Wizarding World Sweets: Black Pepper Imps and Butterfly Wings Inspired by Harry Potter
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What’s Up, Hungry People
It’s Harry Potter week here in the Starving Chef’s kitchen – we’re celebrating all things to do with the Boy Who Lived! Today we stop off at Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes in Diagon Alley to pick up a sampling of their latest treats.
Fiery Black Pepper Imps
Fiery Black Pepper Imps burn the tongue and make smoke billow out of the ears of whoever eats them! Muggles, however, get the “fiery” sensation from the cinnamon flavor rather than magic. These treats are perfect for adding a bit of Hogwarts’ magical mischief to your day. Imagine sneaking these into the Great Hall and watching your friends’ reactions!
Madame Boboleta’s Sugared Butterfly Wings
These delicate sugar butterflies, in the wizarding world, have a chance to flutter away if the box is left open. However, if a Muggle opens the box, the butterflies will appear to be made of just plain chocolate and sugar crystals. These chocolate butterflies are formed on the pages of the Harry Potter books to get their perfect shape! It’s like capturing a bit of magic right from the pages of your favorite book. They make an enchanting garnish for any dessert or can be enjoyed on their own.
No matter if you are a Muggle or No-Maj, there’s nothing quite as delicious as magical treats from Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes!
Fiery Black Pepper Imps

n a pan over medium-high heat, mix together the sugar, corn syrup, water, and cream of tartar. Stir until the sugar starts to dissolve, then stop stirring and let it heat up to 300°F.
Once it hits 300°F, take it off the heat and stir in the black food coloring and cinnamon flavoring.

Pour the hot sugar onto a silicone mat and let it cool for 3-5 minutes. Put on some rubber gloves or candy gloves and carefully work the sugar into small beads. Use scissors to cut individual pieces from the sugar blob.
Get a bowl with about half a cup of sugar ready. Pinch both ends of each sugar piece in opposite directions to make an “x” shape. Toss each piece in the sugar to coat it. Keep going until you’ve made as many fiery black pepper imps as you want.
Madame Boboleta’s Sugared Butterfly Wings

Create a double boiler over medium-high heat. Toss in 2/3 of the chocolate and stir until it’s all melted and smooth. Keep an eye on the temperature; it shouldn’t go above 105°F.
Take the chocolate off the heat and slowly stir in the rest of the chocolate. Keep stirring until it cools down to around 82°F and looks glossy and smooth. Then, reheat it to 87-89°F.

Grab a piping bag or a baggie with a tiny round piping tip. Open your Harry Potter book to the middle and line it with parchment paper. Pipe the chocolate onto the paper, shaping the wings first and then the body.

While the chocolate is still wet, sprinkle on the sugar crystals if you’re using them. Let the chocolate set for 1-2 hours until it’s completely dry and glossy. Carefully lift the parchment paper off the book and peel it away from the butterfly wings.
You can use these chocolate butterfly wings to decorate magical cupcakes or just eat them plain.

Here’s What You Need
- 60% dark chocolate chips: smooth and rich base for butterfly wings
- Sugar crystals: optional decoration for a magical sparkle
- Sugar: sweetener and base for the pepper imps
- Light corn syrup: helps prevent crystallization in the candy
- Water: essential for dissolving the sugar mixture
- Cream of tartar: stabilizes the sugar mixture
- Black food coloring gel: gives the imps their dark, mysterious color
- Cinnamon flavoring: provides the fiery sensation
- Peppermint flavoring: an optional substitute for cinnamon

Tips for Perfect Magical Treats
- Don’t overheat the chocolate: Keeping the chocolate below 105°F ensures it stays smooth and doesn’t seize.
- Temper chocolate for glossy wings: Properly tempering the chocolate gives it that professional look and snap.
- Work quickly with hot sugar: Sugar cools fast, so have everything ready and move swiftly to shape your imps.
- Use gloves for handling sugar: Rubber or candy gloves protect your hands from the heat while working with the sugar.
- Experiment with flavors: If cinnamon isn’t your thing, try peppermint or another extract you love.
- Avoid humidity: Moisture can ruin your candy, so make sure to cook on a dry day for the best results.
- Use a candy thermometer: Accurate temperatures are crucial for candy-making success.

Whipping up some magical treats like fiery black pepper imps and sugared butterfly wings is a fantastic way to bring a bit of the wizarding world into your kitchen. These recipes are perfect for a Harry Potter-themed party or just a fun day of baking. Whether you’re impressing your friends or indulging yourself, these treats are sure to transport you straight to the halls of Hogwarts.
So grab your wand (or spatula) and start concocting some magic in your own home. Happy cooking, Hungry People!

Fiery Pepper Imps & Sugared Butterfly Wings | Harry Potter Inspired Recipes
Ingredients
FOR SUGAR BUTTERFLY WINGS:
- 32 oz 60% dark chocolate chips
- 1 cup sugar crystals optional
FOR FIERY BLACK PEPPER IMPS:
- 1 cup sugar + more for coating
- ½ cup light corn syrup
- ½ cup water
- ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
- ⅛ teaspoon black food coloring gel
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon flavoring or can sub peppermint flavoring
Instructions
FOR SUGARED BUTTERFLY WINGS:
- Create a double boiler over medium-high heat. Add 2/3 of the chocolate to the double boiler and stir until smooth. Do not let the chocolate temperature exceed 105°F.
- Remove the chocolate from the heat and stir in the remaining chocolate a little bit at a time. Bring the temperature down to about 82°F or until the chocolate is glossy and smooth.
- Reheat the chocolate back up to 87-89°F. Prepare a piping bag or baggie with a tiny round piping tip.
- Open each Harry Potter book down the middle. Line with parchment paper. Pipe the chocolate directly onto the parchment paper, starting with the wings and then filling in the body down the center.
- Decorate with sugar crystals while the chocolate is drying, as desired. Let the chocolate set completely – about 1-2 hours or until dry and glossy. Gently lift the parchment paper off the book and peel away from the butterfly wings.
- Use the chocolate butterfly wings as garnish on magical cupcakes or eat plain.
FOR FIERY PEPPER IMPS:
- In a pan over medium-high heat, combine the sugar, corn syrup, water, and cream of tartar. Stir until the sugar has started to dissolve, then bring to 300°F without stirring.
- When the temperature reaches 300°F, remove from the heat. Stir in the black food coloring and cinnamon flavoring.
- Pour the molten sugar onto a silicone mat. Let cool for 3-5 minutes. Using rubber gloves or candy gloves, carefully work the sugar into small beads. Use scissors to cut individual pieces from the sugar blob.
- Prepare a bowl with about a half cup of sugar in the bottom. Pinch both ends of the sugar in opposite directions to create an "x" shape. Place each piece in the bowl of sugar and toss gently to coat. Repeat until you've made your desired amount of fiery black pepper imps.