Butterscotch Pie & Oatmeal Butterscotch Bars

In honor of my mother, who adored butterscotch, especially butterscotch meringue pie (more than anyone in the world!), I give you a couple of yummy butterscotch treats that I found on the internet.  Please stop by these blogs for more wonderful food inspirations!

On the 9th anniversary of losing my mom, I want to tell you that the very last thing I put into her mouth, the last thing she tasted, was butterscotch pie.  I can't tell you how glad this one little thing makes me.

First up:  Butterscotch Pie, courtesy of , recipe & image courtesy Gale Gand and Jimmy Cooperman, found on the Food Network website.

3 hr 20 min

Prep

30 min

Inactive

2 hr 0 min

Cook

50 min

Yield:

8 to 10 servings

Level:

Intermediate

This is one of my brother Gary's favorite pies made by my Aunt Jimmy. She was called Jimmy because when she was little she got a very short haircut which made her look like a boy so instead of her brother calling her by her right name, Sylvia, he called her "Jimmy". It's good after spicy food like barbecue.

Ingredients

Filling:

• 2 1/4 cups milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 1/4 cups light brown sugar, packed
• 3 egg yolks
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons Scotch
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 (9-inch) prebaked pie shell, your favorite recipe

Meringue:

• 3/4 cup egg whites
• 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 3/4 cup sugar

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Make the Filling: In a large saucepan, combine the milk and cream and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Immediately remove from the heat and set aside.

Melt the butter in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in the brown sugar, raise the heat to medium-high, and cook, stirring constantly, until caramelized, 5 to 7 minutes. (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. Whisk in the Scotch.

While 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 the prebaked pie shell and set aside while you make the meringue.

Make the Meringue: In a standing mixer fitted with a whip attachment, whip the whites in a clean dry bowl on low speed until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and continue whipping on medium speed until soft peaks are formed. Gradually pour in the sugar and continue whipping on high speed until stiff and glossy. Pile the meringue onto the pie and swirl to cover, spreading it to the edge. (Making sure it touches the edge.) Bake the pie until the meringue is lightly browned, about 15 to 20 minutes.

Chill the pie, uncovered, at least 2 hours or overnight before serving.

From the Sweet Treats & More site:

Oatmeal Butterscotch Bars with Brown Sugar Glaze
adapted from Food.com

1 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1 c butter, soft
3/4 c sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
3 c oatmeal
1 (12 oz) package of Butterscotch Chips

Preheat oven to 350. 

1. Grease a 9x13 in. pan and set aside.

2. In a small bowl combine flour, soda, salt and cinnamon and set aside. 

3. In another large bowl, beat butter then add sugar and beat until fluffy.  Add eggs and vanilla and beat until smooth. 

4. Gradually add the flour mixture.  Stir in oatmeal, then butterscotch chips. 

5.  Spread batter into the greased pan.  Bake at 350 for 22-25 minutes

***If the edges seem to be browning but is still gooey in the middle, reduce to temp to 325 for last 5-10 minutes. 

6. Once cool, frost with brown sugar glaze. 

Brown Sugar Glaze
Cupcake Project

1/4 c butter
1/2 c brown sugar
1/8 c milk
1/2 c sifted powdered sugar

In a saucepan melt butter.  Stir in brown sugar and bring to a boil.  Lower heat to medium and continue to beat for two minutes, stirring constantly.  Add the milk and return to boil (continually stirring).

Remove from heat and let cool to luke-warm temperature.  Gradually stir in powdered sugar and beat until smooth.  Add more powdered sugar if needed.  If it seems too thick you can add a little bit of warm water until you reach the desired consistency.