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

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 in a butterscotch square? ›

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

Does butterscotch have 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 main ingredient in butterscotch? ›

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.

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.

How much sugar is in a caramel square? ›

Region: US
ServingIngredientCalories
3.89 gramssugar15
12.14 gramsflour44
8.82 gramsbutter63
7.09 gramsbrown sugar27
4 more rows
Sep 3, 2018

How much sugar is in a butterscotch Krimpet? ›

Nutrition Facts
QUICK FACTS:
9.0 %Total Fat 6 g
13.0 %Total Carbs 39 g
Sugars 25 g
%Protein 2 g
16 more rows

How many carbs are in one piece of butterscotch candy? ›

Butterscotch Hard Candy (1 piece) contains 5.4g total carbs, 5.4g net carbs, 0.2g fat, 0g protein, and 23 calories.

Why do they call it butterscotch? ›

butterscotch, usually hard candy made by boiling brown sugar and butter and sometimes corn syrup together in water. The derivation of the name is disputed as to whether it denotes the candy's origin in Scotland or an original ingredient of “scotched,” or scorched, butter.

What liquor tastes like butterscotch? ›

Butterscotch schnapps can be swigged solo, poured over a little ice or even diluted in cold seltzer. It's also a dreamy co*cktail ingredient that adds butterscotch flavor to traditional drinks and new classics alike.

Which bourbon tastes like butterscotch? ›

28 Mile ELF Butterscotch Bourbon Whiskey.

What alcohol is in butterscotch? ›

It's also rather easy to make your own butterscotch schnapps using a brandy or vodka base. This can be done by using butter, brown sugar, and light corn syrup to make a caramel sauce, letting that cool, then adding it to a bottle of liquor. Some recipes add glycerine for smoothness and vanilla extract for extra flavor.

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.

What is the brown thing in butterscotch? ›

Butterscotch is made using brown sugar and butter as its primary ingredients. The brown sugar contains molasses and imparts a rich, deep sweetness with toffee notes. Butter adds a creamy, rich flavour; often, butterscotch recipes include cream and vanilla for added richness and depth.

What is the history of butterscotch pudding? ›

It is believed to have been created by a man named Samuel Parkinson in Yorkshire, Doncaster. Although nobody knows the exact origins, records show that a recipe for the candy that inspired this dessert was published in a newspaper in 1848.

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