Lightened Butterscotch Pudding Food

OLD-FASHIONED BUTTERSCOTCH PUDDING

Steps:

• Put egg yolks, cornstarch and salt into a large heatproof bowl, and whisk until the mixture is smooth and there are no lumps.
• In a medium pot over medium heat, combine brown sugar and butter, whisking, until the brown sugar melts, 1 to 2 minutes. Let cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture starts to smell like hot caramel and darkens slightly, about 1 minute longer. (Don't walk away, or the mixture may burn.)
• Immediately pour the milk and cream into the pot. (It will bubble fiercely and seize up.) Continue to cook, whisking constantly, until the clumps melt, 2 to 4 minutes.
• Slowly whisk about 1/2 cup of the hot cream mixture into the bowl with the egg yolks, whisking yolks until smooth, then whisk in the remaining hot cream mixture. Pour the egg-cream mixture back into the saucepan and place it over medium heat.
• Cook pudding, whisking constantly especially around the bottom and edges of the pot, until it comes to a full boil. (Don't worry about the eggs curdling. You're going to strain the mixture later.) Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring the mixture constantly, until it thickens enough to mound thickly on the spoon, 4 to 7 minutes. If at any point the pudding looks curdled, whisk to help smooth it out.
• Strain mixture through a fine sieve into a heatproof container or bowl, then stir in the Scotch or bourbon, if using, and vanilla. To prevent a skin from forming, press plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the pudding. (If you like the skin, don't cover pudding until it cools.) Chill for at least 2 hours and up to 2 days.
• When serving, spoon pudding into dishes. Top with dollops of whipped cream, sour cream or crème fraîche, and any of the optional garnishes.

BUTTERSCOTCH PUDDING

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine the milk and cream and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Immediately turn off the heat and set aside. In a large, heavy skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Stir in the brown sugar, raise the heat to medium-high, and cook 5 to 7 minutes, stirring constantly, to caramelize the mixture. You'll smell a characteristic nutty-caramel odor when the butter browns, signaling that the mixture is ready.
• Whisking constantly, gradually add the butter/brown sugar mixture to the hot milk/cream mixture. If the mixture isn't smooth, blend for 20 seconds with a hand blender or pour through a fine sieve. Put the egg yolks in a medium bowl. Whisk in about 1/2 cup of the hot milk mixture. Whisk in the cornstarch and salt until dissolved. Whisk the cornstarch mixture back into the hot milk mixture in the saucepan. Whisking constantly, cook over medium-high heat until thick and just boiling. When the mixture thickens, the whisk will leave trail marks on the bottom of the pot and the mixture will have a few large bubbles boiling up to the top. Turn off the heat and whisk in the vanilla extract. Pour into 6 to 8 custard cups, ramekins, or mugs and chill, uncovered, at least 2 hours or overnight. Serve chilled.

CREAMY BUTTERSCOTCH PUDDING

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine the brown sugar, cornstarch and salt. Add milk and egg yolks; stir until smooth. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil. Cook and stir 1-2 minutes longer or until thickened., Remove from the heat; stir in butter and vanilla. Cool to room temperature, stirring several times. Pour into four individual dessert dishes. Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until chilled.

LIGHTENED BUTTERSCOTCH PUDDING

Steps:

• Whisk 1/4 cup whole milk and the cornstarch in a bowl; set aside.
• In a saucepan, combine remaining whole milk and reduced fat milk, and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
• Meanwhile, whisk 1 cup brown sugar, the vanilla extract, salt, and 2 yolks into the cornstarch mixture.
• Gradually whisk the warmed milk into the cornstarch mixture, then return everything to the saucepan; cook over medium heat to a beginning boil, stirring constantly with the whisk.
• Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture is thick, 1 minute.
• Remove from heat, add 1 tablespoon butter, and stir until the butter melts.
• Chill 3 hours before serving; cover surface with plastic wrap to prevent skin from forming.

BUTTERSCOTCH PUDDING

Steps:

• Put the sugar, cornstarch and kosher salt in a medium, nonstick saucepan, then gently whisk together. Put the milk and egg yolks in a separate pitcher or bowl, then whisk together until combined. Pour the wet mixture into the saucepan with the dry ingredients and stir to combine.
• Turn on the heat to medium and cook, stirring gently, until the mixture starts to bubble and thicken, about 10 minutes. When it reaches a pudding consistency, add the butter and stir until melted. Remove from the heat and spoon into bowls. Chill for about 1 hour, until very cold.
• Top each bowl with about a tablespoon of salted caramel sauce, some sea salt flakes and unsweetened whipped cream.

BOURBON-BUTTERSCOTCH PUDDING

Steps:

• Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean. Cook, swirling pan occasionally, until butter begins to brown and smell nutty, about 3 minutes. Add brown sugar and cook, stirring occasionally, until sugar is starting to dissolve, about 2 minutes. Add cream, milk, bourbon, and salt; bring to a simmer. Remove from heat.
• Whisk egg yolks, cornstarch, and sugar in a large bowl until smooth. Gradually add hot cream mixture, whisking constantly. Wipe out saucepan. Strain custard through a fine-mesh sieve back into saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring often, until custard bubbles occasionally and starts to thicken, 5-6 minutes.
• Remove saucepan from heat and transfer mixture to a blender. Blend briefly on low speed until smooth. Place ramekins or bowls on a rimmed baking sheet. Divide custard evenly among ramekins and chill until set, at least 3 hours. DO AHEAD: Puddings can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and keep chilled.
• Top each pudding with crème fraîche and crushed gingersnaps, if desired.

KELLY'S BUTTERSCOTCH PUDDING

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, cornstarch and salt. Add enough milk to make thick paste. In a saucepan over medium heat, bring milk to a boil. Stir in brown sugar mixture, return to a boil, and cook for 1 minute.
• Place egg yolks in small bowl. Temper the yolks by quickly stirring in about 1/4 of hot milk mixture. Pour yolk mixture back into hot milk mixture, and return to heat. Cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute; remove from heat. Stir in butter and vanilla until butter is melted. Pour into bowls, and let cool slightly.

SELF-SAUCING BUTTERSCOTCH PUDDING

Steps:

• Boil the kettle and heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Butter a rectangular baking dish (about 20cm x 28cm and 4cm deep). Tip the flour, baking powder, 140g sugar and a large pinch of salt in a bowl. Put the butter, milk and eggs in a jug and whisk together. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix well. Scrape into the baking dish and level the surface.
• Mix the remaining sugar with the golden syrup and caramel, add 300ml boiling water and stir until the sugar and caramel dissolves. Pour the hot liquid over the pud, then bake for 1 hr until the top is set and the sauce is starting to bubble around the edges. Serve hot with ice cream. If you leave this pudding to sit, the sauce will soak into the sponge, so eat immediately.