Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Butterscotch Heaven Pie
- What You'll Need
- How To Make Butterscotch Heaven Pie
- Top Tip
- Ingredient Substitutions & Variations
- Storage & Reheating Instructions
- What To Serve With Butterscotch Heaven Pie
- FAQs About Butterscotch Heaven Pie
- More Recipes You'll Love
- Creamy Butterscotch Heaven Pie Recipe
- Pairing
- More DESSERT
My mom used to make this Butterscotch Heaven Pie every Thanksgiving, and the smell of that buttery caramel filling would fill the whole house. I still remember sneaking spoonfuls of the butterscotch pudding before she could pour it into the crust.
This classic butterscotch pie is everything a homemade butterscotch pie should be: silky smooth, perfectly sweet, and sitting on a golden graham cracker crust that adds just the right crunch. It's one of those creamy pie desserts that makes people lean back in their chairs and close their eyes after the first bite.
Why You'll Love This Butterscotch Heaven Pie
This Butterscotch Heaven Pie is one of those easy butterscotch pie recipes that tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen but actually comes together in about 30 minutes of active work. The creamy butterscotch filling is rich without being overwhelming, and that graham cracker pie crust adds a buttery base that complements the sweetness perfectly.
My sister always asks for this instead of birthday cake because it's her favorite butterscotch cream dessert. Whether you're making it for a holiday dinner or just because it's Tuesday, this butterscotch dessert delivers that old fashioned comfort every single time.
What You'll Need
The magic of this pie with graham cracker crust is that you probably have most of these ingredients already. Brown sugar and butter create that signature butterscotch flavor, while the cornstarch gives you that perfect pudding texture.
Main Ingredients
- Graham cracker crumbs
- Melted butter
- Brown sugar
- Cornstarch
- Salt
- Whole milk
- Egg yolks
- Butter (for filling)
- Vanilla extract
- Heavy cream (for topping)
- Powdered sugar
Optional Extras
You can add a pinch of sea salt on top for a salted butterscotch twist, or crush some toffee bits to sprinkle over the whipped cream. Some people love adding a splash of rum or bourbon to the filling for extra depth.
The full butterscotch heaven pie recipe instructions are right in the card below.
How To Make Butterscotch Heaven Pie
Make The Crust
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Mix those graham cracker crumbs with melted butter until the mixture looks like wet sand. Press it firmly into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie pan. I use the bottom of a measuring cup to really pack it down evenly. Bake for 10 minutes until it's lightly golden and smells toasty, then set it aside to cool completely.
Cook The Filling
In a medium saucepan, whisk together the brown sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Pour in the milk gradually while whisking to avoid lumps. Cook this over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. It'll start to thicken after about 8 to 10 minutes. You want it to coat the back of your spoon and leave a clear line when you run your finger through it.
Temper The Eggs
Beat those egg yolks in a separate bowl. Take about half a cup of your hot butterscotch mixture and slowly drizzle it into the yolks while whisking like crazy. This tempering process keeps the eggs from scrambling. Pour the tempered egg mixture back into the saucepan with the rest of the butterscotch filling and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
What does butterscotch pie taste like? Butterscotch pie tastes like pure caramel comfort with deep brown sugar notes and a buttery richness that melts on your tongue. It's sweeter than caramel but has that same toasty, almost toffee-like flavor. The texture is silky smooth, similar to vanilla pudding but way more interesting. My husband describes it as tasting like liquid toffee candy in the best possible way.
Finish And Chill
Remove the pan from heat and stir in the butter and vanilla extract until the butter melts completely. Pour this gorgeous butterscotch filling into your cooled graham cracker crust. Press a piece of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the filling to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, though overnight is even better. The filling needs time to set up properly and develop those deep butterscotch flavors.
Top With Cream
Right before serving, whip that heavy cream with powdered sugar until stiff peaks form. Spread it over your chilled pie, or pipe it on if you're feeling fancy. Drizzle with extra butterscotch sauce if you have it, or add those crushed toffee bits for texture.
Top Tip
Here's something I learned after making this butterscotch heaven pie recipe easy version about fifty times: don't rush the cooking process.
If you try to speed things up by cranking the heat, your butterscotch filling will either burn on the bottom or turn grainy.
Medium heat and constant stirring are your friends here.
Also, when you're tempering those egg yolks, go slow with adding the hot liquid.
I ruined my first attempt by dumping it all in at once and ending up with sweet scrambled eggs instead of silky custard.
My mom always said patience makes perfect pie, and she was absolutely right about this one.
Follow Aliana on Pinterest →Ingredient Substitutions & Variations
If you want to make a butterscotch heaven pie with condensed milk, you can swap half the regular milk for sweetened condensed milk and reduce the sugar to half a cup. For a lighter version, use 2% milk instead of whole, though the filling won't be quite as rich. You can replace the homemade whipped cream with store bought if you're short on time. Want to try a no-bake version? Use instant butterscotch pudding mix according to package directions and skip the stovetop cooking entirely.
Storage & Reheating Instructions
Keep your butterscotch pie covered in the fridge for up to 4 days. The graham cracker crust might soften a bit after day two, but it'll still taste delicious. I don't recommend freezing this one because the pudding filling can separate and get watery when thawed. If you're making it ahead for a party, prepare everything except the whipped cream topping up to two days in advance, then add the cream right before serving.
What To Serve With Butterscotch Heaven Pie
This butterscotch heaven pie is rich enough to stand on its own, but I love serving it with a strong cup of coffee to cut through the sweetness. My family always pairs it with vanilla ice cream on the side, even though it seems like overkill. A handful of salted pecans or almonds on the plate adds a nice crunch and balances the creamy texture. Some people like a drizzle of caramel sauce, but honestly, the pie is already so butterscotch-forward that it doesn't really need it.
FAQs About Butterscotch Heaven Pie
What does butterscotch pie taste like?
Butterscotch pie tastes like rich caramel meets brown sugar with a deep, buttery sweetness. It's smooth and creamy with toasty notes that remind you of toffee candy. The flavor is more complex than regular vanilla pudding, with that signature butterscotch depth that comes from cooking brown sugar and butter together.
Does Jell O still make butterscotch pudding?
Yes, Jell O still makes butterscotch instant pudding mix, and you can find it in most grocery stores. However, making your own butterscotch pudding from scratch gives you way better flavor and a smoother texture. The homemade version has that real butter richness that boxed pudding just can't match.
When should you eat the butterscotch pie undertale?
In the video game Undertale, you should eat the butterscotch cinnamon pie during your battle with Asgore to restore your health significantly. It heals a large amount of HP and has special dialogue associated with it. But in real life, eat this butterscotch heaven pie whenever you want comfort and happiness.
What is the origin of butterscotch pie?
Butterscotch pie has roots in traditional American home baking from the early 1900s. The flavor itself comes from Scotland, where "scotch" referred to the process of scoring or cutting candy. Brown sugar and butter were pantry staples, making butterscotch an accessible treat during tough economic times. It became a beloved diner and home dessert throughout the mid 20th century.
More Recipes You'll Love
If you're into these kinds of classic butterscotch pie recipes, you'll want to try my Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake next. It has that same silky pudding texture but with rich cocoa flavor. My Banana Cream Pie is another crowd pleaser with similar techniques. And for those who prefer uncommon dessert recipes that still feel nostalgic, check out my collection of creamy pie Dessert ideas. There's everything from coconut cream to lemon meringue waiting for you.
Tried this recipe? Tag me on Pinterest @AlianaRecipes, I'd love to see your twist on it!
Creamy Butterscotch Heaven Pie Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix graham cracker crumbs with melted butter until it looks like wet sand. Press firmly into bottom and up sides of 9-inch pie pan. Bake 10 minutes until golden. Cool completely.
- In medium saucepan, whisk together brown sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Gradually pour in milk while whisking to avoid lumps.
- Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with wooden spoon. Mixture will thicken after 8 to 10 minutes. It should coat back of spoon and leave clear line when you run finger through it.
- Beat egg yolks in separate bowl. Slowly drizzle about half cup of hot butterscotch mixture into yolks while whisking constantly. Pour tempered egg mixture back into saucepan.
- Cook for another 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla extract until butter melts completely.
- Pour butterscotch filling into cooled graham cracker crust. Press plastic wrap directly onto surface of filling. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Before serving, whip heavy cream with powdered sugar until stiff peaks form. Spread or pipe over chilled pie. Serve cold.
Nutrition
Notes
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Butterscotch Heaven Pie Recipe:
Leave a Reply