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This creamy Butterscotch Pie is spread into a flaky pie crust and layered with rich butterscotch topping, and butterscotch chips. So delicious!
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This Butterscotch Pie is rich and creamy, and a scrumptious end to any meal. I’ve been a huge butterscotch fan since I was young. I would always gravitate toward the butterscotch pudding while others went for chocolate or vanilla. So, naturally, when I first tasted this butterscotch pie recipe, I was hooked!
A rich, creamy filling is spread into a flaky pie crust, drizzled with butterscotch sauce and sprinkled with butterscotch chips. Add a dollop of whipped cream and get ready to experience a little taste of heaven.
Ingredients in our Butterscotch Pie Recipe
This homemade butterscotch pie is simple to make, and you can even take a few shortcuts along the way. Trust me, your guests will never know the difference. Here’s what you need:
- Pie crust – Feel free to use a pre-baked pie shell from the grocery store, or make a homemade pie crust with our super easy recipe in a 9-inch pie pan. Make sure to bake the pie dough in the oven before you add the filling.
- All-purpose flour – About half a cup.
- Cornstarch – This will help thicken the custard filling.
- Brown sugar – Light or dark brown sugar, either one works great!
- Kosher salt – You can find this salt in the baking aisle at the grocery store. A teaspoon of salt is all you need.
- Milk – do yourself a favor and use whole milk for a super creamy pie.
- Large Egg yolks – use the yolks of two large eggs or three regular size eggs. Save the egg whites in the fridge for another recipe.
- Vanilla extract – Just one teaspoon vanilla extract will give this pie filling such a rich flavor.
- Butterscotch chips
- Butterscotch sauce – you can use ice cream topping found at the grocery store or make our homemade caramel sauce.
- Whipped Cream Topping (optional) – make your own using heavy cream. Use the whisk attachment of your mixer and whip at medium high speed until soft peaks to stiff peaks form. Or, just grab a can of spray whipped cream from the store. Easy!
Creamy Butterscotch Pie Filling
- First, stir together brown sugar, flour, cornstarch, and salt in a large saucepan. Don’t add heat yet! Gradually add the milk until it’s completely combined and smooth.
- Then, cook over medium to medium-high heat to a slow boil, or until the mixture thickens. Then, take it off the burner.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, then add a little of the hot custard mixture, a few spoonfuls at a time, and whisk together until it’s smooth. This is called tempering the yolks. If you just mix the eggs in the hot pan, you run the risk of your eggs cooking. You don’t need scrambled eggs in your pie filling!
- Once tempered, add the eggs to the hot mixture and whisk together.
- Add the butter and vanilla extract and combine.
- Cool the filling completely in the refrigerator.
- Finally, add the filling to the pie dish, drizzle with butterscotch topping and butterscotch chips.
- Top with whipped cream and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions About Butterscotch Pie
While I haven’t made this pie with different crusts, you can surely try it! A graham cracker crumbs crust is easy to make. Try our homemade graham cracker crust recipe.
The pie filling should be chilled, or brought closer to room temperature before filling the pie crust. If it’s tool cold, it won’t spread evenly in the crust.
Cover any leftover pie with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for up to three days.
Read More: 25+ Thanksgiving Dinner and Dessert Ideas
More Butterscotch Recipes To Try
Butterscotch lovers, unite! There are several other delectable ways to enjoy this sweet treat. Like these Oatmeal Cookies with Butterscotch Chips. Hands down, one of my personal favs! You’ll also love the Coconut Butterscotch Chocolate Chip Cookies. It’s like every good thing inside one bite. And of course Oh Henry Bars (or Scotcharoos) wouldn’t taste the same without the butterscotch in the topping.
More Delicious Pie Recipes
- Brown Butter Pecan Pie
- Blackberry Pie
- Chocolate Satin Pie
- Pumpkin Pie
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Cream Pie
- Fresh Strawberry Pie
- Peach Pie
- Coconut Cream Pie
- German Chocolate Pie
- Island Pecan Pie
How to Make Butterscotch Pie
Butterscotch Pie
Video
Ingredients
- baked pie crust (store bought or homemade pie crust)
- 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 cups milk
- 2 egg yolks
- 3 tablespoons butter (softened)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- butterscotch chips
- butterscotch topping
Instructions
- In a large sauce pan, not over heat, combine the sugar, flour, cornstarch, and salt. Gradually add the milk until it's completely combined and smooth.
- Cook over medium heat until mixture thickens, then remove from heat.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg yolks lightly.
- Add a few spoonfuls of the hot mixture from the stove and whisk together until smooth.
- Add the egg yolk mix to the rest of the hot mixture.
- Add the butter and vanilla and thoroughly combine.
- Cool the mix completely in the fridge.
- When ready to eat, pour the mixture into a pre-cooked pie shell.
- Drizzle with butterscotch topping and sprinkle with butterscotch chips.
- Optional- top with whipped topping.
Notes
- First, stir together brown sugar, flour, cornstarch and salt in a large saucepan. Don’t add heat yet! Gradually add the milk until it’s completely combined and smooth.
- Then, cook over medium to medium-high heat to a slow boil, or until the mixture thickens, then take it off the burner.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, then add a little of the hot custard mixture, a few spoonfuls at a time, and whisk together until it’s smooth. This is called tempering the yolks. If you just mix the eggs in the hot pan, you run the risk of your eggs cooking. You don’t need scrambled eggs in your pie filling!
- Once the eggs are tempered, add them to the hot mixture and whisk together.
- Add the butter and vanilla extract and combine.
- Cool the filling completely in the refrigerator.
- Finally, add the filling to the pie dish, drizzle with butterscotch topping, and butterscotch chips.
- Top with whipped cream and enjoy!
I could not get this pie to get thick I am wondering should that be 2 cups milk instead of 4 That seems like a lot to me Thank you
The 4 cups of milk is correct. The trick is cooking the mixture over the stove long enough to really thicken it. It should be almost as thick as you want it for the final product when it goes into the pie crust.
This is the pie I’m going to serve alongside the pumpkin pie this Thanksgiving. I’m super excited because I know it’s going to be a huge hit once again!
So happy I came across this recipe. The pie was so amazing! I now plan on making it for the holidays. My family is going to love it.
I love butterscotch so much so this pie is right up my street!
3, 2, 1 I want to dive into this pie!! It looks SO good and is perfect for the coming festive season. You have my vote!
Oh gosh, I’m a little afraid of this recipe, it looks TOO good. I don’t know if I’d be able to eat just one slice at a time!
My filling is not as think as I believe it should be based on reviews, comments by Emily… should I reheat the filling to see if it thickens more? Should I add more cornstarch?
It takes quite a while to thicken to the right consistency. If you are worried about it, you can add a little more cornstarch until it is thick enough.
This looks so good, can’t wait to give it a try!
Ok, move over chocolate, I have a new favorite!! Everything about this is delicious!!
I am all about butterscotch flavor!! It looks super easy too!! This is going on the Thanksgiving menu!
I loved this butterscotch pie, it was so delicious, the perfect thing for fall. We made it double unhealthy and enjoyed it with ice cream 🙂
How do I get the topping recipe? The link isn’t available
We just use butterscotch ice cream topping from the store!
Made this pie for my friend’s birthday and it was a major hit! Thank you for the recipe!
Oh my goodness this pie is amazing! I never think to have butterscotch but my kids are crazy about pudding and pairing it with a buttery pie crust just puts it over the top. Thanks for this easy yet delicious dessert recipe!
After the eggs are tempered, should the entire mixture be returned to cook over the stove until bubbling?
I haven’t tried that, but it may help make it be a little more stiff and less pudding like.
My Grandmother made this pie ever since I can remember. Now that she is know longer with us I make it. Yes after you temper the eggs keep cooking it will thicken up low heat keep stirring and it does keep it shape when cut it. We never added any extra topping, just a dollop of homemade whip cream.
Hi! Do the yolks cook w the mixture or does this pie need to bake? Also howling does the mixture take to cool in the fridge? Ty
I would give it at least 3 hours to cool.
Did you use dark or light brown sugar?
Light brown sugar. 🙂
Will the pie keep a wedge shape once we cut a piece? Or will the filling spread out because its the consistency of pudding? (If filling is cooled completely and poured into crust at last minute, during our thanksgiving meal, is there a better chance of the piece of pie holding their shape?)
I don’t want to go thru the expense, nor making and bringing it for thanksgiving dessert if pie pieces end up not holding their shape when cut, with the filling spreading out when pie piece is cut and removed. (So many times spreading happens with homemade cream pies, from my experience, and slices don’t hold their shape nor look like a piece of pie when plated.)
Or would you suggest making one of these pies as a beta pie, between now and thursday, so that I get it right and firm enough the second time around for the official TG dessert?
Thx for the recipe. It looks terrific and tasty!
Like other pudding consistency pies, it does not hold a perfect shape when cut into, unfortunately. But what it lacks in perfect shape it makes up for in taste. 🙂
I love butterscotch! I think my husband might find the triple butterscotch effect just a bit overwhelming. Have you tinkered with different toppings or drizzle at all? (I still want the filling, myself, but think my family might enjoy a little different topping.)
I haven’t tried different variations but don’t let that stop you. 🙂 I’m sure it would be tasty with chocolate chips instead of butterscotch.
Love butterscotch. This pie looks gorgeous. What a great recipe to try for holidays thanks for sharing
Is this something that can be made a few days ahead of time? also! when scooping the filling into the crust, what consistency should we expect? Should we expect to smooth it over and cover the imperfections with the butterscotch topping?
It tastes best made the day of. It’s kind of a thick pudding consistency. There’s not really imperfections that need covering. Mine had some cracking because I put the topping on too soon before serving.
Wanted to get your pie crust recipe, but the link didn’t work for “here.”
Good morning! Are you able to make this one a few days ahead?
You can, but it would be better the day of.