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    Home » Recipes » Sweet Sauces

    Homemade Butterscotch Sauce

    Published: May 31, 2022 Modified: Feb 27, 2023 by Isabel Laessig

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    Make the most delicious and easy homemade Butterscotch Sauce recipe using just three ingredients and a pinch of sea salt. Ready in 5 minutes, this simple syrup is the perfect topping for your favorite desserts!

    Drizzling butterscotch sauce on ice cream with a spoon
    Jump to:
    • Best Butterscotch Sauce
    • Butterscotch Syrup Ingredients
    • How to Make Butterscotch Sauce
    • Butterscotch Sauce Recipes FAQs
    • Butterscotch vs. Caramel
    • How to Reheat Butterscotch Syrup
    • Best Dessert Sauces
    • 📌 Pin it for later!
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Reviews

    Best Butterscotch Sauce

    Oh, how I love this easy sauce for dessert! The homemade butterscotch syrup makes everything better. My kids love it over pancakes and waffles, and I love to drizzle it over a spoonful of plain vanilla ice cream or use it as a dip for apple slices. You could even use it to flavor coffee.

    This is a classic sauce and, if you ask me, a staple. The best part about this recipe, though, is how easy it is to make. With just 3 simple ingredients plus a pinch of sea salt, and only 5 minutes on the stove, this is the easiest dessert sauce you will ever make.

    You read that right - 5 minutes! No need to worry about accidentally scorching your pan making this sauce. It's the best butterscotch sauce to serve over ice cream and to elevate any dessert.

    This was very easy to make and the taste is amazing!!!!

    Angela on Pinterest
    Butterscotch sauce in two glass jars

    Butterscotch Syrup Ingredients

    • butter unsalted
    • light brown sugar
    • heavy cream
    • sea salt

    How to Make Butterscotch Sauce

    1. Combine unsalted butter, light brown sugar, and heavy cream in a small saucepan over medium-high heat.
    2. Stir until the butter melts and the ingredients are fully combined.
    3. Turn the heat down to medium-low and simmer for 4 minutes.
    4. Once 4 minutes is up, remove from heat and stir in a pinch of sea salt.
    5. Let cool before serving, and enjoy!
    Ingredients to make butterscotch sauce in a pot

    Butterscotch Sauce Recipes FAQs

    What is butterscotch?

    Butterscotch is a thick and syrupy sauce similar to caramel. It has a sweet flavor and sticky texture that make it perfect for topping ice cream, or for making recipes like cookies, pudding, pie, cake, and so much more.

    What is butterscotch made of?

    Three simple ingredients: brown sugar, butter, and heavy cream. We add a pinch of sea salt to our recipe that is a delicious complement to the sweet sugar. The sea salt is what really rounds it out and makes this easy sauce recipe extra special.

    Can I substitute Butterscotch for Caramel?

    You absolutely could, although the flavors are not the same. The difference between brown and white sugar is molasses, so this sauce has a slight molasses flavor and is richer than the butter used in the recipe.

    Can I freeze butterscotch?

    This sauce can be frozen! However, it uses heavy cream, which expands when it freezes, so do not freeze it in a glass container. Allow it to cool, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container and seal tightly. Label with the freezing date and store frozen for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw in the refrigerator and reheat over low heat on the stove.

    How long can I store butterscotch in the fridge?

    Store in an airtight container such as a jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

    Butterscotch sauce in a spoon over a jar of sauce

    Butterscotch vs. Caramel

    The difference between caramel and butterscotch is simple: butterscotch uses brown sugar instead of white sugar. It's also not essential for the caramel to use butter, but it is necessary for this sauce.

    How to Reheat Butterscotch Syrup

    Reheat in a saucepan over low heat for a few minutes until it reaches its original consistency, or microwave it in 30-second intervals.

    Butterscotch sauce in a jar next to a spoon

    Best Dessert Sauces

    • Chocolate Sauce
    • Slow Cooker Applesauce
    • White Chocolate Syrup
    • How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting
    • Toffee Sauce
    • Strawberry Jam
    • Easy Chocolate Ganache
    • Strawberry Topping
    • Whipped Cream
    • Caramelized Apple Topping

    Check out my all-time favorite sauce recipes here: Easy Sauce Recipes

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    Did you try this recipe? Let us know what you think in the comments below or send us an email! We love to hear from you.

    📖 Recipe

    butterscotch sauce drizzled over icecream

    Easy Butterscotch Sauce Recipe

    Isabel Laessig
    4 ingredients, 5 minutes - our homemade Butterscotch Sauce recipe is easy, quick, and perfect for topping your favorite dessert recipes!
    4.86 from 7 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 1 min
    Cook Time 4 mins
    Total Time 5 mins
    Course Sauce
    Cuisine American
    Servings 1 cup
    Calories 756 kcal

    Equipment

    • Small sauce pan

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 Tbsp. butter unsalted
    • â…“ cup light brown sugar
    • â…“ cup heavy cream
    • 1 pinch sea salt

    Instructions
     

    • Combine 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter, â…“ cup light brown sugar, and â…“ cup heavy cream in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir until the butter melts and the ingredients are fully combined.
      Ingredients to make butterscotch sauce in a pot
    • Turn the heat down to medium-low and simmer for 4 minutes. Once 4 minutes is up, remove from heat and stir in a pinch of sea salt. Let cool before serving, and enjoy!
      Butterscotch sauce in a spoon over a jar of sauce

    Nutrition

    Calories: 756kcal
    Keyword butterscotch recipe, butterscotch sauce, butterscotch sauce recipe, butterscotch syrup
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    « Truffle Butter Recipe
    Easy Strawberry Glaze Recipe »

    About Isabel Laessig

    Isabel Laessig, better known as Family Foodie and the founder of the Sunday Supper Movement, is passionate about food and family! She is the author of the Boujee Steak Cookbook, and hosts Family Foodie Friday on WTSP's Great Day Tampa Bay along with other television appearances to spread her mission of bringing Sunday Supper back around the family table in every home.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sandi says

      July 13, 2022 at 6:32 pm

      5 stars
      Love this recipe over vanilla ice-cream! So quick and easy to fix - my kind of recipe. It's also good drizzled over fruit. Thank you so much for sharing your expertise.

      Reply
      • Isabel Laessig says

        July 13, 2022 at 6:49 pm

        Thank you so much, Sandi! We are so happy you enjoy it!

        Reply
    2. Mary says

      August 21, 2022 at 4:48 pm

      5 stars
      Can I just sit in a closet with a spoon and this amazing sauce?!? It's so good.

      Reply
      • em says

        August 31, 2022 at 3:57 pm

        We are so happy to hear that, Mary! So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for your comment, it made my day.

        Reply

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