Look no further than Butterbeer Frappucino if you have a sweet tooth and are hankering for something smooth, buttery, and delicious. But what is in a Butterbeer Frappuccino? This Butterbeer recipe, sourced straight from a world more magical than our own, is everything you want in a smooth, iced, blended drink to sip on and curl your toes. Read on to learn what is in a Butterbeer Frappuccino and how to order one at Starbucks.
What is Butterbeer, and What Does Butterbeer Taste Like?
Strolling through Hogsmeade, just a hop-skip and a broom ride from Hogwarts will take you to Three Broomsticks, the most popular place for a drink. They offer frothy, tasty Butterbeer to their patrons.
Starbucks’ Butterbeer Frappuccino is based on the wildly popular drink from the Harry Potter universe. It’s non-alcoholic, frothy, and sweet, making for a great treat. Most people say it had a distinct butterscotch taste, while others taste cream soda. It’s the perfect creamy and sweet drink for those who want a buttery-smooth milky drink.
Is Butterbeer Frappuccino on the Starbucks Secret Menu?
Starbucks’ secret menu is hidden; only the correct word spoken in Parseltongue will reveal it.
No, we’re joking. Can you imagine? The secret menu just knows to order off the standard menu with all the substitutions and specifications needed to make the secret menu drink. But, of course, it’s much more fun to say you’re ordering off a secret menu.
You can easily order a Butterbeer Frappuccino off the Starbucks secret menu by asking for the right things (we go into that later on).
What is in a Butterbeer Frappuccino at Starbucks?
The Butterbeer Frappuccino at Starbucks recreates all the sweet and smooth tastes you want from something that combines the words “Butter” and “Beer.”
Ice
Starbucks likes to use the word “Frappuccino” to signify that something is cold, blended, and smooth. By blending the rest of the ingredients with ice, Starbucks makes what is essentially a sweet smoothie (no kale needed).
Milk
The base of Butterbeer is milky, so you get that smooth and creamy taste. For those of us who can’t stomach dairy, you can ask for other milk options like:
- Almond Milk
- Coconut Milk
- Soy Milk
- Oat Milk
- Lactose-Free Milk
Coffee Frappuccino Syrup
Now, you can’t drink glue, no matter how much that one weird kid in first grade might protest. So instead of binding their drinks together and making all the ice and milk stick well together, Starbucks has the Frappuccino syrup. It’s made of:
- Xantham Gum Powder (A common food additive that thickens and sticks ingredients together)
- Sugar
- Water
- Vanilla Extract
Caramel Syrup and Caramel Sauce
You might be asking, what’s the difference between caramel sauce and caramel syrup in a Starbucks Butterbeer Frappuccino? It all comes down to ingredients and consistency. The syrup is mostly water and sugar, and it’s fairly thin and runny. But the sauce is thick and slow, made with butter and cream to give it that creamy consistency.
Whipped Cream
Frappuccinos are basically a treat-in-a-cup, and you can’t have a treat without a topping. A great touch for the whipped cream is when it’s swirled on top with a touch of caramel sauce as a crowning glory.
Does Starbucks Butterbeer Have Alcohol?
Nope! Butterbeer might sound like a frothy craft brew, but it’s a misnomer. It’s inspired by the drink from the Harry Potter series, enjoyed by underage wizards everywhere, and is alcohol-free.
How to Make a Starbucks Butterbeer Frappuccino at Home
It’ll never taste quite the same at home as ordering a Butterbeer Frappuccino at Starbucks, but you can always try making a copycat Butterbeer recipe at home. You need measurements now that you know what is in a Butterbeer Frappuccino.
To make a Starbucks Butterbeer Frappuccino in-house, use:
- Whole milk or half and half- ¾ cups
- Ice- 1 cup
- Vanilla Extract- ½ teaspoon
- Optional: Vanilla Ice Cream (Adds richness)- ½ cup
- Xantham Gum- ¼ teaspoon- Substitute with 1 teaspoon of instant vanilla pudding mix
- Caramel syrup, regular or sugar-free, for drizzling on the inside of the cup- 4 tablespoons
- Toffee nut or butterscotch syrup, regular or sugar-free, for drizzling on the inside of the cup- 2 tablespoons
- Optional: 1 Shot of espresso or strong coffee
Combine everything but a tablespoon of each syrup and blend. Drizzle the remaining syrup on the inside of your cup, pour your delicious brew in, and top with the last of the syrup, and voila! You’ve made your own using what is in a Butterbeer Frappuccino for your next Harry Potter Marathon.
How Do You Order a Venti Butterbeer at Starbucks?
Alrighty, making it yourself might not be your jam. You want the full experience, and we’re here to give it to you. Ordering a Butterbeer Frappuccino off the Starbucks menu is easy if you know the customizations to make.
The base of what is in a Butterbeer Frappuccino from Starbucks is a Caramel Frappuccino. That’s the drink on the official menu that you’ll customize to make it a secret drink. A caramel Frappuccino usually has the following:
- Ice
- Milk
- Coffee Frappuccino syrup
- Coffee
- Caramel syrup and sauce
- Whipped cream
Next, you’ll make the customizations. You’ll want to:
- Reduce caramel to 2 pumps
- Add 2 pumps of toffee nut syrup
- Add a pump of cinnamon dolce syrup
- Line the cup with caramel drizzle
The customizations are what add to the butterscotch Butterbeer taste. If that seems like a complicated order, we’ve translated it into the right spell to cast to order a Butterbeer Frappuccino.
You’ll need to know what size (tall, grande, or venti) and what milk substitutions you need to make. We went with grande and classic milk.
Roll up to your favorite Starbucks and say,
“Hi! Can I please get a grande Caramel Frappuccino with 2 pumps toffee nut, 1 pump cinnamon dolce, and only 2 pumps caramel? And could you please line the cup with caramel drizzle? Thank you!”
How Much Does a Butterbeer Frappuccino Cost at Starbucks?
Now that you know what is in a Butterbeer Frappuccino, you can easily order one. Depending on the Starbucks you go to, their current charging rules, and the size and milks you get, you’re looking at around 6 dollars.
Enjoy Your Favourite Secret Menu Drinks
The Butterbeer Frappuccino is only one of the delicious and interesting secret menu drinks that you can order once you know what is in it. For more great secret menu recipes, check out our site.
