Butterscotch Sauce Recipe - One Sweet Appetite (2024)

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Indulge your taste buds in a sticky dance of sweetness with this easy butterscotch sauce recipe. It’s like a golden symphony of buttery bliss and caramel enchantment, harmoniously melting over your favorite desserts. Drizzle it over a decadent scoop of vanilla ice cream or sneakily spoon it straight into your mouth when no one’s looking (we won’t judge).

Some of our favorite ways to use this butterscotch syrup? Drizzled on vanilla ice cream, as a topping for Cheesecake, Harry Potter Butterbeer Cupcakes, on top of Banana Cream Pie, and stirred into a latte!

Butterscotch Sauce Recipe - One Sweet Appetite (1)

Why You’ll Love This Butterscotch Sauce Recipe

  • 5 Ingredients: You’ll be shocked at the short ingredient list for this sweet syrup! You only need a handful of very basic kitchen staples.
  • So Many Uses: There are nearly endless possibilities for this sweet treat!
  • Long Lasting: When stored properly, this recipe will last up to two weeks which makes it the perfect make-ahead treat!

I am kicking myself for not making this recipe sooner. I was always intimidated by the idea of a homemade butterscotch, but it turns out it is fairly simple! All you need is a heavy bottomed pan and patience! This sauce is seriously dreamy. So good mixed in with your morning coffee, drizzled over cheesecake, or served with ice cream. Anyone you share this wonderful topping with will be begging for the recipe!

Oh! And it makes the perfect DIY holiday gift! Add to a mason jar, tie off with a ribbon, and voila! You have an impressive and tasty treat ready to share.

Butterscotch Sauce Recipe - One Sweet Appetite (2)

Butterscotch Syrup Ingredients:

One of the things that surprised me the first time I made this recipe was the small ingredient list. I cannot believe how much sweet flavor can come from something so simple.

  • Butter: I always have salted butter on hand, and while that does work well in this recipe, unsalted butter will give you a better flavor.
  • Brown Sugar: Using a brown sugar helps to add a rich deep flavor vs regular granulated sugar.
  • Cream: Heavy cream, or heavy whipping cream, gives you the rich and creamy base for this sauce recipe.
  • Vanilla: I recommend using pure vanilla extract vs imitation vanilla. Imitation tends to leave a slight chemical flavor that is less appealing for the finished product.
  • Salt: Leave this out of the recipe if you are using a salted butter. I really love the flavor of a finishing salt, like fleur de sel.

What Is The Difference Between Butterscotch and Caramel?

The main difference lies in the ingredients used. Butterscotch is typically made by combining brown sugar, butter, and often cream or milk. The combination of these ingredients gives butterscotch its distinctive rich, buttery flavor. On the other hand, caramel is made by heating white sugar until it melts and turns amber in color. It can be made with or without the addition of butter and cream. Caramel has a deeper, more intense flavor profile with a slightly bitter undertone.

Butterscotch Sauce Recipe - One Sweet Appetite (3)

Butterscotch Sauce Recipe

  1. PREP: Melt the butter in a large heavy bottomed pot over medium/low heat. Preferably stainless steel – 2 quarts.
  2. MIX: As soon as the butter has melted, stir in the brown sugar using a wooden spoon. Mix just until the sugar is combined with the butter.
  3. COOK: Cook the mixture, without mixing, for 3 to 5 minutes. Or until the mixture is bubbly and caramel textured. You want it to be less grainy and more smooth.
  4. CREAM: Using a whisk, add the cream into the cooked sugar. Lower the heat to the low setting and cook until a candy thermometer reaches 225 degrees.
  5. COOL: Remove from the heat and stir in the salt and vanilla. Cool completely. Transfer to a glass jar and keep stored in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Helpful Tools

  • Wooden Spoon: Use a wooden spoon to begin and transfer to a whisk once you add the cream.
  • Pot: A good quality 2 quart pot is ideal for this sauce recipe.
  • Jars: Mason jars (affiliate) are such a great storage option that is also reusable!
Butterscotch Sauce Recipe - One Sweet Appetite (4)

Recipe Notes:

What’s the best way to store butterscotch sauce?

The best way to store butterscotch sauce is to transfer it to an airtight container, such as a glass jar or a plastic container with a tight-fitting lid.

How long does homemade butterscotch sauce last in the refrigerator?

This sauce is typically best consumed within two weeks, but always check for any signs of spoilage before using. Remember, if you notice any changes in color, texture, or smell, or if mold develops, discard the butterscotch sauce to ensure food safety.

Can I reheat butterscotch sauce after it has cooled down?

Yes, you can reheat butterscotch sauce after it has cooled down. Reheating the sauce can help restore its smooth and pourable consistency, especially if it has thickened or solidified in the refrigerator. If using a microwave, heat the sauce in short intervals, stirring well in between each interval. This helps ensure even heating and prevents overheating or scorching. Be cautious not to overheat the sauce, as it can cause separation or alter the taste.

Can I use regular sugar instead of brown sugar in a butterscotch sauce?

While brown sugar is commonly used in butterscotch sauce recipes to achieve its distinct flavor and color, you can use regular granulated sugar as a substitute. However, it’s important to note that the resulting butterscotch sauce may have a slightly different taste and appearance. Brown sugar contains molasses, which adds a rich caramel-like flavor and a darker color to the sauce.

Can I substitute butter with margarine or a dairy-free alternative?

I’ve heard that you can, however I have never tried it. If you do want to make this recipe with a dairy free alternative, I suggest picking a product with a similar fat content for the best results.

Butterscotch Sauce Recipe - One Sweet Appetite (5)

5 from 2 votes

Homemade Butterscotch Sauce

Created by: Jesseca


Course Desserts

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Cool Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 50 minutes minutes

2 cups

Homemade butterscotch sauce recipe is a rich addition to almost any dessert! Easy to make and ideal to have on hand for any special occasion.

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Melt the butter in a large heavy bottomed pot over medium/low heat. Preferably stainless steel – 2 quarts.

  • Stir the brown sugar as soon as the butter is melted, using a wooden spoon. Stir just until the sugar is combined with the butter.

  • Cook the mixture, without mixing, for 3 to 5 minutes. Or until the mixture is bubbly and caramel textured. You want it to be less grainy and more smooth.

  • Using a whisk, add the cream into the cooked sugar. Lower the heat to the low setting and cook until a candy thermometer reaches 225 degrees.

  • Remove from the heat and stir in the salt and vanilla.

  • Cool completely. Transfer to a glass jar and keep stored in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Notes

  • Try to avoid mixing the sugar mixture as it caramelizes.
  • Use awooden spoonto begin and transfer to a whisk once you add the cream.
  • A good quality2 quart potis ideal for this sauce recipe.
  • Add a small amount of the salt and vanilla, taste, and add more as needed.

Nutrition

Serving: 2tablespoons | Calories: 87kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 76mg | Sugar: 9g

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    Comments & Reviews

  1. Jill Meintjes says

    can this be kept on the pantry shelf? if yes how long?

    Reply

    • Jesseca says

      Hi Jill, this sauce is best kept refrigerated and can be stored for up to eight weeks.

      Reply

Butterscotch Sauce Recipe - One Sweet Appetite (2024)

FAQs

Why is my butterscotch sauce runny? ›

If the sauce cools down and you still find it to be too thin, then it's undercooked. You can place it back on the heat for a bit to let it thicken up even more. If it's too thick, gradually add a bit more cream until it reaches the desired consistency.

What's the difference between caramel sauce and butterscotch sauce? ›

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.

What the heck is 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 flavoring in 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.

Why is my butterscotch not melting? ›

So as the butterscotch chips heat up they tend to hold their shape unless they are stirred regularly. This make mean that it looks as if they aren't melting and as as you continue to heat them they (or the chocolate) will start to overheat and "sieze".

What flavor is closest to butterscotch? ›

Similar to caramel, butterscotch is made by heating sugar. The main difference between the two is that butterscotch uses brown sugar instead of white.

What is real butterscotch made of? ›

butterscotch, usually hard candy made by boiling brown sugar and butter and sometimes corn syrup together in water. The derivation of the name is disputed as to whether it denotes the candy's origin in Scotland or an original ingredient of “scotched,” or scorched, butter.

Is dulce de leche caramel or butterscotch? ›

While it is often likened to caramel, dulce de leche possesses its own unique flavor profile produced by the Maillard reaction, a chemical reaction and transformation of sugars and proteins via heat. Caramelization does not actually take place when you make dulce de leche.

Why is butterscotch disappearing? ›

Why the disappearance? According to John Wright, author of "Flavor Creation," butterscotch never even cracked the Jell-O pudding flavors' top 10 list. So it's highly possible that Kraft Heinz, Jell-O's parent company, cleared out the butterscotch to make room for exciting new flavors.

Is butterscotch good for health? ›

Also, it doesn't raise blood sugar levels and is easy on the digestive system. Many people feel that butterscotch can improve the appearance of their skin if they eat it or use it as a face mask, as butter is one of the primary ingredients. It may come as a surprise, but butterscotch can assist those with asthma.

What nationality is butterscotch? ›

There are traces of the creation of sweets with butterscotch-like flavors that date back to England in the early 1700s, but the origins of the term butterscotch and a specific recipe is attributed to a confectioner named Samuel Parkinson.

How to thicken butterscotch sauce? ›

Increase heat to high and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, stirring often, for 5 minutes or until the sauce thickens slightly.

What is butterscotch sauce made of? ›

Butter, cream and vanilla syrup are added and the ooey-gooey sauce is heated again." Butterscotch, on the other hand, "is made with brown sugar instead of white sugar. The traditional butterscotch recipe calls for butter to be melted with brown sugar to start.

What is the crunchy stuff in butterscotch? ›

The base is made with cream (and milk sometimes) and it has crunchy praline (made with sugar and nuts) swirled into it. The crunchy praline give the ice cream an amazing texture. What are the nuts in butterscotch ice cream? Cashews and almonds are commonly used to make the praline in butterscotch ice cream.

What to do if your caramel sauce is too runny? ›

To thicken a caramel sauce, use one tablespoon of cornstarch or tapioca starch (sometimes known as tapioca flour) and one tablespoon of water per cup of caramel. Then simmer the caramel, stirring it constantly with a wooden spoon until it becomes thick.

How to fix separated butterscotch sauce? ›

Remove from the heat and let it stand at room temperature to cool down. If the sauce has separated then warming it gently and stirring occasionally should help it to come back together.

Why is my sauce watery? ›

Causes of Watery Spaghetti Sauce

Other causes include excess water from the noodles themselves or inadequately cooking down the sauce. Giving the sauce the proper amount of time to reduce is key: To do so, bring the sauce to a boil, then drop it to a simmer, and allow it to cook.

Why does my butterscotch separate? ›

Separation usually occurs due to a shock in the temperature, meaning the sugars are heated or cooled too quickly. To prevent this, you have to watch your heat closely, which is why low to medium heat is the best way to go for both melting the sugar and combining the mixture.

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