Butterscotch Squares copycat recipe (2024)

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If you love those Butterscotch Squares from your favorite candy shop…this recipe is for you! It’s a copycat recipe – a soft brown sugar candy covered in chocolate. The perfect candy recipe!

Butterscotch Squares copycat recipe (1)

Table of Contents

  • Ingredients Needed
  • How to make Butterscotch Squares
  • Expert Tips
  • Butterscotch Squares Recipe Recipe

I’ve mentioned before about my See’s Candy addiction. Growing up, a pound lasted less than a day. The chocolate factory is in my hometown, so that whenever I smell the inside of See’s store, I think I’m home.

If I had to pick one kind of See’s Candy to eat for the rest of my life it would be the Butterscotch Square (or the maple truffles). There would be no deliberation, hesitation, or hemming and hawing.Butterscotch Squares: they’re my favorite!

The boxes of See’s we’d get when I was a kid came with one butterscotch square. And it was mine – always. Everyone knew to back away from the square. My mom got the divinity, my dad the bordeaux. Me? I got the butterscotch square.

Of course, in true Dorothy fashion (and since I didn’t know the name for the longest time), called them brown sugar squares. I’d polish it off and then tell everyone I knew how much I hated butterscotch. Yes, I’ve learned the error of my ways. Butterscotch and me, we’re BFFs. And now I’ve made a copy cat of my favorite candy. So you can make it at home.

Butterscotch Squares copycat recipe (2)

Ingredients Needed

The base of the recipe is a cooked mixture of unsalted butter, brown sugar and heavy whipping cream. When that trifecta boils together, you get a rich butterscotch candy.

Have you ever heard of penuche? This recipe is very similar to penuche candy/fudge. The difference is the amount of powdered sugar used at the end.

Butterscotch Squares copycat recipe (3)
Butterscotch Squares copycat recipe (4)
Butterscotch Squares copycat recipe (5)
Butterscotch Squares copycat recipe (6)
Butterscotch Squares copycat recipe (7)

How to make Butterscotch Squares

I did a lot of searching online for a copycat recipe and kept coming up with the same base recipe (some with just a few changes or additions) over and over. I finally traced it back to the oldest one I could find, but I’m not sure where that one came from.

I do recommend using a candy thermometer for this recipe. The recipe I used as a guideline just gave times, and the first time I made this it really did not turn out. The candy has to cook to 236°F for it to set up properly and it’s too hard to gauge that without a thermometer.

Once the candy is cooked you let it set in a 9-inch square pan lined with foil or parchment paper. Once it’s set you cut it into 64 squares and coat them with chocolate.

Butterscotch Squares copycat recipe (8)

Butterscotch Squares copycat recipe (9)

Tip From Dorothy

Expert Tips

  • Use a large kitchen knife to cut the candy.
  • Remove the candy from the pan using the foil. Cut it in quarters.
  • Cut each quarter into slices, then cut each slice into squares. Make small cuts to avoid breaking the candy.
  • I prefer using Ghiradelli candy melts – they taste the best. If you can’t find them, use Candiquik.
  • Store these in an airtight container for up to a week in the refrigerator or freeze for up to a month.

Butterscotch Squares copycat recipe (10)

Butterscotch Squares Recipe

4.36 from 114 votes

This is a copycat See's Candy recipe – a creamy butterscotch like filling to a truffle dipped in chocolate.

Prep Time 1 hour hour

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Chill Time 3 hours hours

Total Time 4 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

Yield 64 truffles

Serving Size 1 square

Save RecipeRate RecipePrint Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 cups (400g) packed brown sugar
  • ¾ cup (177ml) heavy whipping cream
  • 6 tablespoons (84g) unsalted butter
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (113g) powdered sugar
  • 16 ounces chocolate melts

Instructions

  • Line a 9×9” pan with foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray.

  • Place brown sugar, cream, and butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir until melted. Bring to a rolling boil, then reduce heat to low and place a candy thermometer in the pot.

  • Stir occasionally and simmer until the mixture reaches 236º, about 7-8 minutes. Turn off heat and stir in vanilla and salt. Whisk in powdered sugar. Pour into prepared pan and allow to set at room temperature (a few hours, but this can be done the day ahead).

  • When ready to cut, remove from pan. Use a large kitchen knife and cut the square into quarters. From here, use small cuts to cut them into small squares (about 16 squares per quarter).

  • Melt chocolate according to package directions and dip each square, tapping off excess. Place on a wax paper lined cookie sheet and chill to set.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

  • Be sure to use small but swift cuts. The candy can be fragile and is prone to flaking and breaking, so a quick cut will make the candy stay together.
  • Read my post about dipping chocolate easily for tips.
  • Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week in the refrigerator.
  • You can freeze the candy, but know the chocolate might dull when defrosted.

Recipe Nutrition

Serving: 1square | Calories: 88kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 13mg | Potassium: 41mg | Fiber: 0.5g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 41IU | Vitamin C: 0.02mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 0.3mg

Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Author Dorothy Kern

Did you try this recipe? Click the stars to rate the recipe below

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Last Updated on December 5, 2023

Butterscotch Squares copycat recipe (2024)

FAQs

Did butterscotch originally have scotch in it? ›

Alas, it turns out that butterscotch, traditionally a mixture of brown sugar and butter, never did contain Scotch. While there is no definitive etymology of the word, theories range from scotch being a corruption of the word “scorch,” to the possibility that the candy came from Scotland (this one is dubious).

How many calories are in a See's candy butterscotch square? ›

See's Candies Butterscotch Square (2 pieces) contains 24g total carbs, 24g net carbs, 9g fat, 1g protein, and 170 calories.

What is butterscotch in baking? ›

Butterscotch is a type of confectionery whose primary ingredients are brown sugar and butter. Some recipes include corn syrup, cream, vanilla, and salt. The earliest known recipes, in mid-19th century Yorkshire, used treacle (molasses) in place of, or in addition to, sugar.

Does butterscotch contain alcohol? ›

Even though no alcohol is present, it tends to have a sort of liquor flavor that is probably due to the heated sugar. Its history originates in England and the “scotch” part of the name may be derived from the word “scorch,” since the sugar is heated to a fairly high temperature.

What is the original butterscotch? ›

In Doncaster, England, in 1817, Parkinson set off a wave of excitement by creating a candy that used a combination of butter, sugar, and treacle (a version of our modern-day molasses). This confection grew in popularity, and the company ultimately received a Royal Seal of Approval for its high demand in exporting.

What is the difference between Carmel and butterscotch? ›

Similar to caramel, butterscotch is made by heating sugar. The main difference between the two is that butterscotch uses brown sugar instead of white. The ingredients are also combined in a slightly different order for butterscotch: your start out by melting butter with brown sugar.

Why does see's candy taste so good? ›

See's uses the finest roasted California almonds, drenching them in our signature milk chocolate. It may sound simple, but when you start with the finest fresh ingredients, something deliciously special will follow.

How many calories are in butterscotch squares with mango bits? ›

Rgies Butterscotch Squares With Mango Bits (2 pieces) contains 25g total carbs, 25g net carbs, 5g fat, 2g protein, and 150 calories.

What flavors pair well with butterscotch? ›

In the kitchen, FOBs (friends of butterscotch) include apples, pecans, cream, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom, chocolate, dessert sherry, rum and Scotch whisky. Here are some simple ways to showcase its flavor: Make butterscotch sundaes. Add a little Scotch or rum to warm butterscotch sauce.

Is brown sugar just white sugar with molasses? ›

Refined brown sugar is simply white sugar with molasses added to it. This means that brown sugar is pure, unrefined sugar and undergoes less processing than white sugar, allowing it to retain some of its molasses content and natural brown color.

What is the crunchy stuff in butterscotch? ›

It is not any coated dry fruit but it is hardened sugar,corn syrup along with few other ingredients then dropped with teaspoon to made chocolate chips like candies. These candies are also available in market like chocolate chips.

Why butterscotch is called butterscotch? ›

The term "butterscotch" is thought to originate from the confection's primary ingredients – butter and the process of "scotching," which in this context means to cut or score. The "butter" part of the name straightforwardly refers to one of the key components of the sweet.

Which bourbon tastes like butterscotch? ›

28 Mile ELF Butterscotch Bourbon Whiskey.

What can I substitute for butterscotch chips? ›

Caramel chips would be a swell substitute for the butterscotch chips in the aforementioned seven-layer bars. Naturally, they would also be right at home in nearly any kind of drop cookie or blondie.

Does butterscotch pudding contain scotch whiskey? ›

Spiking the mixture with a little bourbon or Scotch isn't strictly traditional, but it does add a pop of flavor. Choose bourbon to underscore the caramelized notes of the brown sugar, or Scotch for a savory smokiness and a nod to the name.

Did butterscotch originate in Scotland? ›

While there is some contention about the origins (per Britannica), it's typically thought that an English confectioner named Samuel Parkinson created the first butterscotch candies, which were produced in 1817 in the town of Doncaster in Northern England, recalls Spoon University.

What does peated scotch mean? ›

Peated whisky is given a smoky flavour by compounds which are released by the peat fires used to dry malted barley. The Length and intensity of exposure to the peat smoke dictates the strength of this flavour as do the characteristics of the peat itself.

What is the crunchy thing in butterscotch ice cream? ›

The base is made with cream (and milk sometimes) and it has crunchy praline (made with sugar and nuts) swirled into it. The crunchy praline give the ice cream an amazing texture. What are the nuts in butterscotch ice cream? Cashews and almonds are commonly used to make the praline in butterscotch ice cream.

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