Butterscotch & Caramel Sauce Recipes The Good Hearted Woman

Our collection of fourteen decadent, delicious, dessert-worthy Caramel Sauce and Butterscotch Sauce recipes will take your next scoop of ice cream or slice of pie to a whole new level of awesome.

6-panel collage showing various caramel sauce recipes.

What's the Difference Between Butterscotch & Caramel?

Caramel's primary flavors are white cane sugar and cream (or milk). Ingredients usually include granulated [white] sugar, milk and/or cream, butter, and vanilla.

Butterscotch's dominant flavors are traditionally brown sugar and butter. Butterscotch does not contain any dairy (i.e., milk, cream, etc.) except for that in the butter. Historically, butterscotch was made with treacle (blackstrap molasses, a cane-sugar byproduct); however, today it is generally made from brown sugar.

While making either butterscotch or caramel in candy form can be tricky (or at least require a candy thermometer), both caramel and butterscotch sauces are very easy to make, and store well for weeks. Perfect for pouring over a Caramel Raspberry Ice Cream Sundae or dipping Banana Lumpia!

A Brief History of Butterscotch

Butterscotch & Caramel Sauce Recipe Roundup

Butterscotch has an interesting history. While there are many theories about its origins, food historians (yes, that's a thing!) agree that the first record of the word “butterscotch” appeared in 1817, when Samuel Parkinson began making the candy in Doncaster, Yorkshire, England.

The candy soon won royal approval, and was subsequently advertised as "Royal Doncaster Butterscotch", or "The Queen's Sweetmeat", and was touted as "the best emollient for the chest in the winter season." Mr Parkinson's sweet creation was sold commercially from then on, until production ceased in 1977.

Then in 2003, a Doncaster couple discovered the recipe inside an old Parkinson's St Leger tin found in their cellar. They went on to form Parkinson's Doncaster Butterscotch Ltd, and now produce butterscotch made from the original recipe for sale all over the world.

Do you love Butterscotch? Be sure to check out our scrumpdillyicious Toffeetastic Butterscotch Pie recipe!

Butterscotch & Caramel Sauce Recipes

Get ready to dive into the delicious world of butterscotch and caramel with these mouthwatering recipes. Whether you're craving the buttery sweetness of butterscotch or the gooey goodness of caramel, this collection has got you covered. Perfect for dessert lovers who just can't get enough of these classic flavors!