40 Old-School Butterscotch Recipes We Still Love Today (2024)

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40 Old-School Butterscotch Recipes We Still Love Today (1)Grace MannonUpdated: Feb. 13, 2024

    Butterscotch is so much more than the flavor of hard candy your grandmother always had in her purse!

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    Butterscotch Pie

    This pie's filling is like creamy pudding and is crowned with golden peaks of meringue. —Cary Letsche, Brandenton, Florida

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    Sticky Toffee Pudding with Butterscotch Sauce

    The classic sticky toffee pudding is a traditional dessert in the United Kingdom. I love that I can just stay home and bake this cake version, featuring saucy butterscotch. —Agnes Ward, Stratford, Ontario

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    Taste of Home

    Butterscotch Pears

    This grand finale simmers during dinner and impresses as soon as you bring it to the table. Serve as is, or with vanilla ice cream and a slice of pound cake. Leftover pear nectar is heavenly when added to sparkling wine or simply poured over ice. —Theresa Kreyche, Tustin, California

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    Taste of Home

    Butterscotch Pumpkin Mousse

    Guests savor every creamy, spoonful of this spiced autumn dessert. It tastes so good, no one guesses that it's actually low in fat. —Patricia Sidloskas, Anniston, Alabama

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    When I was deciding what type of cookie to make for a Christmas swap, I opted for something with coconut, pudding mix and salted caramel. Boxed, these could make a great gift as well. I like to drizzle caramel over the tops of the cookies before serving for a special touch. —Stacey Ritz, Sudbury, Ontario

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    Taste of Home

    Butterscotch Hard Candy

    I love making this classic butterscotch recipe. We think these irresistible bites are better than the store-bought variety... and they sure don't last long! —Darlene Smithers, Elkhart, Indiana

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    Taste of Home

    Butterscotch Cake

    I get lots of compliments and recipe requests whenever I make this eye-catching cake. The filling is similar to German chocolate cake. —Judy Lamon, Louisville, Tennessee

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    Taste of Home

    Chewy Salted Peanut Bars

    My rich bars are studded with the all-American peanut. I like to think famed peanut farmer Jimmy Carter would approve. —Ann Marie Heinz, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin

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    TMB Studio

    Butterscotch Toffee Cookies

    With its big butterscotch and chocolate flavor, my cookie stands out. I like to enjoy it with a glass of milk or a cup of coffee. It’s my fallback recipe when I’m short on time and need something delicious fast. —Allie Blinder, Norcross, Georgia

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    Taste of Home

    Apple Butterscotch Crisp

    I give this classic dessert a rich twist with butterscotch pudding. The warm apple filling bubbles to perfection in a mini slow cooker. —Jolanthe Erb, Harrisonburg, Virginia

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    Taste of Home

    Pumpkin Wontons with Butterscotch Sauce

    As a change from the usual pumpkin pie or cake, we created these deliciously different wontons. The butterscotch sauce would also taste great over ice cream. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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    Butterscotch-Toffee Cheesecake Bars

    I had been making lemon cheesecake bars for years and wanted a new flavor combo. Using the original bar as a starting point, I decided to try a butterscotch and toffee version. The results were amazing! —Pamela Shank, Parkersburg, West Virginia

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    Chocolate Butterscotch Haystacks

    My grandmother used to make this haystacks recipe to give to my cousin Vonnie and me when our parents didn't want us to have any more sweets. —Christine Schwester, Divide, Colorado

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    Taste of Home

    Butterscotch Gingerbread Cookies

    Every time I make these wonderful cookies, the spicy aroma takes me back to my childhood. I helped Mom make them and delivered them to neighbors. —Kara Cook, Elk Ridge, Utah

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    Don’t miss our collection of butterscotch chip recipes!

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    Taste of Home

    Choco-Scotch Marble Cake

    This recipe was given to me many years ago by a friend. Teaming chocolate with butterscotch for a marble cake makes it more flavorful and colorful than the usual chocolate-vanilla combination. This rich family favorite is very moist and keeps well.-Pam Giammattei, Valatie, New York

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    Butterscotch Pumpkin Fudge

    Each one of these creamy, heartwarming treats is like a bite-sized pumpkin pie. —Kathleen Henne, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania

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    Taste of Home

    Butterscotch Fruit Dip

    If you like the sweetness of butterscotch chips, you'll enjoy this warm rum-flavored fruit dip. I serve it with apple and pear wedges. It holds up for up to two hours in the slow cooker. —Jeaune Hadl Van Meter, Lexington, Kentucky

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    Chunky Apple Cake

    After taste testing lots of apple cakes, I've found this apple cake recipe the best. Full of old-world comfort, the yummy brown sugar sauce really makes the cake special. For a festive occasion, top with a dollop of whipped cream. —Debi Benson, Bakersfield, California

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    Butterscotch-Pecan Bread Pudding

    Bread pudding fans just might hoard this yummy butterscotch version. Toppings like whipped cream and a butterscotch drizzle make this dessert absolutely irresistible. —Lisa Varner, El Paso, Texas

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    Taste of Home

    Double Butterscotch Cookies

    This is a very old recipe that's been in the family for generations. Sometimes I'll omit the toffee bits and add miniature chocolate chips or coconut instead. —Beverly Duncan, Lakeville, Ohio

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    Aunt Ruth's Famous Butterscotch Cheesecake

    Aunt Ruth was our nanny when I was little and made this cheesecake often.Since it had to chill overnight, it was torture when my sister and I had to wait until the next day to have a piece. When I visited my old neighborhood and stopped by her house, she offered me a piece of that wonderful cheesecake.I made sure to leave with a copy of the recipe! —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho

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    Peanutty Candy Bars

    These chewy, gooey bars surely won't last long. Good thing they're quick and easy to make!—Mary Schmittinger, Colgate, Wisconsin

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    Butterscotch Eggnog Stars

    These yellow star-shaped cookies with a "stained-glass" center are almost too pretty to eat! But they have a rich eggnog flavor that is irresistible. Although they take a little time and patience to prepare, they're worth every minute! —Cheryl Hemmer, Swansea, Illinois

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    Taste of Home

    Pumpkin Whip

    Even though this dessert is quick to fix, it has a creamy pumpkin taste and golden harvest look...just like traditional pumpkin pie. It's a great dessert for both everyday dinners and special-occasion suppers.—Linda Clapp, Stow, Ohio

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    Salted Toffee Cashew Cookies

    When I get toffee bits, butterscotch chips and cashews together in one cookie, the sweet and salty combo is nearly impossible to resist. —Crystal Schlueter, Babbitt, Minnesota

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    Butterscotch-Rum Raisin Treats

    I love making rum raisin rice pudding around the holidays. Those flavors inspired this recipe. Crispy rice cereal adds crunch, but nuts, toasted coconut or candied pineapple could do the job, too. —Crystal Schlueter, Northglenn, Colorado

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    Homemade Butterscotch Pudding

    Homemade pudding reminds me of my grandma and how she turned milk and eggs into creamy textures before my eyes. The butterscotch in this recipe adds a caramel-sweet touch. —Teresa Wilkes, Pembroke, Georgia

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    Taste of Home

    Texas Tumbleweeds

    Tumbleweeds blow across the roads in some parts of Texas, and I think these cute stacks look like them. I've been making these sweets with my sister for years. —Karen Lemay, Seabrook, Texas

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    Butterscotch Apple Cake

    "My family often requests this easy old-fashioned cake for get-togethers—especially in the fall," writes Beth Struble from Bryan, Ohio.

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    Taste of Home

    Pumpkin-Butterscotch Gingerbread Trifle

    There's more to pumpkin than pie, as this impressive trifle proves. It looks so elegant with alternating layers of gingerbread cake and pumpkin/butterscotch pudding. Try making it ahead of time for a fuss-free dessert when you're planning to entertain guests. —Lyla Lehenbauer, New London, Missouri

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    Upside-Down Apple Cake with Butterscotch Topping

    This cake is a favorite of mine. I love the smell of the apples and butterscotch as it is baking. It fills the house with a perfect autumn aroma. —Sabrina Haught, Spencer, West Virginia

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    Originally Published: June 19, 2019

    40 Old-School Butterscotch Recipes We Still Love Today (32)

    Grace Mannon

    Grace learned a ton about the nitty-gritty of food and nutrition while earning her master’s degree in food science. She worked for a well-known baby food company and a company responsible for many favorite snack foods before transitioning to being a stay-at-home mom. She loves writing about complicated food science concepts in an understandable way and as a Taste of Home contributor, Grace covers a little bit of everything, from vintage recipes to must-have holiday foods and treats.

    40 Old-School Butterscotch Recipes We Still Love Today (2024)

    FAQs

    What is traditional butterscotch? ›

    Butterscotch is butter and brown sugar that has been slowly heated together to create a soft-crack candy. Just like caramel, the brown sugar molecules break down and, thanks to the addition of molasses in the sugar, caramelize into a richer, deeper flavor than classic caramel.

    What flavor pairs well with butterscotch? ›

    But chefs and home cooks know that using fresh ingredients in from-scratch recipes make butterscotch desserts delicious, even chic. In the kitchen, FOBs (friends of butterscotch) include apples, pecans, cream, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom, chocolate, dessert sherry, rum and Scotch whisky.

    Is butterscotch just butter and Scotch? ›

    Alas, it turns out that butterscotch, traditionally a mixture of brown sugar and butter, never did contain Scotch. While there is no definitive etymology of the word, theories range from scotch being a corruption of the word “scorch,” to the possibility that the candy came from Scotland (this one is dubious).

    What's the difference between caramel and butterscotch? ›

    The main difference between caramel and butterscotch is that caramel is made by heating white, granulated sugar to various stages, while butterscotch is made with brown sugar and butter, which gives it a deeper, more rounded flavor, thanks to the butter and molasses.

    What is the main ingredient in butterscotch? ›

    Butterscotch is a type of confectionery whose primary ingredients are brown sugar and butter. Some recipes include corn syrup, cream, vanilla, and salt. The earliest known recipes, in mid-19th century Yorkshire, used treacle (molasses) in place of, or in addition to, sugar.

    What is the closest thing to butterscotch? ›

    Butterscotch and caramel are both cooked sugar. But the main difference between the two is the sugar used to make them. Caramel is often made with regular white granulated sugar, while butterscotch is made with brown sugar. Caramel sauce doesn't always have butter, while butterscotch always calls for butter.

    Is dulce de leche the same as butterscotch? ›

    Butterscotch is made from cooking down brown sugar with butter, and its flavor is sweeter and softer than that of caramel. Dulce de leche is made from slowly cooking cow milk and sugar together. Dulce de leche made with goat milk is known as cajeta.

    What fruit tastes like butterscotch? ›

    The unfamiliar wanderer might mistake a whole lúcuma (Pouteria lucuma) for an avocado while exploring the temperate regions of Peru. But beneath the hard, green exterior, the beholder will discover a vibrant yellow, fleshy fruit. Tasters liken its flavor to caramel, butterscotch, and sweet potato.

    What is the cheese that tastes like butterscotch? ›

    Gjetost, (aka Brunost, which is Norwegian for Brown Cheese), is sweet like butterscotch with a dense and rich texture. It's fudge-like, caramelized, and decadent, making it a great breakfast or dessert cheese. Gjetost is best served in thin slices along with fresh fruit.

    Which bourbon tastes like butterscotch? ›

    Rabbit Hole Heigold High Rye Bourbon

    70% corn and 25% malted rye make up the mashbill. Expect sweet toasted corn aromas delivering butterscotch and citrus flavors with a peppery finish due to the rye.

    Did butterscotch candies used to be made with actual scotch? ›

    The difference between Butterscotch, Caramel and Toffee

    Butterscotch originally was just a hard candy. The suffix “scotch” is not related to alcohol, but to the method of cutting. Hard candy is difficult to break into clean pieces, so the candy is “scotched” (scored) to make it easy to cut later.

    What is butterscotch also called? ›

    Although the terms butterscotch and caramel are sometimes used interchangeably, butterscotch is generally distinguished by the absence of milk or milk substitutes from its recipe. Butterscotch in its hard form is typically marketed as translucent rich yellow drops or disks individually wrapped in cellophane.

    Is Werther's caramel or butterscotch? ›

    Werther's Original products are made of the finest caramel. We use the best ingredients to make every piece something worthy of being wrapped in gold!

    What flavor compliments butterscotch? ›

    Since butterscotch is a warm flavor that pairs well with other fall flavors (cinnamon, clove, vanilla, dark rum, apples and waffles) you can use any flavor combo (including a maple bacon flavor) to taper off the sweetness of butterscotch tones.

    Why do they call it butterscotch? ›

    The term “butterscotch” is thought to originate from the confection's primary ingredients – butter and the process of “scotching,” which in this context means to cut or score. The “butter” part of the name straightforwardly refers to one of the key components of the sweet.

    What is in butterscotch natural flavor? ›

    Butterscotch Type, Natural Flavor Blend contains propylene glycol, ethyl alcohol, water and natural flavor. This extract is gluten and sugar-free. For Baked Goods and other Food Applications.

    What's the difference between butterscotch and scotch? ›

    Both also contain butter and cream. Otherwise, they are made the same way with the same ingredients. Contrary to popular opinion, butterscotch does not necessarily contain scotch, though it often has vanilla extract, salt, and other flavors added, as does caramel.

    What is the crunchy stuff in butterscotch? ›

    Q. What is the crunchy thing present in butterscotch ice cream? The crunchy thing is hardened corn syrup, sugar and other ingredient made under high temperature, rather than caramel-coated cashew or almonds.

    References

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