Harry Potter Butterbeer Cupcakes (2024)

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Get ready to take a trip to Hogsmeade! These butterbeer cupcakes will take you right into the wizarding world of Harry Potter. They’re soft and fluffy cupcakes flavored with a butterbeer reduction, butterscotch, vanilla and butter flavor, frosted with butterscotch buttercream and drizzled with butterscotch ganache.

If you're looking for other cupcake recipes check out my salted caramel almond cupcakes, pumpkin cupcakes, best chocolate cupcakes or apple cider cupcakes!

Why You'll Love these Harry Potter Butterbeer Cupcakes

They taste just like butterbeer from the Wizarding World- I recently took a trip to Hogsmeade in Universal Studios and I’m here to tell you these cupcakes taste just like the real deal!

They’re a sweet treat- these are extra sweet cupcakes that are a perfect special treat! They use a butterbeer reduction and butterscotch chips to give them the perfect butterbeer flavor!

They’re fluffy and moist-They've got the best texture.

They're topped with fluffy butterscotch buttercream- This frosting is amazing. It's so smooth and fluffy. Butterscotch chips are melted and combined with whipped butter to make the perfect frosting consistency. Piping it is a dream!

Ingredients for Harry Potter Butterbeer Cupcakes

Butter- make sure it’s softened
Light Brown Sugar & Granulated Sugar- used to sweeten the cupcakes
Eggs- make sure they’re room temperature
Vanilla- as always I recommend vanilla bean paste for the best taste
Butter Extract- absolutely essential to taste like the real deal!
Butterbeer- I use Flying Cauldron butterscotch beer but if you can’t find it, cream soda will work as well
Butterscotch Chips- melted and added into the cupcake batter and frosting, I use Toll House
Buttermilk- keeps the cupcakes moist, make sure it’s room temperature
Flour- all purpose is used for the best texture
Baking Powder & Baking Soda- give the cupcakes they’re fluffy texture
Salt- just a little brings out all the flavors
Powdered Sugar- used in the frosting
Honey- just a little is used for the butterscotch ganache drizzle

Step by Step Instructions

See recipe below for complete measurements and baking time.

STEP ONE: Reduce the butterbeer

STEP TWO: Cream butter and sugar

STEP THREE: Add in eggs, vanilla and butter extract

STEP FOUR: Mix in butterbeer reduction and melted butterscotch chips

STEP FIVE: Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt

STEP SIX: Add dry ingredients and buttermilk to the wet ingredients and combine

STEP SEVEN: Divide batter between 24 lined cupcake pan wells and bake

STEP EIGHT: Make frosting by whipping butter and mixing in melted butterscotch chips. Then add in powdered sugar. Mix until fluffy.

STEP NINE: Make butterscotch ganache by melting butterscotch chips and cream. Then mix in honey.

STEP TEN: Pipe a generous amount of frosting into each cupcake and drizzle with butterscotch ganache.

See recipe below for complete measurements and baking time.

FAQs

Can I reduce the amount of sugar? No you can not. Sugar adds moisture to cupcakes and if you reduce the amount the recipe calls for the cupcakes won’t have the same texture, and might not bake properly.

What if I can’t find butterscotch beer? You can use cream soda for a very similar taste.

Do I have to reduce the butterscotch beer? Yes you do. This adds the most butterbeer flavor to the cupcakes.

How do I store the cupcakes? Store cupcakes in a airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. Let the cupcakes come to room temperature before enjoying.

Can these be made gluten free? I’ve only tested this recipe with regular flour, but if you make them gluten free please let me know how they come out!

Pro Tips

On melting the butterscotch chips: They should be melted and slightly cooled for the cupcake batter and buttercream. You want to make sure they're completely melted and slightly warm to the touch. Too warm and you could melt the butter while the making the buttercream. If they're too chilled it can cause little clumps of butterscotch chips in the batter and frosting.

Make sure all wet ingredients are room temperature.This will give you the best textured cupcakes!

Make sure to really whip your butter when making the buttercream. It should double in size and be super pale in color before adding in the melted butterscotch chips or powdered sugar.

If you make these cupcakes tag me on Instagram@inbloombakery_so I can see your creations! Follow me onPinterestfor other dessert recipes!

Also, please leave me a review if you make these cupcakes! It would be so, so helpful and allow me to more easily keep creating delicious recipes for you all!

Other Recipes to Try

Best Chocolate Cupcakes

Apple Cider Cupcakes

Pumpkin Cupcakes

Salted Caramel Almond Cupcakes

📖 Recipe

Harry Potter Butterbeer Cupcakes

These butterbeer cupcakes will take you right into the wizarding world of Harry Potter. They’re soft and fluffy cupcakes flavored with a butterbeer reduction, butterscotch, vanilla and butter flavor, frosted with butterscotch buttercream and drizzled with butterscotch ganache.

4.99 from 53 votes

Ingredients

For the Butterbeer Cupcakes

3 cups (710 ml) butterscotch beer (cream soda will work also)
½ cup (112 g) unsalted butter, softened
½ cup (110 g) light brown sugar, packed
¼ cup (50 g) granulated white sugar
2 eggs, at room temperature
2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or extract
1 teaspoon butter extract
⅓ cup (56 g) butterscotch chips, melted and slightly cooled
½ cup (120 ml) buttermilk, at room temperature
1 ¾ cups (219 g) all purpose flour, spooned and leveled then sifted
1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt

For the Butterscotch Buttercream

1 ½ cups (336 g) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup (170 g) butterscotch chips, melted and slightly cooled
2 ¼ cups (290 g) powdered sugar, measured then sifted
¾ teaspoon butter extract
½ teaspoon vanilla

For the Butterscotch Ganache Drizzle

¼ cup (42 g) butterscotch chips
1 tablespoon heavy cream
½ tablespoon honey

Instructions

For the Butterbeer Cupcakes

Add the butterscotch beer or cream soda to a large pot. Simmer over medium heat until it reduces to ½ cup. This usually takes around 20-30 minutes. Remove from the heat and let it cool until it's just slightly warm to the touch before using in the cupcakes.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 standard cupcake pans, or one large 24 cup capacity pan, with liners. Set aside.
In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
In a large bowl cream the butter, brown sugar and granulated white sugar together with an electric mixer, or a stand mixer, for 1-2 minutes or until fluffy.
Add in the eggs, vanilla and butter extract and mix until pale in color, about 1-2 minutes.
Add in the butterbeer reduction and melted and slightly cooled butterscotch chips. Mix until combined.
Add in the dry ingredients and buttermilk a little at a time until everything is combined. Mix until the batter is smooth.
Divide the batter evenly between the 24 liners, each should be about ⅔ way full.
Bake the cupcakes for 14-18 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean from the centers. (They will bake quickly.)
Let the cupcakes cool in the pan(s) for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a cooling rack to completely cool.

For the Butterscotch Buttercream

Add the softened unsalted butter to a large bowl. Whip the butter with an electric mixer until pale in color and fluffy, around 5-10 minutes.
Add in the melted and slightly cooled butterscotch chips and combine. (The chips should be completely melted but just slightly warm to the touch.)
Add in the powdered sugar a cup at a time or so and mix until combined.
Lastly add in the butter extract and vanilla and mix the frosting until light and fluffy, about one more minute.

For the Butterscotch Ganache

Add the butterscotch chips and heavy cream to a microwave safe bowl.
Microwave for 30-45 seconds. Stir to combine the cream and melted butterscotch chips. (Microwave a few seconds longer if needed to completely melt together.)
Then mix in the honey.
If the ganache gets too cold before using, microwave it for 5-10 seconds to melt it slightly.

Assembling the Cupcakes

Once the cupcakes are completely cooled add the butterscotch buttercream to a large piping bag fitted with a decorative tip.
Pipe a generous amount of frosting onto each cupcake and drizzle the butterscotch ganache over each.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!