Best Butterscotch Pudding

Are you a butterscotch person? I’ve admittedly never been a big butterscotch person, perhaps out of lack of exposure. My pudding experience as a kid consisted solely of vanilla and chocolate; butterscotch wasn’t something that was even on my radar, save for a piece of Werther’s candy that I would snag when we were visiting relatives. Even then, it seemed sickeningly sweet and I definitely never sought out the flavor.

Fast forward decades and here we are… butterscotch pudding that I would drink if I could. I’m honestly not sure if this should be called butterscotch pudding or salted caramel pudding because, basically, this tastes like thick, creamy, cold salted caramel sauce. In other words, this pudding is worth every ounce of effort put forth and every extra calorie consumed.

In order to make this pudding, you basically make a salted caramel sauce, add some extra milk, a few egg yolks, a thickening agent, and… voila! Butterscotch pudding. I press it through a fine-mesh sieve to ensure that it’s silky smooth, then refrigerate for a few hours until it’s cold and set.

I think that I’ll probably need to eat an absurd amount of this to make up for all those years that my life was lacking butterscotch.

I’m up for the challenge. Pass the whipped cream.

One year ago: New York-Style Cheesecake with Fresh Strawberry Topping
Two years ago: Mississippi Mud Cake
Three years ago: Scalloped Potatoes
Four years ago: Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies
Six years ago: Cheddar Corn Chowder

Best Butterscotch Pudding

Yield: 8 servings

Prep Time: 30 minutes mins

Cook Time: 30 minutes mins

Chilling time: 3 hours hrs

Total Time: 4 hours hrs

A fabulous butterscotch pudding that tastes like a cross between salted caramel and a Werther’s candy.

4.36 (17 ratings)

Print Pin Rate

Ingredients

• ▢ ¾ cup (170.25 g) unsalted butter, cut into ½-inch pieces
• ▢ ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
• ▢ ½ cup (110 g) dark brown sugar
• ▢ ¼ cup (62.5 ml) water
• ▢ 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
• ▢ 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• ▢ ¾ teaspoon (0.75 teaspoon) salt
• ▢ 1 cup (238 ml) heavy cream
• ▢ 2¼ cups (549 ml) whole milk, divided
• ▢ 4 egg yolks
• ▢ ¼ cup (32 g) cornstarch
• ▢ 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions 

• Bring butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, water, corn syrup, lemon juice, and salt to a boil in a large saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar and melt the butter. Once the mixture is at a full rolling boil, cook, stirring occasionally, for until the mixture reaches 240 degrees F on a candy thermometer (about 5 minutes).
• Immediately reduce the heat to medium-low and gently simmer (the mixture should maintain a slow, steady stream of bubbles), stirring frequently, until the mixture reaches 300 degrees F on a candy thermometer, about 12 to 16 minutes longer (it should be the color of dark peanut butter and have a slight burnt smell).
• Remove the pan from heat; carefully pour ¼ cup of the heavy cream into the caramel mixture and swirl to incorporate (the mixture will bubble and steam). Allow the bubbling to subside, then whisk vigorously and scrape the corners of pan until the mixture is completely smooth, at least 30 seconds.
• Return the pan to medium heat and gradually whisk in the remaining ¾ cup heavy cream until smooth. Whisk in 2 cups of the milk until the mixture is smooth, making sure to scrape corners and edges of the pan to remove any remaining bits of caramel.
• Meanwhile, microwave the remaining ¼ cup milk for 45 seconds (it should be simmering). Whisk the egg yolks and cornstarch together in large bowl until smooth. Gradually whisk in the hot milk until smooth; set aside.
• Return the saucepan to medium-high heat and bring the mixture to a full rolling boil, whisking frequently. Once mixture is boiling rapidly and beginning to climb toward the top of the pan, immediately pour it into the bowl with the yolk mixture in a single motion (do not add gradually). Whisk thoroughly for 10 to 15 seconds (mixture will thicken after a few seconds). Press the pudding through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl and whisk in the vanilla extract.
• Spray a piece of plastic wrap with non-stick cooking spray and press on the surface of pudding. Refrigerate until cold and set, at least 3 hours. Whisk the pudding until smooth before serving. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator, with plastic wrap pressed against the surface, for up to 4 days.

Notes

Nutritional values are based on one serving

Calories: 460kcal, Carbohydrates: 38g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 32g, Saturated Fat: 19g, Cholesterol: 191mg, Sodium: 273mg, Potassium: 146mg, Sugar: 33g, Vitamin A: 1210IU, Vitamin C: 0.4mg, Calcium: 125mg, Iron: 0.3mg

Did you make this recipe?

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Author: Michelle Lettrich

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American