Time Machine Butterscotch Pudding Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

Does butterscotch pudding contain Scotch whiskey? ›

This creamy pudding, thickened with cornstarch and egg yolks and stirred together on the stove, is as homey as it gets. Spiking the mixture with a little bourbon or Scotch isn't strictly traditional, but it does add a pop of flavor.

Homemade butterscotch pudding is in its own playing field. In 1 pot, we're combining caramelized brown sugar and butter with a splash of vanilla and bourbon. Butterscotch pudding is luxuriously creamy and velvet-rich. Top with salted caramel, fresh whipped cream, and toffee bits for a truly unforgettable dessert.

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).

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.

While developing our recipe for Best Butterscotch Pudding (see related content), we noticed that some batches turned out slightly grainy, while others were silky smooth. The problem, we were surprised to learn, wasn't undissolved cornstarch: It was the butter.

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.

Oh, you can get those little single-serve, ready-to-eat cups in butterscotch flavor. But you can't get Jell-O butterscotch mix, those deck-of-cards-size boxes of just-add-milk powder. Only chocolate and vanilla and, sometimes, banana cream.

Butterscotch, on the other hand, is made with brown sugar instead. 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.

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. Some recipes add glycerine for smoothness and vanilla extract for extra flavor.

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.

Does Scotch whiskey taste like butterscotch? ›

On the palate, you'll get candy, vanilla fudge, butterscotch, peanut brittle and candied citrus along with floral and freshly cut grass. The whisky gives a medium finish along with refreshing citrus and a bit of pepper.