butterscotch

American  

[buht-er-skoch] / ˈbʌt ərˌskɒtʃ /

noun

1. a flavor produced in puddings, frostings, ice cream, etc., by combining brown sugar, vanilla extract, and butter with other ingredients.

2. a hard, brittle taffy made with butter, brown sugar, etc.

3. a golden brown color.

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adjective

1. having the flavor of butterscotch.

butterscotch British  

/ ˈbʌtəˌskɒtʃ /

noun

1. a kind of hard brittle toffee made with butter, brown sugar, etc

2. 1. a flavouring made from these ingredients

   2. ( as modifier )

      butterscotch icing

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Etymology

Origin of butterscotch

First recorded in 1850–55; earlier also butterscot; the 2nd element of the compound is unexplained

Example Sentences

The cake had a butterscotch frosting, which was brown and thus “weird.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026

Or classic brown butter chocolate chip cookies, which adds notes of butterscotch and toffee that enhance the cookies’ overall depth.

From Salon • Aug. 16, 2025

Run through with the sultry flavors of caramel, butterscotch and molasses, the dish would quickly become one of its most popular to date.

From Seattle Times • May 6, 2024

They’re brewed here by the potful, along with Bold Black Mamba — a nod to “Kill Bill” — plus cold brew and sweetened coffee concoctions such as lavender vanilla, raspberry mocha and butterscotch caramel.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 1, 2024

“This color isn’t butterscotch, ” insisted Narciso, “it’s caramel! ’’ cement.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner