Butterscotch budino is a creamy Italian pudding dessert with a topping of brown sugar caramel. Make this easy recipe in just 30 minutes! These are good refrigerated and covered for up to 3 days.
In a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium high heat, stir the brown sugar, a half cup of water and the salt. Cook until the sugar is melted and smells caramelized, 10 minutes.
Immediately whisk in the cream and milk mixture (the mixture will steam and the butterscotch will seize, but it will become smooth again with continued whisking).
Bring the mixture to a boil, then turn heat to low.
In a medium bowl, whisk the egg, egg yolks, and cornstarch. Add 1 cup of the hot butterscotch mixture to the egg mixture, whisking constantly. Whisk egg mixture back into the remaining butterscotch.
Bring to a boil, whisking constantly, until the custard is very thick, about 2 minutes. Be careful not to scorch the bottom of the mixture and custard thickens.
Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter and vanilla. At this stage you can either use a blending wand/stick tp puree to smooth OR strain the custard through a fine mesh strainer to remove any lumps. Divide among eight 6-ounce ramekins, 7 ounce custard jars or serving bowls. I use these Mini Tulip Jelly Jar with Glass Lids.
Allow to cool. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until completely chilled, 2-3 hours.
Brown Sugar Caramel (Butterscotch Sauce)
Melt the butter in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat.
Add the brown sugar, salt, vanilla and heavy cream and stir the mixture with a rubber spatula until it's well blended. Bring the mixture to a boil, scraping down the sides occasionally, and boil it for 4 to 5 minutes. Mixture should no longer be grainy, but smooth.
Remove the mixture from the heat and transfer the butterscotch sauce to a container to cool slightly. If butterscotch thickens too much see Note 2.
Top each butterscotch custard with 1 to 2 tablespoons of the warm butterscotch sauce and a pinch of the sea salt flakes.
Video
Notes
I use Maldon Sea Salt Flakes or Fluer de sel.
If the butterscotch thickens too much, add a tablespoon or two of heavy cream and whisk to a smoother consistency OR place container holding butterscotch in a saucepan of hot water to loosen, being careful not to full submerge and allow water to touch butterscotch. Whisk to smooth out sauce and then pour immediately over custards.