Butterscotch | Description, Ingredients, & Uses (2024)

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Butterscotch | Description, Ingredients, & Uses (1)

butterscotch candies

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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. 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. Butterscotch chips, analogous to chocolate chips, are packaged and sold primarily for use in dessert cooking. In the home kitchen, the making of butterscotch is usually an initial step in the preparation of some more complicated elegant dessert. The brown sugar and butter formula is basic to a variety of cookies, puddings, icings, fudges, and sauces.

Butterscotch | Description, Ingredients, & Uses (2)

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The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.

Butterscotch | Description, Ingredients, & Uses (2024)

FAQs

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'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 makes butterscotch taste like butterscotch? ›

The primary taste of butterscotch comes from its main ingredient, brown sugar, which imparts a deep, caramel-like sweetness. This sweetness is characterised by notes of toffee and a hint of molasses, a complexity due to the molasses content in brown sugar.

What country did butterscotch come from? ›

Origin. Butterscotch is claimed to have been first named in 1817 in Doncaster, England by Samuel Parkinson. He had begun making the candy earlier under the name of buttery brittle toffee. The company that produced the candy received the Royal Seal of Approval for their highly demanded export.

What is the crunchy stuff in butterscotch? ›

It is not any coated dry fruit but it is hardened sugar,corn syrup along with few other ingredients then dropped with teaspoon to made chocolate chips like candies. These candies are also available in market like chocolate chips.

What alcohol is in butterscotch? ›

It's also rather easy to make your own butterscotch schnapps using a brandy or vodka base. This can be done by using butter, brown sugar, and light corn syrup to make a caramel sauce, letting that cool, then adding it to a bottle of liquor.

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.

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.

Why do they call it butterscotch? ›

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.

What is the brown thing 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 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.

What is butterscotch good for? ›

Butterscotch pudding is great on its own, but it can also be used in trifles other no-bake desserts. Dry pudding mix is good for cookies and cakes as well. Warm butterscotch sauce is heavenly when used to top off ice cream and cheesecake, along with other desserts.

What the heck is butterscotch? ›

Butterscotch is a type of hard yellowish-brown candy made from butter and sugar boiled together. A butterscotch flavored or colored thing has the flavor or color of butterscotch.

What are some fun facts about butterscotch? ›

In 1817, the word was first called in the Yorkshire town of Doncaster. In the US, butterscotch became popular in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. The word National Butterscotch day is on the 19th of September. Butterscotch sauce can be used as a topping on ice cream.

Was there ever scotch in butterscotch? ›

One misnomer is certain, however: that butterscotch contains any trace amounts of scotch or alcohol. Nearly all past and current recipes do not contain any Scotch whisky (unless the recipe is enhanced by adventurous cooks for their personal preference!).

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.

Did butterscotch ever contain 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 nut is used in butterscotch? ›

Butterscotch Chips Made with Real Cashew nuts. A deliciously indulging candy treat. Use them for decorations or just for casual crunchy bites.

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.

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