National Butterscotch Pudding Day
All it takes to make a sweet, satisfying butterscotch pudding is brown sugar, butter, sugar, milk and molasses. Try it at home yourself, or get a box of instant.
People who have a sweet tooth are sure to love National Butterscotch Pudding Day, which is held each year on September 19th. Made from the basic ingredients of brown sugar and butter, butterscotch recipes sometimes also include molasses (also known as treacle), this treat is now well-known and loved all over the world. Although it is a cousin to caramel, Butterscotch has some unique flavor differences.
History of National Butterscotch Pudding Day
Invented back in 1817, Butterscotch candy was served to members of the Royal Family in England as a decadent dessert. 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.
Of course, the name ‘butterscotch’ might imply that the confection was created further north, in Scotland, which is the reason for some disputes about the origins of this tasty candy. But some people say that the ‘scotch’ part of the word actually originates from the word ‘scorched’, referring to the way the sugar is heated at extremely high temperatures.
When it comes to this favorite custardy dessert, Butterscotch Pudding, the origins are a bit more fuzzy. It is believed that this creamy, dairy treat was first made and served in the United States, inspired by the flavor of the British confection. The recipe would probably have originally included butter, milk and eggs, along with the brown sugar that brings the super sweet taste.
How to Celebrate National Butterscotch Pudding Day
Use these celebratory ideas for inspiration, or come up with your own:
Enjoy Eating Butterscotch Pudding
Of course, this special day is the perfect excuse to indulge in delicious butterscotch pudding! Whether made at home from scratch, mixed up from an instant box, or eaten straight from the school lunch cups, butterscotch pudding is a delightful treat to enjoy on this day–or any day.
Invite a Friend to Share Butterscotch Pudding
Of course, butterscotch pudding can be enjoyed alone. But, just like any other treat, isn’t it usually better when shared with a friend? Those pudding cups don’t come in packs of two or four so they can be eaten on your own! Pick up some butterscotch pudding, a couple of spoons, and a friend–then dig in and get started with a simple celebration of the day.
Learn Fun Facts About Butterscotch
In celebration of this special day, impress friends, family members and coworkers with delightful trivia and facts about the butterscotch candy that inspired Butterscotch Pudding:
- The record for the world’s largest butterscotch candy was made in Norway. Weighing more than 3500 pounds, this candy was more than 5 feet wide by almost 18 inches tall.
- Butterscotch candies received a huge jump in fame in England as they were presented to Queen Victoria in 1951, when she was a visitor to Yorkshire, the area credited with the invention of this treat.
- While butterscotch and caramel are similar, the main distinction is that butterscotch is made with brown sugar while caramel is made with white sugar.
Try Making Butterscotch Pudding at Home
Although it might seem a bit difficult, this dessert isn’t terribly hard to make and uses brown sugar, butter, sugar, milk and molasses (or treacle, depending on where it’s being made!). The ingredients for this pudding are boiled together and then cooled until they set. The final consistency of butterscotch pudding should be light and creamy. Budding chefs can certainly have fun adding ingredients such as corn syrup, lemon or vanilla extract, that will add to the complexities of the flavor.
There are a number of variations available on the standard recipe and butterscotch pudding. For those with children, making butterscotch pudding is the perfect way to celebrate National Butterscotch Pudding Day. Or why not surprise someone special by making this sweet treat just for them?
