Butterscotch Sauce
Silky smooth & buttery, Butterscotch Sauce has a special and specific flavor. Sure, I like salted caramel as much as the next guy, but let’s try Butterscotch Sauce for a change.
Table of contents
How is Butterscotch different than caramel?
Caramel sauce is made by melting and caramelizing white sugar, then adding a liquid to that caramelized sugar to turn it into a sauce.
Butterscotch sauce starts by melting brown sugar and butter together and then adding a liquid. Brown sugar has molasses in it, which is not the same thing as caramel. So butterscotch has notes of butter, molasses, vanilla and salt.
Ingredients
Ingredient Notes
- Brown Sugar – I like the deep molasses flavor from dark brown sugar, but you can use light brown sugar if that’s what you have on hand.
- Liquor – I developed this recipe using Butterscotch Schnapps for flavor. Honestly, because there was a bottle in the house that no-one was drinking. You can use another liquor like bourbon or rum, or you can replace the liquor with cream to keep it alcohol-free.
- Salt – Don’t leave the salt out. The characteristic butterscotch flavor is a combination of brown sugar, butter, vanilla and salt. The recipe was developed using Morten Kosher Salt. If you use table salt use 1/4 teaspoon.
Process Photos
See the recipe card for detailed measurements and instructions.
- Step 1: When you add the brown sugar to the melted butter, the mixture will look like wet sand.
- Cook over medium-low heat for 5 minutes and stir occasionally. Don’t cook too fast or your sugar won’t melt properly.
- The butter and sugar mixture will slowly liquify.
- Whisk the cream into the sugar & butter mixture. Keep your face clear of the steam that will form over the pot. Whisk in the optional liquor.
- Cook over medium low heat for 10 minutes, whisking occasionally.
- The sauce will bubble up while cooking.
- The sauce will become more viscous as it cooks.
- The final sauce should be silky smooth and not at all gritty.
Storage
Butterscotch Sauce will keep in the refrigerator for several weeks. I like to store it in a canning jar or glass bottle. Bring to room temperature before serving. Butterscotch sauce can be frozen for up to 3 months.
You might also enjoy Rumtopf, Mexican Cajeta or Hot Fudge Sauce on your ice cream.
More Butterscotch Recipes
If you love this recipe as much as I do, please consider giving it 5 stars.
Butterscotch Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 oz unsalted butter
- 8 oz dark brown sugar (1 cup)
- 4 oz heavy cream (1/2 cup)
- 2 oz butterscotch schnapps (1/4 cup (see note))
- 2 teaspoons real vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (not table salt (see note))
Instructions
- Melt 2 oz unsalted butter over medium low heat (see note). Add 8 oz dark brown sugar and stir until the sugar looks like wet sand. Cook on medium low, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes. The mixture will begin to liquify.
- Whisk in 4 oz heavy cream, then whisk in the 2 oz butterscotch schnapps. BE CAREFUL, the mixture will bubble up and steam when the liquids are added. Keep your face away from the pot.
- Cook over medium low heat for for about 10 minutes, whisking occasionally, until the butterscotch becomes viscous, very smooth and silky. Remove the pot from the heat and whisk in 2 teaspoons real vanilla extract and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt.
- Pour into a heat proof container to cool. I like to use canning jars to store the butterscotch sauce.
Would you like to save this recipe?
We’ll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Equipment
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Gave it a shot to put on some vanilla ice cream, and also to use up some cream I had leftover from a delicious potato soup recipe. It turned out fantastic. I’m waiting impatiently for it to cool and drooling while I do. 😀
Oh this is so good!
OH! I’ve never made butterscotch sauce before–what a great idea. Gorgeous photos too. Thanks for linking up to the Friday Frenzy!
Its been ages since I’ve had anything with butterscotch in it. I love butterscotch ice cream. Thanks for sharing a step by step process of making butterscotch sauce.
Simple and delicious. I would eat this straight from the jar until I’m sick lol. I actually like butterscotch sauce more than caramel and I bet salted butterscotch would be tasty too!
I did eat it straight from the jar and it was goooood.
Wow – I totally want to eat this with a spoon. Or just pour it in a glass, and I’ll drink it. I do love me some butterscotch.
Homemade is best, I like this simple easy to make recipe using brown sugar and butter. I always use storebought one.
I always buy store brought butterscotch sauce is homemade version this simple. I am definitely bookmarking this
Yay, I hope you make it soon. Let me know how you like it.
I never tried butterscotch sauce before. It sounds amazing. Love the consistency of this sauce. Looks so buttery, dense and delicious. Yum!
Thanks, Natalie. The sauce has a really luxurious texture.
Yum. I definitely would be licking the spoon! I want to drizzle this over some brownies with a scoop of ice cream!
I like the way you think, Amy!
This sounds like such a decadent treat, yum! Oh and I am so with you with the salted caramel thing…a bit over it for now 🙂
Thanks, Donna.
OMG, I LOOOOVE Butterscoth flavor and the sauce is my fav…more than caramel sauce! I’ve grown up eating it in India and your recipe is spot on. I’ve never tried making it at home but your recipe is so easy to follow that I’d make it soon.
Thanks, Molly. Is butterscotch popular in India?
Everyone gives all the love to chocolate. Why is that?? We love the taste of butterscotch. Yummy, buttery, creamy! Can’t beat it. In fact, Hubby’s favorite pie is butterscotch cream pie. I think I’ll make something and pour this delicious sauce all over it.
I would hate to have to choose between chocolate or butterscotch. It would be like choosing your favorite child. I’m happy to be in a world with both! I’ve been seeing recipes for butterscotch pie. I’ll have to give that a try soon. I’m working on some other butterscotch recipes for future posts.
I can imagine so many delicious uses for your butterscotch sauce!! For right now, I am imagining it being swirled all over my favorite french vanilla ice cream! YUM!
Yes, a thousand times yes, to this sauce on ice cream!!
I am a big fan of butterscotch and can never have enough on my ice cream. You make it looks very easy to make at home and I am tempted to make some of my own. Love you clicks and that makes it even more tempting!
Thanks, Sandhya!
LOVE butterscotch. I have never attempted making my own sauce. I should…since it looks easy and I know it would be way better than bought. Homemade wins every time.
It is pretty easy as long as you’re patient and don’t cook it too hot. Hope you try it.
I’ve never thought of making my own butterscotch sauce before. I totally dig that there is schnapps in there.
Thanks, Erin!
I completely agree! Salted caramel is great, but butterscotch is something entirely different and special. I love the addition of the schnapps in here, too.
Thanks, Sarah.
I love caramel sauce but this butterscotch looks amazing as good as caramel must do following yoru tips soon!
I love caramel too. But this is easier to make than caramel and has a different flavor. Hope you try it.
I haven’t had butterscotch in a while, and this reminds me of how much I enjoy it! Loving your recipe for butterscotch sauce. This would go so well with so many things!
Yep, it goes well with so many desserts. It also goes well with a spoon!
I love butterscotch – in fact more than caramel..!! So handy to have around. I made butterscotch cupcakes last week and they were such a treat. So much flavor in this sauce.
I know, it’s sooo good.
I haven’t had butterscotch in ages but I used to really love it and this just reminded me how much. I could just dip my spoon in there and eat it.
Thanks, Stephanie. I have been dipping a spoon right into the jar. It’s addictive!
Butterscotch does not get enough love. Every time I have it I am reminded how good it is and how well it pairs in desserts. To make your own means you can have a whole lot of it. Great idea!
I agree Peter. It does pair really well with desserts, but I will admit to dipping a spoon right into the jar…