Accio Butterbeer

What do you do when you need  a Butterbeer RIGHT NOW?  You make up a batch of our Instant Hot Butterbeer. Its original inspiration was holiday gift-giving. When we think of presents that we would like to make or receive for the holidays we think of cookies and fudge. Being Harry Potter fans we thought it would be great to give our friends mugs of hot sweet foamy Butterbeer. Then we thought … hmmm…that could get messy! Or it could get expensive if you make the trip to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter to satisfy the craving. So then we thought of the jars of dry soup mix or pancakes that people make up for gift giving. Could we do that for Butterbeer? Well we would do almost anything for Butterbeer so we retreated to our lab (kitchen) and experimented. The results were satisfying and would bring cheer to the most ardent fan of Harry Potter.

First assemble your ingredients. You will need:
1  3.2 ounce pouch non fat dry milk
2  3.5 ounce boxes butterscotch cook and serve pudding
6 tsp. dark brown sugar
2 tsp. Butter Buds Sprinkles natural butter flavoring
1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (or a mixture of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice and cloves)

You will need a few kitchen basics to mix your ingredients:
1 mixing bowl
1 spoon
1 canning funnel (optional)
1 set measuring spoons

Mix all your ingredients together in the mixing bowl. Funnel or carefully spoon the mix into a decorative jar. It couldn’t be easier!

Now for the packaging. You will need:
1 1 pint canning jar with lid
1 decorative spoon
1 tag large enough for the directions
1 small bow and assorted ribbons

This quantity of mix fills a 1 pint jar. If you want to use a larger jar you will need to double the recipe. If you are making enough for all your friends then multiply the recipe by the number of jars you plan to fill.

Label your jars “World Famous Magical Instant Butterbeer” or something similar!

Include these directions:

“Spoon 3 to 4 heaping spoonfuls of mix into a mug and add hot water. Top with whipped cream and Butterscotch Syrup if desired (and who wouldn’t). Makes 6 to 8 servings.”

Add a bow to the lid in the color of your recipient’s Hogwarts House. Tie on the spoon with some colorful magical wired stars.
Now you can enjoy a hot foamy Butterbeer and the faces of your friends when you hand them their present.

A bit of history was submitted by Giles, one of our Projects followers!

“However JK Rowling was inspired by real, historical “buttered beer” – with a bit more of an alcoholic kick!! There is a reference made to it in 1588 (no less!)”

J.K. Rowling is FULL of these kinds of magical references and we love discovering them. This 1588 recipe was an ale mixed with eggs, sugar and butter and then spiced with various options like nutmeg and cloves. This website has a lot more information on this original alcoholic version NOT appropriate for the younger Hogwarts students!