Butterscotch Candy

When it comes to making sweet treats at home, this butterscotch candy recipe is one of the easiest to master. Less than 10 ingredients and only a few steps are all you need to tackle this butterscotch candy that can be ready in less than an hour. Whether you eat it on its own or crush it up and sprinkle it over ice cream or a Greek yogurt parfait, it’s a sweet, crunchy and downright delicious treat.

Ingredients for Butterscotch Candy

Directions

Step 1: Prep the pan

Butter a 15x10x1-inch pan with 1 teaspoon butter, then set it aside. Cube the remaining butter, and set it aside as well.

Step 2: Start cooking the candy mixture

In a heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, water and corn syrup. Cover the saucepan and bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat without stirring. Cook, uncovered, until a candy thermometer reads 270°F (known in candy making as the soft-crack stage).

Step 3: Finish cooking

Add the honey, salt and remaining butter, then stir constantly until the mixture reaches 300° (the hard-crack stage).

Step 4: Add the rum

Remove the pan from the heat, and stir in the rum extract.

Step 5: Let it cool, break into squares

Pour the mixture into the prepared pan without scraping, and don’t spread it. Let it cool until the candy is almost set, one to two minutes. Score it into 1-inch squares, then allow it to cool completely before breaking the squares apart.

Butterscotch Candy Variations

• Substitute the sugar with brown sugar: Traditional homemade butterscotch candy typically uses brown sugar, which imparts an even darker, more complex flavor. You can absolutely swap out the white sugar for brown sugar here.
• Add bold spices: If you want to add some additional flavor to this recipe, dried ground spices are a great way to do it. Dried ginger, coriander, allspice or cinnamon all make great additions—simply sprinkle in the seasoning in Step 3, and taste as you go.

How to Store Butterscotch Candy

This candy can be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. While it can be stored at room temperature, it should be kept cool, as any heat could cause the butterscotch to melt and become sticky. Keeping it dry is equally important, as any moisture can cause the candy to become grainy or spoiled.

Can you make this butterscotch candy recipe ahead of time?

You can absolutely make this butterscotch candy ahead of time. In fact, as long as you store it properly, it can last for quite a while in a cool, dry place. Since this is a hard candy, it should be stored only with other hard candies. Storing it with chewy candy could cause some of the moisture to transfer, which would dry out the chewy candy and add moisture to the hard candy.

Butterscotch Candy Tips

How can I make sure my candy thermometer stays accurate?

We recommend that you test your candy thermometer before each use by bringing water to a boil. The thermometer should read 212°, but you can adjust your recipe temperature up or down based on your test.

Can I melt these to make liquid butterscotch candy?

If you’d like to make liquid butterscotch candy to drizzle over an ice cream sundae or yogurt, you can absolutely melt these hard candies. For the best results, melt them slowly in the microwave or over low to medium heat on the stovetop.

How can you make these candies easier to break apart?

Scoring the candies (see Step 5) is an essential step. To do so, use a paring knife to create lines in the soft candy. Once the candy hardens, you’ll be able to snap it into small pieces along the scored lines.