I always loved the idea of being at Hogwarts for Halloween. I can still envision exactly how I pictured it the first time I read it; a big old castle, with pumpkins and fake bats everywhere.
If there’s one thing that JK Rowling always explained in detail, though, it was the food. From pumpkin pasties to cauldron cakes and even Hogsmeade’s famous Butterbeer, I’ve always wanted to try the food from the world of Harry Potter.
I was pretty excited when I did go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando a few years ago, and naturally, the first thing I wanted to try was the Butterbeer! However, the clear taste of cream soda with butterscotch sauce left me rather disappointed, and I started on a mission to find my own more authentic recipe.
I found the original version of this recipe forever ago on Buzzfeed, and loved it at first taste. I’ve made some tweaks over the years to make it my own, and now I couldn’t picture Butterbeer any other way!
Happy Halloween, and may your Butterbeer always be hot!
Erin's Butterbeer recipe
Ingredients
6–8 tbsp caramel sauce to your taste
3 cups apple cider
1 cup whiskey (I like using ones with hints of cinnamon or apple)
2 cups ginger ale
Whipped cream and cinnamon to garnish
Steps
In a medium saucepan, melt together the cider, whiskey, and caramel.
Remove from heat, and stir in the ginger ale.
Ladle into your favourite mug and serve with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon!