Old-Fashioned Butterscotch Pie

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This old-fashioned Butterscotch Pie features a silky, rich brown sugar filling nestled in a flaky homemade pie crust and topped with fluffy homemade whipped cream. It’s an easy make-ahead dessert that brings a nostalgic touch to Thanksgiving and other special gatherings.

A straight-on view of a slice of butterscotch pie with caramel sauce drizzled over the top onto a white dessert plate and the full pie in the background.

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🥚 The Ingredients
📝 Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
📌 Tips and Tricks for Perfect Homemade Pie
👩🏼‍🍳 How to Make Butterscotch Pie
🙋🏽‍♂️ Frequently Asked Questions
🥧 More Amazing Holiday Pie Recipes
Old-Fashioned Butterscotch Pie

🥚 The Ingredients

These simple, familiar ingredients come together to create a pie that’s rich, creamy, and wonderfully nostalgic. Find ingredient notes (including substitutions and variations) below.

An arrangement of ingredients for butterscotch pie on a grey-wooden background including milk, cream, cornstarch, brown sugar, eggs, butter, cornstarch, vanilla extract, pie dough, and caramel sauce.

📝 Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

Pie crust: An easy homemade crust or store-bought 9-inch crust works well; bake it fully before adding the filling.
Dark brown sugar: This gives the pie its deep, molasses-like butterscotch flavor. Light brown sugar will work, but the filling will taste a little milder.
Unsalted butter: Salted butter can be used; reduce the added salt slightly.
Whole milk: Whole milk makes the filling creamy. Avoid skim milk, which can make it less rich.
Cornstarch: This thickens the filling and helps it set. For best results, whisk it with cold milk until smooth before adding it to the pan.
Egg yolks: These add richness and help give the filling a custardy texture. Save the whites for another use.
Vanilla extract: Pure vanilla adds warmth; vanilla bean paste is a good substitute.
Whipped cream: Homemade whipped cream is lovely, but prepared whipped topping can be used for convenience.

📌 Tips and Tricks for Perfect Homemade Pie

Bake the crust until golden. A fully baked, crisp crust helps keep the pie from becoming soggy once you add the filling.
Stir the brown sugar and butter constantly. This helps the mixture melt evenly and keeps it from scorching.
Temper the egg yolks. Slowly whisk in some hot filling before adding the yolks to the saucepan helps prevent them from curdling.
Whisk continuously as the filling thickens. Scrape the bottom and corners of the pan so the custard cooks evenly.
Let the filling bubble briefly. Once it’s thick, cook it at a gentle bubble for about 30 seconds to help the cornstarch set properly.
Strain for an extra-smooth filling. Pass it through a fine-mesh sieve before pouring it into the crust if you notice any lumps.
Cover the surface while chilling. Press plastic wrap directly onto the filling to prevent a skin from forming.
Chill thoroughly before slicing. Give the pie at least 4 hours in the refrigerator, or chill it overnight for the neatest slices.
Add whipped cream just before serving. This keeps the topping fresh and fluffy.
Use a warm knife for clean slices. Dip a sharp knife in hot water, wipe it dry, and repeat between cuts.

👩🏼‍🍳 How to Make Butterscotch Pie

An overhead view of a pie crust that has been par-baked in a white pie dish.

Step 1: Roll the pie out and place in a pie dish. Add parchment paper and pie weights and par-bake at 375°F for 15 minutes. Remove the paper and weights and bake another 12 minutes. Let cool completely.

A person using a wooden spoon to stir simmering brown sugar with melted butter in a saucepan on a gas stove.

Step 2: Melt the butter in a saucepan and stir in the brown sugar. Simmer for a couple of minutes.

A person using a wire whisk to combine four egg yolks with whole milk in a large glass bowl.

Step 3: In a large bowl, whisk the cornstarch and salt with ½ cup of milk. Then, whisk in the egg yolks.

Person pouring milk from a large glass measuring cup into a saucepan filled with a simmering brown sugar and butter mixture.

Step 4: Slowly stir the remaining 1¼ cup of milk into the simmering brown sugar/milk mixture. Bring to a gentle simmer.

A person pouring a warm milk and egg mixture into a bowl filled with eggs yolks that have been mixed with milk in a glass bowl.

Step 5: Whisk one cup of the warm milk mixture into the egg yolk mixture.

A person using his hands to press plastic wrap over the surface of a buttermilk pie in a homemade pie crust in a white pie dish.

Step 6: Add back to the pan and stir until thickened. Stir in the vanilla and then transfer to the prepared pie crust. Press plastic wrap over the surface and chill for at least 4 hours.