with this dreamy butterbeer buttercream frosting. Easy recipe for a fluffy icing, perfect for cupcakes and cake decorating!
Being the Harry Potter fan that I am, I thought it only appropriate to create a yummy butterbeer buttercream frosting. This recipe is one you will definitely enjoy, especially if you love both butterbeer and buttercream icing.
After creating my own butterbeer recipe, my friend Linda from Life on Summerhill, suggested I make a butterbeer frosting. I mean, how brilliant is she?!
This frosting is so creamy delicious on my favorite dark chocolate cupcakes. You're going to love it.
It's a mix of that buttery butterscotch flavor with the creamy texture of a dreamy buttercream frosting. So scrumptious!
Add butterbeer to your breakfast and brunch plans with butterbeer pancakes from scratch. They're oh so delicious.
I JUST WANT THE RECIPE! TAKE ME TO THE RECIPE FOR BUTTERBEER BUTTERCREAM FROSTING!
If you’d rather skip all of my cooking tips, important cooking info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the scrumptious butterbeer buttercream frosting recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.
FIRST OF ALL, WHAT IS BUTTERBEER?
Let's get down to the nitty gritty of what butterbeer actually is.
We first tried butterbeer while visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando. It's a drink made famous by the Harry Potter series of books, written by J.K. Rowling.
It’s a buttery, butterscotch, sweet drink, with a hint of caramel, that’s served hot or cold. It’s described as a “less-sickly butterscotch” and even has a little bit of fizz to it.
Fandom explains what butterbeer is, where it came from, and what it's all about.
WHY DO YOU USE BUTTER INSTEAD OF SHORTENING?
In my original buttercream frosting recipe, as well as my chocolate buttercream frosting, I explain why I prefer to use salted butter and make my buttercream without shortening.
Using all butter creates a very flavorful frosting, perfect for that buttery butterbeer taste.
I also recommend using salted butter, because the salt in the butter adds a richness to your buttercream. It gives it a zing that unsalted butter just can’t do.
Also, it's so much easier to use salted butter over trying to add salt to your frosting, especially when trying to get a good consistency and texture.
While shortening does add stability to the recipe, heavy whipping cream can do the same thing.
CAN I FREEZE BUTTERBEER BUTTERCREAM FROSTING?
Yes, you absolutely can! If you think about it, bakeries put their cakes in a cooler to store them for their customers.
Freezing won’t hurt the texture, consistency, or flavor of your frosting. I always have a little bit of icing leftover, and I usually freeze it for the next time we need it.
BUTTERBEER BUTTERCREAM ICING INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED:
- Salted butter
- Vanilla extract
- Butter extract
- Heavy whipping cream
- Cream soda
TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING WITH A TASTE OF BUTTERBEER
Making homemade buttercream frosting is easy. Butterbeer buttercream frosting is no different, besides a few extra ingredients.
- First, make sure you soften the butter. Try to get it out ahead of time and let it soften naturally; don’t be like me and use the microwave to soften it, therefore melting it.
- Next, mix together the softened butter, vanilla extract, butter extract, caramel extract, butterscotch topping, heavy whipping cream, and cream soda.
- Add in the powdered sugar, and mix everything together for 2 to 3 minutes, mixing well.
Finally, if your frosting seems a little thin, you can add in a little extra powdered sugar until you reach the desired consistency.
You’ll end up with a very smooth, creamy, fluffy buttercream frosting that's perfect for cake decorating, piping onto cupcakes, and more. And it tastes divine!
MORE HARRY POTTER FOOD YOU WILL LOVE:
And my friend Linda will show you how to make the prettiest decorations for a Harry Potter celebration!
KITCHEN TOOLS YOU MAY NEED TO MAKE BUTTERBEER BUTTERCREAM FROSTING:
Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer – You can definitely mix homemade frosting by hand, but a mixer enables you to get a really smooth texture.
Measuring Spoons and Measuring Cups
Cake Decorating Kit with Tips and Pastry Bags
BUTTERBEER BUTTERCREAM FROSTING RECIPE
If you love this butterbeer buttercream frosting recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest!
CONNECT WITH ADVENTURES OF MEL!
Be sure to follow me on social, so you never miss a post!
Facebook | Pinterest | YouTube | Instagram | Twitter
Sign up to receive my newsletter, filled with delicious recipes and outdoor travel adventures, in your inbox:
Dreamy Butterbeer Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients
- 1 cup salted butter softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon butter extract
- 1/4 teaspoon caramel extract
- 1 tablespoon butterscotch topping
- 5 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- 1 tablespoon cream soda
Instructions
- Mix together the softened butter*, vanilla extract, butter extract, caramel extract, butterscotch topping, heavy whipping cream**, and cream soda.
- Add in the powdered sugar, and mix everything together for 2 to 3 minutes, mixing well.
- If your frosting seems a little thin, you can add in a little extra powdered sugar until you reach the desired consistency.
- You’ll end up with a very smooth, creamy, butterbeer buttercream frosting that’s perfect for cake decorating, piping onto cupcakes, and more. It tastes divine!
Made this for my daughter’s 8th Birthday cupcakes. Huge hit, everyone loved this icing.
That’s awesome, Brandy!
Hi I’m just wondering when you say cream soda that is a fizzy drink in Australia is that what I need to use? It is also red in colour. And also butter extract I’ll have never heard of that. Kind regards Debbie
That sounds about like cream soda, Debbie. It’s a fizzy, red soda pop. It tastes very sweet.
What did you use for the butterscotch topping?
What I used is actually called “butterscotch topping.” Sometimes it goes by the name of butterscotch “syrup.” You can buy this at just about any regular grocery store, as it’s generally sold as an ice cream topping.
Thank you for this recipe it’s perfect. I added a little butter and caramel extract to yellow cake mix along with 1/3rd of a packet of butterscotch pudding and cream soda in place of the water. Paired with this frosting the cupcakes were a huge hit for my daughter’s Harry Potter themed party.
Corrie, thank you so much! This sounds so delicious. I may have to try that myself.
I love this recipe, made it for the family. What a hoot! So many of them asked for the recipe. Thanks Shauna!
Thank you so much! I’m so glad y’all enjoyed it. It’s one of my favorite frosting recipes.
Huge HP fan right here and I am automatically interested when you say Butterbeer! I haven’t made it to Universal yet, so I don’t know what it tastes like exactly, but I’ve made butterbeer lattes and butterbeer with actual beer. So what I’m saying is, I’m totally down to try this frosting! Yum!
Colleen, it’s great to “meet” another Harry Potter fan! I hope you love it. And now I’m craving another batch.
Can’t wait to try this
Thanks, Michelle! I hope you enjoy it.
What is the purpose of the Cream Soda in this recipe?
Penny, it adds to the butterbeer flavor.
Mel- Have you colored this icing? Debating using it for a friends birthday and using the house colors but wondering if it holds the color well?
Megan, I’ve colored my regular buttercream frosting but not the butterbeer buttercream… I don’t see why it wouldn’t, though. I think it’d likely hold the color just fine. If you decide to try it, let me know how it goes! By the way, that’s a really great idea.
Ooooh! I can’t wait to make this recipe!!!! Sounds SO delicious- and LOVED Butter Beer at Harry Potter World :)
Kelly, thank you!!! I loved it there too. In fact, I’m ready for another trip to the Wizarding World.
Loved this recipe it is WONDERFUL!!!! Thank you. My kids and Grandkids Thank you too!
Chris, thank you so much! I’m so glad you all loved it.