With the latest and final instalment of the Harry Potter series – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 – showing in cinemas around the world, many of you may be either hung over from the Harry Potter craze, or still scrambling to catch yourselves up on the earlier films or books.
Here are 4 simple Harry Potter recipes (with a bonus at the end) that you can try at home to accompany you on your journey into the wizarding world.
Harry Potter butterbeer recipe
With its thick frothy head and slight alcohol content, the butterbeer is a popular wizarding beverage described as tasting “a little bit like less-sickly butterscotch.” In Hogsmeade, it is sold at The Three Broomsticks and The Hog’s Head pub. In Diagon Alley, the drink is sold at the Leaky Cauldron. With this delicious recipe, you can drink it at home!
Recipe: Butterbeer (Credit)
Ingredients:
- 1 cup light or dark brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 6 tablespoon butter
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cider vinegar
- ¾ cup heavy cream, divided
- ½ teaspoon rum extract
- Four 12-ounce bottles cream soda
Directions:
- In a small saucepan over medium, combine the brown sugar and water. Bring to a gentle boil and cook, stirring often, until the mixture reads 240 F on a candy thermometer.
- Stir in the butter, salt, vinegar and ¼ heavy cream. Set aside to cool to room temperature.
- Once the mixture has cooled, stir in the rum extract.
- In a medium bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of the brown sugar mixture and the remaining ½ cup of heavy cream. Use an electric mixer to beat until just thickened, but not completely whipped, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- To serve, divide the brown sugar mixture between 4 tall glasses (about ¼ cup for each glass). Add ¼ cup of cream soda to each glass, then stir to combine. Fill each glass nearly to the top with additional cream soda, then spoon the whipped topping over each.
Even if you don’t manage to get tipsy on the J. K. Rowling-approved butterbeer at the Harry Potter theme park in Universal Studios Orlando, this recipe should be as tasty as the park’s version. Just make sure to serve it chilled or frozen.
Harry Potter treacle tart recipe
Harry Potter’s favourite dessert is the treacle tart. Its aroma features prominently in “the most powerful love potion in the world” for Harry in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, which gives off the combined smell of each individual’s favourite scents.
Recipe: Treacle tart (Credit)
Ingredients (make 3 small 11 by 5cm forms):
For the pastry
- Chilled butter, cut into cubes – 1/6 cups (37 ml)
- All-purpose flour – ½ cup+1/8 cup (150 ml)
- Soft brown sugar – 1 tablespoon (15 ml)
- Chilled water – 1 tablespoon (15 ml)
- Chilled vodka – 1 tablespoon (15 ml)
For the filling
- Golden Syrup (or Maple Syrup or Corn Syrup) – 1/3 cup (75 ml)
- Butter – ¾ tablespoon (10 ml)
- Whipping cream – 1/6 cup (37 ml)
- Egg, lightly beaten – 1
Directions:
- To make the pastry, mix the butter, flour, and sugar together in a food processor, or in a mixing bowl, using your fingertips to combine, until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
- Make a hollow in the centre and pour in water and vodka (if not enough, add a little bit more vodka) to make a dough.
- Shape into a ball, cover with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
- Roll out the pastry and use it to line the forms. Chill in the refrigerator for another 40-60 minutes.
- Preheat the over to 350F (180C) and put a baking sheet in the over to heat up.
- Gently heat the Golden Syrup in a small saucepan.
- Add the butter and stir until the mixture is smooth.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and gently stir in the cream and the beaten egg. Be careful not to scramble the egg, if, however, egg white cooks a little, then pour the mixture through a fine thieve to get rid off the egg white lumps.
- Pour the filling into the pie shell and bake for 30-35 minutes until the crust is golden brown and the filling has set.
- Allow the tart to cool for a few minutes before serving with whipped cream.
Harry Potter pretzel wands recipe
Recipe: Pretzel wands (Credit)
Ingredients:
- ½ cup melting chocolate
- Pretzel rods
- Rainbow sprinkles
Directions:
- Melt some white or dark chocolate in a heat-proof bowl. You can either melt it on the stove over low heat or in the microwave in 30 second increments.
- Stir to make sure the chocolate is completely smooth and lump-free before using.
- Line a baking sheet with wax paper and set aside.
- Dip one end of the pretzel rods in the melted chocolate, about 1 inch in. The pretzel portion becomes the handle of the wand.
- Place the dipped pretzels on the baking sheet to rest. Let cool for one to two minutes, until the chocolate is just starting to harden.
- Shake on coloured sprinkles or whatever “wizardy” decorations you prefer. The sprinkles will stick best when the chocolate is not completely wet, which is why we let them harden a bit first.
- Let the chocolate harden completely before serving. A fun snack!
Harry Potter pumpkin juice recipe
One of the two drinks from the books that have been specially recreated in the Harry Potter theme park at Universal is the pumpkin juice (the other being the aforementioned butterbeer). This cold drink features in the feasts at Hogwarts, and can be purchased on the Hogwarts Express. It is sweet, non-alcoholic, with hints of cinnamon, ginger, and other spices.
Recipe: Pumpkin juice (Credit)
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of pumpkin, chopped up into chunks
- 2 cups of apple juice
- ½ cup of pineapple juice
- 1 teaspoon of honey (more or less to your liking
- Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg and/or Allspice (all ground, to taste)
Directions:
- Juice the pumpkin pieces by squeezing through a cheesecloth or using a juicer if you have one.
- Pour the pumpkin juice, apple juice and pineapple juice into a blender.
- Add the honey (we recommend you start with 1 teaspoon, as you can add some later!) to the juices and blend thoroughly.
- Add your spices (to taste). This might take some experimentation to get right.
- Chill your pumpkin juice or serve iced and enjoy!
Harry Potter magical sweets
There are several magical sweets in the Harry Potter universe, such as the Chocolate Frog and those created by Fred and George Weasley.
The Jelly Belly candy company has produced real versions of Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans in several quirky flavours that include bacon, dirt, earthworm, earwax, vomit, rotten egg, sausage, pickle, toast and soap.
Have you tried any Harry Potter themed food? What other Harry Potter recipes would you like to see? Share with us in the comments!
