Creamy, sweet, and salty, the butterbeer latte combines a lot of great flavors. Even better, you can feel like you have dropped into the Harry Potter world! You can make a butterbeer latte with bold espresso, homemade caramel, and lightly spiced milk.
We’ll show you how to make a delicious butterbeer latte in a few simple steps. Plus, stick around for our brewing tips and flavor suggestions at the end!
What is butterbeer?
Butterbeer is a Harry Potter special dreamed up by J.K. Rowling. It is the drink of choice at the tavern in Hogsmeade, the village near Hogwarts. Universal Orlando brought this decadent drink to life back in 2010, but you don’t have to fly to Florida to give it a try!
The original butterbeer drink is made up of cream soda and butterscotch with a rich whipped topping. We are taking those flavors in a coffee direction today, replacing the soda with milk and adding a shot or two of bold espresso. All the buttery flavor, plus caffeine!
Easy Butterbeer Latte
Equipment
- Espresso machine or coffee maker
- Saucepan
- Stovetop
- Spoon
- Large coffee mug
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 shots espresso or ½ cup strong coffee
- 1 cup milk
- Ground cinnamon
- Whipped cream optional
Instructions
- Add the butter and brown sugar to the saucepan. Heat over medium-high, stirring constantly, until the mixture caramelizes.
- Stir in the milk and a little ground cinnamon. Then remove the pan from the heat.
- Pull two shots of espresso or make ½ cup of strong coffee.
- Pour the caramel milk into your coffee mug. Add the espresso or coffee and stir well.
- Top with whipped cream if you’d like. Then enjoy your sweet butterbeer latte!
Nutrition
Butterbeer Latte Recipe Variations
Ready for our brewing tips? Here are some ways you can vary your butterbeer latte.
Butterscotch Flavorings
Butterscotch is the central flavor in this latte, so it’s a good place to focus. Our recipe involves you making a simple homemade caramel sauce and mixing it into the milk. If you don’t want to make the caramel, you can buy butterscotch sauce (sometimes called butterscotch ice cream topping) at the grocery store. You can also substitute caramel syrup, though your butterbeer latte won’t be quite as uniquely flavorful.
Toppings
This drink is already pretty over-the-top, so you may want to skip the toppings altogether. If you’re feeling indulgent, add a dollop of whipped cream and sprinkle on your favorite butterscotch candies. You can also drizzle on a little caramel sauce or add your favorite spices.
Espresso and Milk
Classic lattes typically have steamed milk, and if you have a steamer, you’re welcome to do that here. You can skip adding the milk to the caramel in the saucepan and just combine them in your coffee mug.
Espresso is the best form of coffee to use in a butterbeer latte because of its bold, intense flavor. Butterscotch is a strong flavor, so you want your coffee to be able to hold its own. Of course, you can use brewed coffee instead. But we recommend making it extra strong!
Final Thoughts
That’s it — time to start brewing! We hope you enjoy this delicious and easy butterbeer latte recipe, combining homemade caramel with velvety milk, intense espresso, and a little cinnamon. You’ll feel like a Hogwarts student — though you don’t have to be a Harry Potter fan to love these sweet and salty flavors.
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- Delicious Brown Sugar Latte Recipe (With Cinnamon!)
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- 15 Perfectly Sweet Coffee Recipes (Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth!)
Featured Image Credit: Paul Einerhand, Unsplash
