The Irish grandmother of a dear friend of mine used to melt butter in a pot, then pour in beer to warm it. I'm told this simple version of butter beer dates back centuries. Author J. K. Rowling does not provide a recipe for butterbeer in her wildly popular Harry Potter book series, so this version is pure speculation. Harry Potter's butterbeer contains a mild intoxicant, but this dessert version is suitable for children and tasty enough to please adults as well.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 pint real vanilla ice cream (use a brand that includes vanilla seed specks for best flavor or make your own)
- 1/4 cup real butter, at room temperature
- 1/2 teaspoon butterscotch extract
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 quart apple cider
Preparation:
On medium speed, beat together vanilla ice cream, butter, butterscotch extract, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg until well-combined. Pour into a container and re-freeze.When ready to serve, gently heat apple cider in a saucepan until steaming hot.
Place 1 scoop of ice cream in a thick soda glass or large mug. Top with steaming apple cider.
Yield: 4 to 6 servings
