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–+ servings

Quick Small Batch Butterscotch Sauce

This small batch homemade butterscotch sauce is rich, buttery, and has a pop of vanilla bean. If you're intimidated by making caramel, then you should try out this recipe first because it's a bit easier, but still so delicious! And it comes together in about 10-15 minutes, so you can always have a batch on hand for cupcakes, brownies, ice cream, & more.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 1 cup

Equipment

  • Heavy-bottomed saucepan
  • Candy thermometer
  • 8-ounce jar for storing

Ingredients
  

  • 60 grams good quality salted butter I use Kerrygold (¼ cup)
  • 100 grams dark brown sugar (½ cup, packed)
  • 120 milliliters heavy whipping cream room temperature (½ cup)
  • ⅛ teaspoon Kosher salt I use Diamond
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla bean paste or pure vanilla extract

Instructions
 

  • Place the butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan and melt it over medium heat. Then, add the brown sugar and heavy whipping cream, and stir with a wooden spoon until completely smooth.
  • Bring the mixture to a boil. Clip a candy thermometer to the side of the pot, ensuring the thermometer doesn't touch the bottom of the pot. Boil the butterscotch for 7-8 minutes, or until the temperature reaches 220°F (104°C). To prevent crystallization, use a wet pastry brush to brush the sides of the pot as the mixture boils.
  • Remove the pot from the heat and immediately stir in the Kosher salt and vanilla bean paste or extract. Let the mixture cool for about 10 minutes, and then transfer it to a jar to cool completely. (It will thicken more as it sits.) Use the sauce immediately or cover the jar and refrigerate the sauce for up to 1 week.

Notes

Feel free to use light brown sugar instead of dark.
If you only have unsalted butter, just increase the Kosher salt to ¼ teaspoon.
No candy thermometer? Boil the butterscotch for 7-8 minutes, or until it thickens and coats the back of a spoon. It will thicken more as it cools.
Feel free to add some flaky salt at the end for a salted butterscotch sauce!

Nutrition

Serving: 2TablespoonsCalories: 153kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 1gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 33mgSodium: 92mgPotassium: 33mgSugar: 13g
Keyword brown sugar, butterscotch, sauce, vanilla bean
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!