what is butterscotch

Butterscotch is a type of confectionery made primarily with brown sugar and butter. It is usually a sweet, soft, and rich candy that is similar to caramel but without the bitter notes that make caramel unique. Butterscotch is made by heating brown sugar and butter on the stove to the soft crack stage, between 270°F and 290°F. The traditional recipe calls for butter to be melted with brown sugar, and once the mixture becomes more of a liquid, cream is added, and the ingredients are boiled again. Butterscotch is often used as a flavor for items such as dessert sauce, pudding, and biscuits (cookies) . It can also be bought in "butterscotch chips" made with hydrogenated (solid) fats to be similar for baking use to chocolate chips. Butterscotch-flavored liqueur is also in production. Butterscotch in its hard form is typically marketed as translucent rich yellow drops or disks individually wrapped in cellophane.