***this recipe for old fashioned butterscotch pie originally appeared on Loaves and Dishes on June 24, 2016 and has been updated with new information***
A tree never grows far from its roots. Who said that? ME! I said that! I made it up just now! My roots are why you are seeing Old Fashion Butterscotch Pie today! Also, because a reader asked for a Butterscotch Pie recipe. Remember back a couple of months ago I showed you a recipe from Gerschuh’s Restaurant in Greenville, OH? Yep!
REMEMBER GERSCHUH'S?
I knew you would remember because I told you all about George Trittschuh who greeted all of the guests, asked how the meal was (and meant it) and then encouraged you to try the pie. Rumor had it that he came in early and made all of the pies himself (including Old Fashion Butterscotch Pie and Old Fashion Sugar Cream Pie).
If I had visited Gerschuh's today they might have given me a piece of pie for my birthday - whooo hoooo - what a big decision that would be! Thank goodness I can make my own since Gerschuh's isn't around anymore. Does that get a 🙁 emoji or a 🙂 emoji, I've confused myself with that statement.
I don’t know if George came in early and made the pie's himself, but I wouldn’t doubt it! If you could have SEEN those pies! The Old Fashion Butterscotch Pie was always so impressive with its BIG TOP HAT of massive meringue. It would jiggle and glisten as he carried it out to the table to show you what he had available.
WAY BACK WHEN...
As a kid I always thought it would be so funny if some of that tall meringue on top of Old Fashion Butterscotch Pie fall off and SPLAT on the floor- but it never did. Not that I saw anyway. Now, thanks again to my old friends from home, I have another Gerschuh’s recipe to share.
Seems like this is mostly a Southern Recipes kind of place, but believe me, those Northerners can cook too and hence, this Old Fashion Butterscotch Pie is Proof!
Old Fashion Butterscotch Pie
Questions you might have about Old Fashioned Butterscotch Pie...
WHAT IS BUTTERSCOTCH PIE?
Butterscotch pie is an old fashioned type of pie that uses butter and sugar that has been cooked to a golden brown and turned into a type of butterscotch as a pie filling.
WHY IS MY BUTTERSCOTCH PIE RUNNY?
Generally, in my own experience, runny butterscotch happens in two cases...
- When the butterscotch wasn't cooked long enough.
- When the pie has been allowed to sit out at room temperature for too long.
HOW THICK SHOULD THE PIE FILLING BE?
When you are cooking the pie filling, it should become about as thick as a pudding. As the pie filling cools, it will become slightly thicker.
CAN I FREEZE BUTTERSCOTCH PIE?
It is best to just go ahead and use your butterscotch pie within a few days. I've found that when I freeze a butterscotch pie, it becomes wet and gloopy upon thawing it. It is still edible, but not very appetizing.
HOW TO STORE A BUTTERSCOTCH PIE.
Once your pie is cooled, place plastic wrap loosely over the top, and seal around the edges of your pie plate. Place the pie into the refrigerator and keep cool until ready to serve.
TIPS AND TRICKS FOR OLD FASHION BUTTERSCOTCH PIE
- Is this recipe hard? No. It isn’t hard yet, it DOES, however, require organization. Which, if you are like me, makes it difficult for me. I have never been very organized and so we really had to think our way through this recipe.
- Read the recipe through several times before you embark upon making it.
- Make some mental notes about when you will do what. That always makes things easier.
- Most of all, Pour/prep all of your ingredients before starting, especially the first time you make this recipe. You will have several things going at once and you need to have your ingredients ready to go.
INGREDIENTS...
- Regarding the ingredients for this pie make sure to use the best ingredients that you can. I use my own hen eggs which are very eggy. The french butter has a very deep flavor. The Butter in BUTTERSCOTCH is KEY
- Have your pot holders ready! There are LOTS OF HOT THINGS in this recipe and I don’t want any of my precious readers burning themselves!
THE FILLING...
- When you cook the filling in the double boiler, it will become the consistency of a custard. Now, many of us have never had a custard! It is like the cream filling of a cream filled donut. Just a tiny bit thinner than a pudding.
- You may notice a few tiny lumps in the filling as you stir it in the double boiler but don't worry and just keep stirring because they will work themselves out.
IF I DON'T HAVE INGREDIENTS OR THINGS...
- If you don’t have a mixer, don’t worry, you can whip the egg whites by hand. In fact, THAT IS WHAT I HAD TO DO! My old grandmotherly KitchenAid mixer STOPPED WORKING just as I got ready to beat the egg whites hence, I grabbed the whisk and just kept beating as fast as I could until the meringue formed peaks.
- What about if you have never made a meringue before? Because you can do a lot of reading about it but I followed the instructions given by George to the Dayton Daily News, “Just dump everything together (egg whites and sugar) and then beat the hell out of it”. It works.
WHAT IS?....
- I did add vanilla to the meringue, which was not in the original recipe because I like it that way, but you might want to leave it off because it is entirely up to you.
- Scalded milk is milk that has been heated to just the point of boiling but not boiling yet.
IF YOU ENJOYED OLD FASHIONED BUTTERSCOTCH PIE, YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY...
Homemade Chicken and Drop Dumplings
Pumpkin Pie with Pecan Drizzle
EQUIPMENT I USE TO MAKE OLD FASHIONED BUTTERSCOTCH PIE
The following photos are links to Amazon, you can click the photo and go straight through to Amazon for price comparisons. I am an Amazon associate and will earn a commission if you decide to purchase.
THE RECIPE FOR OLD FASHION BUTTERSCOTCH PIE
Old Fashion Butterscotch Pie
Ingredients
For the Pie
- 1 refrigerated Pie Crust I use the one in the red box
- 8 tablespoon Good Quality Butter
- 1 ½ Cups dark brown sugar
- 4 egg yolks save the whites for the meringue
- 5 ½ Tbs all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 ½ Cups scalded milk
For the Meringue
- 4 egg whites
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Instructions
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350. Measure out all of the ingredients and have placed nearby ready to add in at the appropriate time. Place the pie crust into a 9inch pie plate and flute the edges to hold the pie. Prick holes in the bottom of the crust with a fork and place on the middle rack in the oven and prebake the shell for 15 minutes. When done, remove from the oven and set aside. Leave the oven on 350 when you remove the pie crust.
- While the crust is baking, set out 2 sauce pots (one small and one medium) on the stove top and also a double broiler with the bottom filled with water. Start heating the water on high until water comes to a boil. When it comes to a boil, place the top pan of the boiler on top and cut the heat to medium - the water beneath should still boil - but at a lower level.
- When the crust is baking and the water is heating in the bottom of the double broiler, Place the milk in the small sauce pot and heat over medium heat until just about to boil - make sure to stir frequently so as not to burn the milk.
- In the medium sized sauce pot, while the crust is baking, the milk heating and the water in the double broiler is heating, melt the stick of butter over medium heat and then remove from the heat. Add the sugar and then stir in the egg yolks, flour, salt. When the milk almost boils, add it to this mixture. Set it back on the burner on medium and while stirring, bring it back to a boil. (By this time, the double boiler should be boiling).
- Pour this butterscotch filling into the top of your double broiler and cook stirring occasionally for 15 minutes. It will thicken some and turn a little darker colored. After 15 minutes. Pour this pie filling into the prebaked pie crust.
- For the meringue, pour the meringue ingredients into the bowl of your mixer and mix on a medium speed until the egg whites become HUGE and fluffy. When you are able to take a spoon and easy lift into a peak - the meringue will be a glossy white - then it is ready. Gently pour this meringue onto the pie filling that you have put into the crust. Pile it on high and using your spoon, swirl the meringue around a little and lift into little curly ques so that it browns nicely when you bake it
- Bake the whole pie at 350 for about 15 minutes , until the meringue peaks are a nice brown on the top.
Notes
Nutrition
A VERSE TO SHARE
How often do you watch movies? It seems to be a favorite past time around here, although I am not personally a huge fan of movies. Have you ever noted the roll that women often play? How often are women honored or respected in movies? The number of times that women are degraded, sexually exploited or even raped in a typical storyline is appalling to me.
Of course, one could argue that women choose to play those rolls, women are paid well for these rolls and the American public demands these types of movies to which I would have to say, "you are right".
SO WHICH IS IT?
At the same time, what you watch, you are desensitized to. That is a fact.
Regarding this VERY phenomenon, I had a conversation with a man the other day where oddly enough the story line of the movie in question involved MEN being raped. Hmmmmm. The man I was speaking with found this "disgusting" but doesn't find movie plots of women being exploited disturbing.
Is it disgusting for a man to be raped and not a woman?
IS IT ENTERTAINMENT?
Why is rape and exploitation called entertainment at all?
I'll tell you something, it isn't entertainment.
WHAT YOU WATCH AND DO IS WHAT YOU BECOME.
Instead, this is one way that we foster violence in our society and desensitize our population thus making it "ok" to degrade women. It really has to stop. We are better people than that. Stand up for what is right and avoid wicked things.
BUT, don't take my word for it.
Proverbs 24: 1-4
Do not envy the wicked,
do not desire their company;
for their hearts plot violence,
and their lips talk about making trouble.
By wisdom a house is built,
and through understanding it is established;
through knowledge its rooms are filled
with rare and beautiful treasures.
Jeanne Clark says
Do you serve the pie right after the meringue is cooked, or do you chill it and then serve it?
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Jeanne, I always allow the whole thing to cool and preferably chill it first. Thank you so much for asking!
Linda says
This is almost exactly the same recipe my Mom used for her Butterscotch Pie. The only difference I see us that she used regular or light brown sugar. And she ALWAYS made her own wonderfully tasty, buttery, flaky pie crust! She'd make me a butterscotch pie instead of a cake for my birthday! 🙂 Do you have any tips for doubling the recipe? Can't wait to make this again!
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Linda! So glad to know about your moms pie!! Homemade crust is preferable, I agree! I have never made two at once, so I don’t have tips about that, but with this pie, always have all your ingredients ready to go! 🙂
Darlene Sanders says
Have you ever made the butterscoth pie with whipped cream instead of meringue? I seriously hate meringue topping!
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Darlene! Thanks for leaving a comment. I haven’t made it without merengue but I’m sure it’s still good. Just leave that part off and use whipped cream instead if you like. 🙂
Sharon keen says
I made this butterscotch pie for my famiky. It turned out great and the meringue was beautiful.
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Sharon! Thank you for letting me know. You’ve made my day. Happy Thanksgiving. 🙂
Moxie says
Too beautiful to eat!
Jenn says
Hi, my dad still talks about his mom's butterscotch pie, so I thought I'd give this one a go. Thank-you. Wondering if you can answer my question though, is your stick of butter a half cup? the picture looks like one cup. Thanks.
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Jenn! Thanks for visiting and thanks for asking! I will definitely update the recipe on this post immediately so that it will be more clear. For this recipe, please use 1/2 Cup butter. Thank you for visiting and I hope this turns out perfectly for your dad! Happy Father's Day Dad!! (That is what you were making it for, right?). At any rate - give him a hug for me!
Leslie says
I just came across your blog for the first time and it's delicious here! This butterscotch pie looks like perfection!! I'm salivating wishing I had a big slice with my coffee, but I guess I'll just have to make one soon!
Blessings,
Leslie
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Leslie. Thank you so much! I see you are a blogger too. I'll have to come check out your blog! I hope others visiting this page do the same! Thank you for visiting. 🙂
Jeanine says
Do you happen to know if this butterscotch pie would need to be refrigerated after cooling if not consumed immediately? Thanks! 🙂
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Jeanine, Probably best to refrigerate right away - I have left it sitting on the counter for an afternoon with no problems however. Thank you for asking!
Claudia | The Brick Kitchen says
OH my gosh that oozy butterscotch filling and the toasty meringue looks insanely gorgeous! Seriously beautiful and looks like the ultimate comfort food dessert. 🙂
Wendi Spraker says
Oh Claudia! Thank you so much! I (obviously) love comfort food! Do you? What is your favorite?
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
this pie looks wonderful! and i am so craving a slice right now - i just love the photos!
Bernie ~ A Gouda Life says
Wendi - this is all kinds of lip-smacking goodness. I had Butterscotch Pie when we were 'down south' this winter. We stopped in a restaurant on "Free Pie Day" - who knew? I couldn't have been any happier if I'd won the lotto! Thanks for sharing. Enjoy the day.
Mary says
Butterscotch Pie can't be beat.........your recipe sounds perfect! Thanks for all the handy tips needed to make this pie a success. This is definitely going on my menu plan. Pinned. Thanks for sharing. Have a great weekend!
Wendi Spraker says
Oh thanks Mary! I hope you do try it - come back and let me know how it goes!!
Hotly Spiced says
That pie looks fantastic. I have never had butterscotch pie! I would love to make this. I will look up how much a stick of butter is in grams! xx
Wendi Spraker says
Hey there!!! You know - I need to start writing my recipes for both American and English/Australian measurements. Thanks for the reminder!! I hope you enjoy it!
Dana Rodriguez says
That looks SO good! Thanks for sharing! (I use those pie crusts too 🙂 )
Sammie says
Ooh this looks so good. It's not something I've ever had here in the UK but I'm pretty sure we would all love it. Thank you for all you helpful hints and tips. Pinning this one for Autumn!
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Sammie! Thank you! It's good any time of the year but Autumn is perfect too! I keep saying that cooking is the way to find peace! I try your recipes. You try mine. We have a special understanding. We share with others. Peace. 🙂