Butterscotch Pudding

Yield

Makes 3

Ingredients

• 3/8 cup dark brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/8 cup water
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cups and 1/8 cups whole milk (2% will work too)
• 1 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1.5 large egg yolks (room temperature)
• 1 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/4 vanilla bean

Instructions

1. Separate the eggs and put the egg yolks in a medium mixing bowl.
2. In a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat, add the brown sugar and water and stir with a wooden spoon or heavy-duty spatula until the sugar has melted – about 1 minute.
3. Turn the heat to medium-high and cook the mixture, without stirring, until it’s dark brown and smells like caramel – about 8 minutes. If you prefer a smoky butterscotch flavor, cook for 10-12 minutes (the sugar will start to smoke a little).
4. Whisk in the cream. The mixture is going to hiss and bubble and the sugar will harden and lump together – this is ok! Then whisk in 1/2 cups of the milk. Bring the mixture back to a boil and keep whisking – making sure to get the corners as well – and the mixture will liquify again as the sugar melts into the liquid.
5. While the liquid is heating back to a boil (keep an eye on to make sure it does not boil over!), in a liquid measuring cup, whisk the remaining 1/8 cup milk with the cornstarch until any lumps are gone. Whisk into the egg yolks until smooth.
6. Remove the saucepan from heat and VERY slowly, using a soup ladle, drizzle about a cup of the butterscotch liquid into the egg yolk mixture, whisking well the whole time -this tempers the eggs so they do not scramble when added to the hot liquid. The bowl should start to feel warm – if it does not, drizzle more of the butterscotch liquid and whisk until it does. Take the tempered egg mixture and whisk back into the saucepan with the remaining butterscotch. Return the saucepan to medium heat.
7. Whisk constantly until the butterscotch starts to thicken and bubbles pop on the surface. The butterscotch will be the right consistency when it has the same consistency of mayonnaise, and the whisk leaves tracks in butterscotch; about 2-3 minutes.
8. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Add the butter, vanilla, and salt, and stir until incorporated.
9. (Optional, but highly recommended) Strain the pudding through a fine mesh strainer into a medium bowl before pouring into serving dishes.
10. Pour the pudding into 6 small cups, glasses or ramekins. Cover each with plastic wrap, pressing directly onto the surface of the pudding to avoid a ‘skin’ forming on top of the pudding. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight.