Easy Homemade Low Carb Butterscotch Syrup Recipe 

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Easy Homemade Low Carb Butterscotch Syrup Recipe 

If you are a butterscotch lover looking for a way to enjoy your favorite flavor again, make my Easy Homemade Low Carb Butterscotch Syrup Recipe and you will never look back!

The sweet, buttery flavor is just as amazing as traditional butterscotch syrup, even though this easy recipe does not have any sugar added to it.

You can now enjoy a drizzle over some ice cream, add it to your coffee or spruce up your hot chocolate, to name a few, without the guilt.

I will dive into the world of homemade butterscotch sauce made with my own Keto Brown sugar and show you how easy it is to make your own.

You only need a few simple ingredients and a little patience to get the perfect consistency that you remember a butterscotch syrup having. 

Keep reading as I show you step-by-step how I easily made this easy butterscotch sauce, give you the recipe as well as offer tips, substitutions and answer frequently asked questions.

Butterscotch and the Origin of this delightful flavor

The term “butterscotch” is believed to have originated a long time ago in Scotland in the early 19th century.

The latter word “scotch” may be linked to an old English word “scocchen” or “scotchen,” which means to cut or score. 

The cutting or scoring is referring to the traditional way of making butterscotch candy, where the candy was cut into small, individually wrapped pieces after it had cooled and hardened.

It is mentioned that butterscotch is associated with Doncaster in Yorkshire, England.

An 1848 issue of the Liverpool Mercury gave a recipe for “Doncaster butterscotch” which was “one pound of butter, one pound of sugar and a quarter of a pound of treacle, boiled together” (500 g each of butter and sugar and 125 g treacle).

Early butterscotch recipes from Scotland only included butter and brown sugar, but in this version they use treacle(molasses) in place of, or in addition to, pure cane sugar.

What you will need to create your own Butterscotch Syrup 

• Unsalted Butter
• Keto Brown Sugar
• Sea Salt or Kosher Salt
• Heavy Cream (or Coconut Milk for dairy-free)
• Vanilla Extract

Let’s make some Easy Homemade Low Carb Butterscotch Syrup

To get started, you will need to make sure you have the main ingredient – keto brown sugar.

Whether you choose a dark brown sugar or light brown sugar, you need to have a keto brown sugar you enjoy the taste of as it is the ingredient that makes the butterscotch recipe flavor. 

Unlike regular white sugar, which is used in making caramel sauce, keto brown sugar imparts a deep flavor that makes the butterscotch and golden-brown color tones.

The lighter the brown sugar the lighter the flavor, the darker the brown sugar then the more intense flavor will shine through.

In a medium saucepan melt butter completely then add in the keto brown sugar and the sea salt whisking for the best sugar dissolve.

Keep stirring and heating for 3-5 minutes until it turns from a sandy texture to a smooth texture.

Now stir in the heavy whipping cream and whisk vigorously to incorporate it until smooth again.

Let it heat up again until it comes to a boil and whisk it well.

Turn the heat down to medium low and let it remain at a low boil.

Now is the time for patience as you need to bring the temperature of the butterscotch up to 225F which is slightly under the soft ball stage of 240F.

This creates a smooth sauce that will not crystallize once cooled.

It took about 15-20 minutes of a low boil for it to get to the 225F temperature.

You need a candy thermometer in order to measure the temperature as relying on the sauce coating a spoon is not as reliable.

If you do not have a candy thermometer, you can just set your timer for the allotted 15-20 minutes total time and go from there.

At this point it will resemble a thick maple syrup consistency, but very hot.

Remove it from the heat and whisk in the vanilla extract. 

It will bubble up a little, then turn smooth.

Let it sit away from the heat and occasionally stir it for 10 minutes.

Now you can bottle it up or pour into an airtight jar or container.

Keep in mind that it will thicken up considerably almost to a paste so make sure you can spoon it out of the container you choose.

You can always warm it up to make it pourable by heating in a small saucepan or placing the jar in a bowl of warm water.

Some syrups are stored in plastic bottles, but it would be hard to squeeze out this butterscotch syrup once it is cold.

Warming up plastic is not healthy so I stick to glass for storing this syrup.

It will keep in the fridge up to 1 month, or frozen for 3 months.

If you choose to freeze it, put dollops into an ice cube tray, or small scoops onto a parchment lined pan and freeze.

Once it has frozen, remove the cubes and put into a freezer zip top bag.

To use, warm up the cube in a pan over medium heat or add one directly to your hot cup of dark roast coffee.

Make your own drink like your favorite coffee chain creations with fresh butterscotch sauce

You can make your own Starbucks Coffee Drinks at home when you have your own homemade butterscotch coffee syrup. 

Turn simple vanilla lattes into a brown butter treat with a tablespoon of butterscotch syrup.

Unlike the Torani Butterscotch Syrup that your local coffee shop uses, this homemade butterscotch syrup also gives a great creaminess to your coffee creations.

It also does not have corn syrup or citric acid like preserved Torani Syrups have to be shelf stable.

Butterscotch Coffee:

Brew some strong coffee with a moka pot or French press coffee maker. You can also opt for 2 shots of espresso if you wish.

Mix in 2 tablespoons of your homemade butterscotch sauce while the coffee is piping hot.

Add in cream or add whipped cream to the top of coffee for a creamy finish.

Or turn it into a Butterscotch Latte Recipe when you froth up some butterscotch syrup in the 1 cup milk and also in the coffee.

Smoked Butterscotch Latte:

To create this Starbucks Creation you would need to add a hint of liquid smoke to a small amount of butterscotch sauce in a small bowl.

Adding the hint of smoke flavor to the small amount before making your latte leaves the rest of your sauce non-smoky for other creations.

Froth your choice of milk (dairy or non-dairy) then pour it over strong brewed coffee and finish with a drizzle of the smoked butterscotch sauce.

The smoked butterscotch latte tastes very rich and reminds me of having coffee near a warm, cozy fire.

Butterscotch Cold Brew Coffee Recipe:

Create a butterscotch cold brew coffee or iced coffee by swirling your butterscotch sauce on the inside of your glass.

Then fill with ice or coffee ice cubes, then coffee, then top with my recipe for cold foam using coffee creamer. 

The milky foam can be made with an immersion blender using your creamer of choice whether with dairy milk or non-dairy milk.

Other ways to use this sauce for adding delicious butterscotch flavor to recipes

Butterscotch-Infused Hot Chocolate: 

Stir 2 tablespoons of butterscotch sauce into your hot chocolate for an indulgent twist.  Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of butterscotch chips.

Butterscotch Pudding Parfait: 

Layer butterscotch pudding, made by stirring in a tablespoon of butterscotch syrup into vanilla pudding, with whipped cream and butterscotch syrup swirled in.

Butterscotch Frosting Magic: 

Turn my Gluten Free Vanilla Buttercream Frosting into a butterscotch delight when you whip some homemade butterscotch sauce into the finished frosting. This would be a perfect way to create frosting for my Keto Butterscotch Caramel Cupcakes or any other sweet treats without the need for the extra butterscotch pudding called for.

Spice Up your Low Carb Butterscotch Syrup by Adding Spirits for a Grown-Up Twist

For those looking to add an adult touch to their butterscotch creations, spirits are the perfect addition. Experimenting with different liquors can add to the flavor profile of your homemade butterscotch syrup. 

Butterscotch Schnapps Delight:

Incorporate a splash of butterscotch schnapps into your syrup for an extra kick. This addition not only enhances the butterscotch flavor but also adds a warm, alcoholic twist to your creations.

Crowning Glory of Whiskey:  

Mix in a bit of whiskey for a sophisticated butterscotch sauce that pairs beautifully with desserts and cocktails. The subtle smokiness of whiskey complements the sweetness of the syrup.

Butterscotch Bourbon Drizzle: 

Combine the richness of bourbon with the sweetness of your low carb butterscotch sauce for a kick in your syrup. Drizzle it over pancakes, waffles, or desserts for an unforgettable flavor.

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Tips, Substitutions and FAQs

• Drizzle warm butterscotch sauce over keto vanilla ice cream, creating the ultimate ice cream sundae. Or go crazy and make banana splits with three flavors: strawberry, chocolate and butterscotch.

• Instead of using one cup butterscotch chips in your next recipe, substitute in one cup of butterscotch sauce and swirl it in the batter. It will be a great addition to your recipe versus the chips as the flavor will be there throughout versus only in the bites with chips.

• If you want to decrease the amount of fat in the recipe you can use low-fat creams instead of the higher fat heavy cream. 

• Coffee lovers can celebrate on September 29th, National Coffee Day, by creating a specialty drink at home with your own homemade butterscotch syrup.

• Try a different flavor combination when you add a tablespoon of your homemade butterscotch syrup to a hazelnut coffee or add richness to your peppermint mocha.

• Turn a regular cup of hot chocolate into a luxurious experience by incorporating a generous swirl of butterscotch syrup. The combination of rich chocolate and butterscotch flavors will leave your taste buds in awe.

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Will this recipe work if I use coconut cream and vegan butter to make it dairy free?

Yes, it will work great! I have used the same technique in my Dairy Free Sweetened Condensed Milk and it thickens up perfectly! This recipe for condensed milk is similar in that you simmer until thickened.

What is the difference between Butterscotch versus Toffee versus Caramel?

The key difference between these creations is that they are all cooked to a different temperature which creates different flavors. Butterscotch uses brown sugar and is cooked to 225F which is slightly below the soft crack stage. Toffee is cooked a little longer to 250F which is the hard crack stage. It becomes “hard” and “cracks” once cooled. Caramel uses white sugar versus brown sugar and contains more cream than the others. A lot of people will say that they are similar, but it is the small differences in the temperature they are cooked to that makes them different.

​Is there a way to use this butterscotch syrup in savory recipes?

Yes! Add a great subtle flavor of butterscotch to your main dishes like substituting butterscotch sauce for brown sugar in a glaze for your next ham. You could also try adding it to your next stir fry sauce recipe with peanut butter for a nutty sweet flavor as these ingredients would blend well.

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Using this super easy recipe for low carb butterscotch syrup will give you many opportunities to create new recipes for hot coffee creations, toppings and desserts.

Butterscotch lovers who are looking for a healthier way to enjoy their favorite flavor can now indulge guilt free with this Easy Homemade Low Carb Butterscotch Syrup Recipe!

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Check out these other recipes that use Keto Brown Sugar

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Easy Keto Dairy Free Blondie Recipe (gluten-free)

Keto Banana Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies