Salted Caramel Butterscotch Budino (Italian Pudding)
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Salted Caramel Butterscotch Budino is an Italian pudding that is so creamy and delicious. This dessert consists of three layers. A creamy pudding topped with a deep caramel which is all sprinkled with a flaky sea salt.
John and I have a favorite place to go for dinner. The chef was classically trained and worked in Italy. They have a great menu that hosts anything from wood-fired pizza to fresh oxtail ragu pappardelle. Regardless of what we choose to eat, we always end up sharing their fresh Salted Caramel Butterscotch Budino.
I knew that I wanted to replicate it. It had to be perfectly creamy without being too sweet and without the graininess that can ruin a good pudding. I also wanted a delicious caramel to compliment the pudding without completely taking over.
I found a recipe for Salted Caramel Butterscotch Budino (Italian Pudding) that I have now made several times and it no longer takes me as long to put together. I’ve also made a few changes and learned a few tips that helped me to create the dish I was looking for.
Salted Caramel Butterscotch Budino (Italian Pudding)
Ingredients
Salted caramel
- ¼ cup white granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp light corn syrup
- 3 tbsp water
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- ½ tsp sea salt flaky such as Maldon Sea Salt Flakes
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Pudding
- 2 tbsp pure maple syrup
- ½ cup dark brown sugar packed
- ¼ cup water
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- 2½ cup half-and-half
- 1 large eggs
- 2 large egg yolks
- 3 tbsp cornstarch
- ¼ cup whipped cream for serving
Instructions
- It is very helpful if you get all of the ingredients out and measured before beginning.
Make the salted caramel:
- Use a saucepan that has a heavy, light-colored bottom so you can keep an eye on the color. In the pan, combine sugar, corn syrup, and water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Swirl (not stir) to caramelize evenly. When the caramel reaches a golden honey color, remove from heat. Carefully stir in the cream. This mixture will bubble up so be careful. Immediately add butter, vanilla, and salt. Whisk to combine. Set aside. This mixture will not harden so don’t worry about it cooling.
Make the pudding:
- In a saucepan with a light-colored bottom, combine the maple syrup, brown sugar, water, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Simmer for about 5 minutes, until the mixture darkens slightly in color. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the half-and-half until smooth.
- Combine egg and egg yolks in a large heat-proof bowl with the cornstarch. Whisk to combine. Add a small amount of the brown sugar mixture to the eggs and whisk. This is called tempering. If you added all of the hot mixture at once because it would scramble your eggs. Not good. Continue adding brown sugar mixture to eggs in a slow stream, whisking continuously.
- Pour mixture through a fine mesh strainer back into the saucepan. Cook over a medium heat, stirring continuously. As soon as mixture thickens to a pudding-like consistency, remove from heat. Spoon mixture into 4 to 6 ramekins or dessert dishes. Spoon caramel over the pudding.
- *Note I don’t scrape the bottom of the caramel pan when spooning caramel out of the pan. Sometimes the solids will harden on the bottom of your pan. They don’t look good and can be overly salty. Also not good.
- Cover and chill in the refrigerator at least 2 hours before serving.
- Sprinkle lightly with flaked salt and top with whipped cream right before serving.
Notes
Recipe adapted from Food.com
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.
Another smooth and creamy dessert I think you would love is Bavarian Cream with Blackberry Coulis. Do you have a dish that has totally taken over as your favorite? I would love it if you would share with me!
So glad to hear your recovery is coming along well, don’t push yourself though hey!
This pudding looks to die for, it looks so smooth and creamy!
Thank you Michelle!
We LOVE butterscotch in our home!! I cannot WAIT to try this recipe! It looks so delicious and creamy 🙂 I hope you’re taking it easy and feeling alot better too!
Thank you Dini! All is going very well!
So glad to hear that you are recuperating, Julie. Your pudding sounds wonderful! Salted caramel is just the best! Thanks so much for bringing this to FF! 😀
Thank you Julianna!
I love this Julie, I am so impressed! That Italian restaurant sounds great, it’s nice to have a spot that always has great food to offer. I hope that the rest of your recovery is speedy, that is quite a procedure- hang in there, it’ll keep getting easier!! 🙂 Glad you’re making your way back to the kitchen!
Thank you Stephanie! Have a great Easter!
Glad your recovery is going well! That pudding… oh my. I need that in my life! It looks so luscious, and gorgeous photos!
Thank you Amanda! It is definitely smooth and silky and not cloying sweet.
Your pudding looks fantastic, I’d love to taste it 🙂
Thank you Lily!
This pudding looks and sounds delicious! Glad to hear you are getting better and sure your presence in the kitchen will be welcome!
Thanks Caroline! I think you are correct on the kitchen part. Happy Easter!
And what an amazing pudding; butterscotch flavoured with even more caramel on top!
It’s wonderful that your recovery is going well! Do take it slow if you need to, though 🙂
Thank you! It is yummy! Thank you for your support. I’m on my way to getting better every day 🙂
Julie, I’m the same way in that sometimes it takes me a while to really get a recipe down before I can make it in a timely manner. Sometimes I feel like a 30 minute dish takes me an hour! lol. I’ll be honest, I’m not a huge butterscotch fan, but I LOVE sweets and this recipe looks too irresistible. I can imagine enjoying some after a romantic candlelight dinner. Great recipe!
Thank you! I would say they are caramel. The other recipe called them butterscotch. I am keeping them for more special occasions because I want them to stay special. Have a great weekend!
Glad to hear that you’re recovering well!
Thank you!
Oh my gosh- butterscotch is my favorite and this recipe is definitely a killer. … yummmm
Thank you Chitra! I haven’t met a person that doesn’t love it.
This pudding sounds wonderful! I will have to try it later:) Hope you feel better every day!
Thank you so much for your sweet comments! Better every day. 🙂
Wonderful to hear that you are recovering well Julie 🙂 I adore the flavor of salted caramel and the look of this budino makes me want to rush to the kitchen & make it immediately! Beautiful!!
Thank you so much! It is supposed to chill for a couple hours but no one said anything about licking the bowls 🙂
Oh a hip replacement…I am due for one too so and am not looking forward to that day. Pudding everyday would help though. Love your recipe.
Thank you! They have come so far with the implants that last much longer than they used to. Let me know if you have any questions.
This pudding sounds so wonderful with the Caramel and Butterscotch flavors–looks absolutely delicious!
Thank you Nancy! We sure love it.
I can’t wait to try this one – I love caramel! Oh, and your new header looks awesome! Love it! 🙂
Thank you Ana! It says it serves 4 and we make it 6. I like the simplicity of the header too. At first it felt plain but I do like it. Have a great day!
No, it doesn’t feel plain at all. It looks… professional. 🙂
Thank you Ana!
Looks delicious Julie! I hadn’t heard of this Italian pudding before. Love salted caramel and have been thinking I needed some to eat! Thanks for sharing and hope you get even better very soon! 🙂
Thank you Lili. I am getting better everyday!
That’s great Julie! 🙂
Pudding looks delish:-)
Thank you!
So beautifully light and creamy Julie. Love caramel and love custard, so will definitely be trying this out. Give yourself a giant pat on the back, your determination and your resolve will definitely get you in the kitchen sooner than you think. This is great that you’ve got the go-ahead and green signal from your Doc….now just some PT and you’ll be as right as rain. Glad that you’re back, but you were never away really, because you had all those wonderful posts that you planned for while you were recuperating. Yay YOU, Julie! 🙂 Happy Easter!
Thank you so much Loretta for your continued support. You definitely made the days I was laid up go quickly. I really enjoy this recipe and I try not to make to often so it remains special for us. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Easter too!
You had me at ‘Salted Caramel’, Julie. It looks spectacular. Take care, Julie!
Thank you!
I have never made caramel at home. Your recipe and instructions are so clear to follow Julie. Amazing pudding. I can only imagine the flavors and textures. I love caramel filled toffees. Does it taste similar to that? I am going to try and replicate it sometime.
Thank you Sonal! The pudding is like a creamy vanilla pudding and the caramel is soft and buttery. It is a great combo when you dive in. I hope you will let me know what you think if you try it.
Sure Julie. I have to try it❤️
Mmmmm! This special dessert sounds heavenly! So happy to hear that you are on the mend, Julie! I’m sure it feels good to be back in the kitchen for short periods of time. Take extra-good care… ♡
Thank you Dawn! This dessert is our special favorite. It is great being on the mend too!
Looks spectacular. I can tell just by the looks why you’d consider it one of your favorite! Glad your recuperation is coming along well.
Thank you Dave! So pleased you stopped. It really is one of our favorites. Thank you for your well wishes too!
So glad all the bad days are over and the good ones are getting better. I’d like for you to bring dessert over any time!! 😉
That’s a deal! Thanks Debbie!
Good to hear your recuperation is going well x x