Description
Butterscotch budino dazzles with Italian-inspired creamy richness and California sophistication. Salted caramel drizzle crowns this luxurious dessert, inviting pure indulgence that whispers elegant complexity with each spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup granulated sugar
Custard Thickeners and Binding Agents:
- 3 egg yolks
- ¼ cup cornstarch
Flavor Enhancers and Finishing Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons salted butter
- ½ cup butter
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract or 1 vanilla bean
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt (plus more for sprinkling on top)
- ½ cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Prepare a heavy-bottomed pot for melting butter and sugar over medium heat, creating a smooth, golden base for the butterscotch custard.
- Incorporate cornstarch into the melted sugar mixture, then gradually pour in heavy cream and whole milk, whisking continuously to prevent any lumpy formations.
- Allow the mixture to simmer and thicken, monitoring its consistency until it coats the back of a spoon with a velvety texture.
- Create a tempering technique with egg yolks by slowly introducing hot liquid while whisking vigorously to prevent curdling.
- Return the tempered egg mixture to the pot, bringing it to a brief boil and cooking for one minute to develop rich, deep flavors.
- Enhance the custard with vanilla extract or freshly scraped vanilla bean seeds, stirring to distribute the aromatic essence throughout.
- Transfer the custard to a clean bowl and rapid-cool using an ice bath, ensuring a smooth, creamy texture.
- For the caramel sauce, melt granulated sugar in a saucepan, gently stirring until it transforms into a golden liquid.
- Introduce butter to the molten sugar, creating a bubbling, complex mixture that combines sweet and rich notes.
- Stream in heavy cream slowly, allowing the caramel to bubble and meld, creating a luxurious sauce.
- Finish the caramel with a sprinkle of sea salt, balancing the sweetness with a subtle mineral undertone.
- Artfully layer the chilled butterscotch custard in serving vessels, topping with generous swirls of salted caramel.
- Refrigerate the dessert until serving time, then garnish with an additional pinch of sea salt for a final flavor accent.
Notes
- Plan ahead and give yourself ample time, as this dessert requires multiple cooling stages for perfect texture.
- Use a heavy-bottomed pot to prevent burning and ensure even heat distribution during caramel and custard preparation.
- Constant stirring is crucial to prevent lumps in the custard and avoid scorching sugar during caramel making.
- Tempering egg yolks slowly prevents scrambling, ensuring a smooth, silky custard with rich, creamy consistency.
- Sea salt transforms this sweet dessert, creating a sophisticated balance between buttery sweetness and subtle saltiness.
- Refrigerate assembled desserts for at least 2 hours to allow flavors to meld and custard to set completely.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 470
- Sugar: 37 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 53 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg