Indulge in our single serving butterscotch pudding recipe! Made with simple ingredients, this creamy and dreamy pudding is easy to make and sure to please.
In a medium-sized bowl, mix cornstarch and salt. Gradually add milk, whisking until you get a smooth, lump-free mixture.
Whisk the egg yolk into the cornstarch mixture and set the bowl aside.
Place a 2-quart saucepan on medium-high heat and melt the butter. Once melted, incorporate the brown sugar.
Initially, the brown sugar will appear grainy. Keep stirring until it fully melts and liquefies.
Take the saucepan off the heat and carefully stir in the cream. Steam will rise and sugar may clump; this is normal.
Put the saucepan back on low heat. Keep stirring until the sugar dissolves and the mixture smooths out.
Remove the pan from the heat and very slowly add the hot butterscotch to the bowl with the cornstarch, milk, and egg yolk and whisk.Pro Tip: The process of gradually adding hot butterscotch to the egg yolk mixture is known as tempering. This technique is crucial for preventing the egg from cooking and turning into scrambled eggs. The aim is to slowly raise the egg’s temperature to match that of the hot butterscotch. Start by whisking about a teaspoon of the hot butterscotch into the egg mixture. Next, continue to add the butterscotch in small amounts, all while consistently whisking. This ensures that the egg is gently heated and smoothly incorporated into the pudding mix. Keep that whisk moving to avoid scrambling the egg!
Pour the tempered cornstarch mixture back into the saucepan. Turn the heat to medium-high, stirring until it reaches a steady boil.
Once boiling, continue to stir and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
Transfer the butterscotch pudding into a bowl or glass container. Chill for at least an hour.
Notes
Prep Ahead: Before you start, make sure you've read the entire butterscotch pudding recipe and gone over the ingredient notes. Keep all your ingredients within arm's reach. Checking out the step-by-step photos in the post can also give you a visual guide for the process.
Handle Sugar with Care: Even though this recipe is straightforward, melting sugar can be tricky. It gets extremely hot, so make sure you're using a deep saucepan and taking it slow to avoid mishaps.
Cornstarch Slurry is a Must: Don't skip making the cornstarch slurry with milk and egg yolk. This step ensures a lump-free pudding texture. Whisk until your mixture is silky smooth before adding it to the pot.