Real Butterscotch Pudding is pure comfort food. Add a hint of bourbon for a grown-up version of this childhood classic, or keep it alcohol-free for a kid-friendly dessert. Either way, it’s a delicious finale for your family dinner.

Today the #SundaySupper group wants to help you create memories by offering our favorite recipes for a Sunday Supper menu.

We all know that family life can be hectic, whatever form your family takes! When our kids were growing up, weeknights and Saturdays were busy with games, concerts and, eventually, jobs.

I will say that we did (mostly) sit down together for dinner together every night. But weeknight dinners were simple and fast and there was no lingering at the table.  Being a pastry chef, I always worked late on Fridays and all day on Saturday, so Friday night dinners were often take-out pizza, and my husband usually cooked on Saturdays.

Sunday was the one evening we were all home to enjoy a leisurely dinner. Sunday was also the one day I had the time to enjoy planning and preparing a special meal.

Eventually our daughter went away to college, but our son was still home for Sunday dinner. It was a little quieter, but still nice to have the time together.

I’ll admit that the first Sunday after he left for college I was at a loss. I didn’t know how to adjust to Sunday dinner with just the two of us. Luckily, we have some very nice friends who answered my plea for Sunday supper company. They helped fill the void for me that first weekend after both kids were gone. I am forever grateful!

Here’s a photo I posted on social media that night lamenting the loss of our family time, but appreciating our friends for stepping into the void.

You know you’re empty-nesters when wine bottles replace the milk in the refrigerator!

It took me quite some time to learn that I didn’t need an entire box of pasta or several pounds of potatoes for just us two. Eventually we adjusted, and we still managed to enjoy Sunday dinner together occasionally, even with our daughter living in Brazil and our son in Rhode Island. What you see going on in this photo really happened, more than once. Here’s our 21st century version of Sunday Supper; Sunday Supper via Skype!

Family Sunday supper despite being in three different cities (and 2 different continents!)

I offer you my recipe for homemade Butterscotch Pudding, hoping it will help you create precious #SundaySupper memories with your family.

Bourbon Butterscotch Pudding

Yield: 6 servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Chilling Time: 2 hours

Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes

Old fashioned butterscotch pudding made with real butterscotch flavors and a hint of (optional) bourbon.

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Ingredients

• 1/4 cup (2 oz, 55 g) unsalted butter
• 1 cup (7 oz, 200 g) dark brown sugar
• 2 cup (16 oz, 473 ml) heavy cream, divided in half
• 1 cup (8 oz, 236 ml) whole milk
• 2 Tbsp bourbon, optional (use an additional 2 Tbsp of milk for alcohol-free version)
• 6 large egg yolks
• 1/4 cup (1 oz, 28 g) corn starch
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt (not table salt, if you use table salt use 1/4 teaspoon)
• 2 tsp real vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Melt butter over medium low heat. Add the brown sugar and stir until the sugar looks like wet sand.
2. Cook on medium low, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes. The mixture will begin to liquify.
3. Slowly whisk in 1 cup of the cream. BE CAREFUL, the mixture will bubble up and steam when the liquids are added. Keep your face away from the pot.
4. Cook over low heat for for about 10 minutes, whisking occasionally until the butterscotch becomes more viscous, very smooth and silky. Whisk in the remaining cream, 3/4 cup of the milk and optional bourbon. Reduce the heat to low.
5. In a large bowl, whisk together the reserved 1/4 cup of milk and corn starch, add the yolks and salt.
6. Increase the heat under the butterscotch to medium high and bring it to a full boil. Whisk the butterscotch into the yolk mixture. Return the mixture to the pan.
7. Stirring constantly, cook over low heat until the pudding begins to thicken and just begins to simmer.
8. Immediately remove from the heat and pour the pudding through a sieve back into the mixing bowl. Whisk in the vanilla.
9. Divide the pudding among 6 serving dishes.
10. Chill until set.

You might also like:

Butterscotch Sauce

Rum Raisin Bread Pudding

Bourbon Butterscotch Cheesecake

Butterscotch Ripple Blondies

Buttermilk Bundt Cake

Triple Chocolate Pie

Check out these other fabulous Sunday Supper recipes from my #SundaySupper friends!

Sunday Supper Recipes

Super Sunday Entrees

• Beef-Barley Skillet by Wholistic Woman
• Braised Lamb Shanks by Caroline’s Cooking
• Breakfast Pizza by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Chicken Zucchini Pasta by April Golightly
• Creamy Lemon Pepper Chicken Spaghetti by The Bitter Side of Sweet
• Dutch Oven Braised Beef Pot Roast by Kudos Kitchen by Renee
• Ground Beef Stroganoff Skillet Recipe by Sunday Supper Movement
• Instant Pot Pork & Peppers Stew by My Life Cookbook
• Lemon Ricotta Spaghetti with Peas by Cricket’s Confections
• One Pot Taco Pasta by Life Tastes Good
• Pan-Fried Scallops with Vegetables by Our Good Life
• Panko and Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops by Jersey Girl Cooks
• Pork Fingers by The Freshman Cook
• Shepherd’s Pie Potato Skins by Fantastical Sharing of Recipes
• Skillet Chicken Parmesan by Hardly A Goddess
• Slow Cooker Irish Lamb Stew by Cooking Chat
• Spicy Shrimp Soup by Pies and Plots
• Turkey Fennel Skillet Dinner by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings

Sweet Sunday Desserts

• Butterscotch Pudding by Baking Sense
• Dark Chocolate S’mores Crack by Wild Wild Whisk
• Homemade Chunky Monkey Ice Cream by Bites of Wellness
• Mocha Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Box Cake by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Simple Cocoa-Spice Cake by A Little Fish in the Kitchen

The Sunday Supper Movement is committed to bringing our readers delicious recipes that encourage them to gather and eat together around the family table. Search for your favorite ingredients on our Sunday Supper website. Also check out the Sunday Supper Pinterest boards for plenty more ideas and inspiration.