Definition of butterscotch

Butterscotch is a flavoring, toffee or sauce made with brown sugar, vanilla essence and butter.

The tenth edition of Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines butterscotch as ‘a candy made from brown sugar, butter, corn syrup and water’. Other ingredient, include lemon juice and salt. It is boiled at a higher temperature than caramels.

The molasses on the brown sugar and the acid in lemon juice enhance the rich flavor and distinctive sharpness of butterscotch which is mellowed by a generous dollop of butter and that dash of salt.

It is the sweet and salty savor that gives butterscotch its wonderful flavor. Depending on whether the butterscotch will became a sauce, candy, pudding, or cookies, other ingredients such as corn syrup, milk or cream may also be added.

The word ‘butterscotch’ was first recorded in Doncaster, a town in northern England. It is the place where Samuel Parkinson began making butterscotch candy in 1817.

Butterscotch has no liquor in it; perhaps ‘scotch’ appears in this term because the toffee was first made by the Scotch, or the root may be ‘cut butter squares’ from scotch’s meaning of ‘to score/cut’.
Definition of butterscotch