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Butterscotch Sauce

November 4, 2015 by Lindsey 23 Comments

Move over caramel. Butterscotch Sauce is in the hiz-ouse!

(Am I cool enough to say that?)
This Butterscotch Sauce is easy and fast! it comes together in 5 minutes and tastes so much better than caramel!

And it’s damn good.

And you can make it in 5 minutes. Say what now?!

This Butterscotch Sauce is easy and fast! it comes together in 5 minutes and tastes so much better than caramel!

I know, right?! Why have I been buying that stuff from the store that contains neither brown sugar nor butter???

Because let’s get one thing straight….

This Butterscotch Sauce is easy and fast! it comes together in 5 minutes and tastes so much better than caramel!

Traditional butterscotch flavor comes from two things: brown sugar and butter.

The two combine to give you a rich, caramelized sauce with molasses undertones from the brown sugar.

This Butterscotch Sauce is easy and fast! it comes together in 5 minutes and tastes so much better than caramel!

It’s like caramel’s fancier, more exotic cousin.

And it is so good you will want to pour it on everything. I do mean everything!

If you would use caramel, you can substitute this butterscotch sauce.

This Butterscotch Sauce is easy and fast! it comes together in 5 minutes and tastes so much better than caramel!

This recipe is based on one from American Woman’s Cookbook (1939 Edition), but the first time I made it as written in AWC it crystallized. And nobody wants a sandy butterscotch sauce.

So I added a little corn syrup to the sugar while it cooked and finished it off with some heavy cream to keep the smooth, saucy texture even after it cools.

I also added salt because salt enhances flavor and that is why you’re here right? Cool. Me too.

This Butterscotch Sauce is easy and fast! it comes together in 5 minutes and tastes so much better than caramel!

You can omit the corn syrup and it will still work but it’s like cheap insurance against crystallization. Trust me when I tell you that you can have a culinary degree and assiduously dissolve the sugar crystals on the sides of the pot, and still crystallize this sauce. But don’t worry, I’ve fixed that for you, so you can have creamy, smooth butterscotch sauce without a care in the world. 🙂

The sauce will slightly separate in the fridge over time, but it will emulsify again when heated.

 

Oh butterscotch sauce, where have you been all my life?

 

The real question and today’s cliffhanger is, “ what delicious creation did I put this sauce on?” Because you know I put it on something (other than my finger). 😉

 

Print
Butterscotch Sauce

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Yield: 1 cup

Butterscotch Sauce

This Butterscotch Sauce is more delicious and easier than caramel. You can make it just in 5 minutes! Rich and creamy with a hint of molasses! Pour it on anything!

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups light brown sugar
  • ¼ cup cold water
  • 1 tablespoon corn syrup
  • ¼ cup butter, cut in small cubes and room temperature
  • ¼ cup heavy cream, room temperature
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt (fine)

Instructions

  1. Stir together sugar, water and corn syrup and cook until 234°F (soft ball stage) in a large sauce pan.
  2. Add the butter; stir to incorporate.
  3. Add the heavy cream and salt; stirring until incorporated and salt has dissolved.
  4. Continue to cook until thickened, 1-2 minutes more, if desired.

Notes:

Adapted from the American Woman's Cook Book (1939 edition).

3.1
https://americanheritagecooking.com/2015/11/butterscotch-sauce/
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 More Caramel Favorites!

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Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Blondies 

Caramel Chocolate Chip BlondiesSalted Caramel Butter Bars

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Caramel Stuffed Brown Butter Snickers Chocolate Chip CookiesDouble Salted Caramel Cupcakes

These Double Salted Caramel Cupcakes have a moist vanilla cake, salted caramel filling and a delicious caramel buttercream!

 

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Filed Under: American Woman's Cookbook, Baking, Desserts, Heritage Cookbooks, Sauce Tagged With: brown sugar, butterscotch, caramel, dessert, easy, sauce

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Comments

  1. Lelia says

    November 4, 2015 at 11:58 am

    Sounds wonderful! Have put necessary items on the grocery shopping list!

    Reply
    • Lindsey says

      November 5, 2015 at 10:15 am

      Hooray!!! Maybe Dad will eat it on plain vanilla ice cream instead of chocolate sauce…ha. just kidding. he would never. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Jess @ Sweetest Menu says

    November 4, 2015 at 4:14 pm

    Your post made me giggle! I like the sound of this more exotic cousin to my old favourite friend, caramel. I can’t wait to try this! And to see what you used yours on! Xx

    Reply
    • Lindsey says

      November 5, 2015 at 10:14 am

      Haha thanks, Jess! You should absolutely try this instead of the usual caramel!

      Reply
  3. Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says

    November 4, 2015 at 7:22 pm

    Yessss! I don’t like most “butterscotch” things but REAL delicious butterscotch sauce like this is totally up my alley!

    Reply
    • Lindsey says

      November 5, 2015 at 10:14 am

      Isn’t fake butterscotch the worst!?! How did they decide that was what it should taste like? Bleh!

      Reply
  4. David @ Spiced says

    November 5, 2015 at 8:20 am

    You are indeed cool enough to say hiz-ouse, however I hate to inform you that it went out of style in the early 90’s. But that’s what I’m here for…to keep it real for ya, Lindsey. I’m also here to eat all of your butterscotch sauce and then pretend I don’t know what you’re talking about, yo.
    David @ Spiced recently posted…Pumpkin Spice Chai LatteMy Profile

    Reply
    • Lindsey says

      November 5, 2015 at 10:13 am

      LOL! You never fail to crack me up, David! What can I say, a dollar short and several decades late 😉

      Reply
  5. Shashi at RunninSrilankan says

    November 5, 2015 at 12:29 pm

    Seriously – you left us on the cliff wandering what in tarnation is she gonna put that decadent butterscotch sauce on?!?!?! GAH!!!
    But (also seriously) thanks for perfecting this sauce so it doesn’t crystallize…cannot wait to see what’s next…
    Shashi at RunninSrilankan recently posted…A Purely Simple Dessert BarMy Profile

    Reply
  6. Kelly says

    November 5, 2015 at 2:34 pm

    Haha holla for butterscotch! I can honestly say I am a sucker for both caramel and it’s more exotic cousin! It looks perfect and yes, I want to eat it by the spoonful! I also can’t wait to see what you use it on 🙂

    Reply
  7. cupcake recipes says

    November 5, 2015 at 5:00 pm

    a sweet butterscotch sauce like this one that you make is belicious, I want to try it the next week-end
    cupcake recipes recently posted…PUMPKIN SPICE CUPCAKESMy Profile

    Reply
  8. Consuelo | Honey & Figs says

    November 10, 2015 at 3:32 pm

    Oh my oh my oh my oh my!!!!!!!!!!!!1 How good does this look????? I could so drink it!!!!! x
    Consuelo | Honey & Figs recently posted…Hazelnut Whisky Chocolate Layer CakeMy Profile

    Reply
    • Lindsey says

      November 14, 2015 at 11:00 am

      Thanks, Consuelo! I may totally drank it!

      Reply
  9. Rachel @ Bakerita says

    November 17, 2015 at 4:26 pm

    Love this!!! I made butterscotch sauce last night, and my recipe is pretty similar to use. It’s so heavenly!
    Rachel @ Bakerita recently posted…Peanut Butter Cup Chocolate Chunk CookiesMy Profile

    Reply
    • Lindsey says

      November 29, 2015 at 12:02 pm

      Thanks, Rachel!! Isn’t butterscotch sauce the best!?

      Reply
  10. Laura @ Laura's Culinary Adventures says

    November 18, 2015 at 9:11 am

    So quick! It’s dangerous to have such a delicious sauce be so quick to make 🙂
    Laura @ Laura’s Culinary Adventures recently posted…Sauteed Brussels Sprouts and Blueberries with ThymeMy Profile

    Reply
  11. Kathryn Mader says

    April 22, 2016 at 5:33 pm

    Hey, what level heat do you use? Do you bring it to a boil or just stick around on lower heat until it gets hot enough? I’m trying to make it right now! Thanks!

    Reply
    • Lindsey says

      April 23, 2016 at 12:05 am

      Hi! Sorry, I just got off work. I boil it on medium-high like caramel!

      Reply
  12. Linda Palmer says

    August 19, 2017 at 12:45 pm

    What degree of heat do u use…..I boiled mine and for the first while after I took it of the heat it was smooth and delicious…..but then it turned all sugary….awful….I had to throw it out

    Reply
  13. Lindsey says

    September 20, 2017 at 7:03 pm

    Oh no! Just heat it back up and it will be smooth again. Did you cook it to soft ball stage? Brown sugar doesn’t have the same physical properties as granulated so it will be granular when it cools.

    Reply
  14. Amy O says

    July 25, 2018 at 4:38 pm

    Hi there! If I’m understanding this correctly, butterscotch (or any other brown sugar-based sauce) is really only usable when it’s heated up. Do I have that right? I’m working on finding the best sauce to top a Bundt cake to enter in a competition, and since I won’t have the luxury of heating any ingredients before the judging, I don’t want to enter a cake with a topping that’s always going to be grainy at room temperature. Do I just abandon the butterscotch idea and go with something like caramel, that’s white sugar-based?

    Reply
  15. Lindsey says

    July 26, 2018 at 4:52 pm

    That is correct. You could always make a butterscotch cream cheese frosting. The cream cheese will be smooth at room temperature and still have a nice flavor. Happy baking!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Homemade Butterscotch Sauce says:
    January 30, 2016 at 2:18 am

    […] A rich, butter butterscotch sauce can be made as easily as a simple caramel and it is great on just about everything. By Lindsey Farr […]

    Reply

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I love that each part of our vast Nation has distinct gastronomic differences, and I cannot wait to explore where we have been and where we are now with you!

These Cherry Preserves are quick and easy! Stock up on Summer’s bounty and enjoy all year! I spread mine on black pepper honey ricotta toast for an easy snack or breakfast.
There is nothing better than taking all of Summer’s bounty and throwing it into an easy, no-oven salad! This Stonefruit Caprese Panzanella Salad is at once familiar and comforting with a hint of the unexpected!
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