It feels like some sort of gross injustice to have had a childhood without Harry Potter in it. I’ve compensated as best I can by insisting on reading all seven books out loud to both my children. That’s right. All 4,244 pages. Twice.

I’m still struggling to correctly pronounce Hermoine. Don’t judge me.

But as I sift through the classics to come up with literary inspired recipes, it strikes me that no books delve into all things sweet with quite as much delight as JK Rowling does. And for me, it’s about more than perusing the aisles at Honeydukes. Harry Pottter has come to symbolize the holidays for a very special reason.

My first Christmas Eve after we moved in Utah was kind of a magical thing. My husband, who had been out of work for a long time, had finally secured a job. We were living in a cabin heated entirely by wood stove in a rural valley above Ogden. Up until that point our sofa had been a futon I inherited for free from some college friends. A snowstorm was moving in and the roads were becoming entirely impassable when I heard a large truck come lumbering up the drive.

It was a delivery from a local furniture store. And they had my surprise Christmas present…a big, beautiful, soft sectional that felt like being swallowed by a cloud. As the snow piled up, we snuggled up on the couch and watched Harry Potter movies. It was one of the most lovely Christmas memories I have. For the first time in a long time it felt like everything might be more than alright.

I still get that same feeling about all things Harry Potter. Christmas Eve and snowstorms and the magic of feeling safe and warm is somehow tangled up in those stories for me. And I hope for my children too. So when I wanted a holiday literary inspired recipe, I knew it should start with all things Hogsmeade.

My decadent float is inspired both by the infamous pumpkin juice served at Hogwarts holiday feasts and the butterbeer that is a staple of The Three Broomsticks. And it begins with something magical.

Butterscotch.

If you’ve never made your own butterscotch, you’re in for a treat. It’s basically a lot of butter and sugar and instead of hardening to a caramel stage you leave it soft enough to pour. Basically worthy of drinking on its own but I digress.

Next we’re going to top off our float with a bit of vanilla cream. It’s one of the things that gives butterbeer its head of foam. I prefer Virgil’s and I guess this is the spot where I’m supposed to tell you it’s okay to use whatever you want. But…

It’s not okay. Use Virgil’s.

Or live with regrets. Your choice.

You’re probably wondering now that we have all this delicious butterbeer where the pumpkin juice comes in. So… I made pumpkin ice cream. Yeah. I know. You don’t have to make your own.

But good grief if you’ve never had pumpkin ice cream fix that.

Immediately.

You might think we’re done here but what kind of float doesn’t have a mountain of whipped cream? I mean if you’re going to trudge all the way into Hogsmeade in the snow you deserve a mountain of something.

Don’t worry.

Me and my whippits got you.

I recommend slathering in caramel sauce and topping with a chocolate frog and a golden snitch (aka Ferrero Rocher chocolates). You could go also go hogsmeade wild and do a black licorice wand straw or sprinkle with every flavor beans.

And there you have it. An easy, magical holiday drink sure to delight any HP fan. And if you want to add a little bourbon or brandy, I think Dumbeldore would definitely approve. Cheers to 2021 and may your season be merry and safe.

Hogsmeade Pumpkin Butterbeer Floats

Ingredients:

Butterscotch sauce

Vanilla cream soda

Pumpkin ice cream

Whipped cream

Caramel sauce

Chocolate frogs, golden snitches or other Honeydukes candy for garnish

Directions:

Put 1-2 Tablespoons of butterscotch into a tall glass or mug. Fill glass to about 2/3 with vanilla cream soda. Stir. Put in 1-2 scoops of pumpkin ice cream. Top with whipped cream, then drizzle with caramel sauce. Garnish as desired.