If you want to see a truly epic Harry Potter cake, my incredible friend Meghan from CosmoCookie has just what you're looking for. Made out of gingerbread, it features stained glass windows and all of your favorite characters from the books. Did I mention it even lights up? The creation of this amazing cake can be found here and the finished product is here. Check it out!

Butterbeer Cupcakes

Adapted from Amy Bites

Yields 18 cupcakes

Butterbeer Cupcakes

2 cups flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Pinch of salt

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened

1 cup dark brown sugar, packed

3 large eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 teaspoon butter flavoring

1/2 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup cream soda

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a cupcake tin with baking cups.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla extract and butter flavoring.

Fold in 1/3 of the flour mixture, then the buttermilk, 1/3 of the flour mixture, cream soda, and then the remaining flour. Folding in these ingredients will prevent over-mixing and will result in a fluffier, less dense cupcake. Fill cupcake liners 3/4 of the way full and bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the cupcakes are golden and spring back when touched. Cool completely before frosting.

Butterscotch Ganache

11 ounces (1 package) butterscotch chips

1 cup heavy cream

In a small saucepan on medium heat, melt the butterscotch chips into the heavy cream, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature before using.

Butterscotch Buttercream

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

1/4 cup butterscotch ganache (recipe above)

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon butter flavoring

Pinch of salt

3-3 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Splash of heavy cream (as needed)

In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter until light and fluffy. Mix in the butterscotch ganache, vanilla, butter flavoring, and salt. Beat in the powdered sugar for 2-3 minutes, starting with 3 cups and adding more only if necessary. Add the cream a tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is achieved (I only needed 1 tablespoon).

To Assemble

Pour butterscotch ganache into a plastic squeeze bottle. Stab the tip of the bottle into cupcake and fill each cupcake with butterscotch ganache until it starts to overflow.

Fill a pastry bag with butterscotch buttercream and pipe onto the top of each cupcake. Drizzle on the butterscotch ganache. Lick your fingers clean if you just so happen to get extra butterscotch on them. If you have any leftover butterscotch ganache, it can be used as ice cream topping.

Store in an airtight container at room temperature (that is, if they don't get devoured immediately).