Pudding is my re-set dessert. It’s my no-fail stand-by. The measuring is therapeutic–there aren’t that many ingredients and this recipe includes booze AND browned butter…so, there’s that. The constant whisking lets me get my thoughts together, there’s a comfort in the monotony. Plus, at the end…there’s warm, silky, lush pudding and there are few things finer than that.
This recipe combines some of my favorite dessert flavors all in one nostalgic cup. Think of these as the grown-up snack-pack…with all the layers that we all love, but with flavors that are decidedly adult. Toffee-like brown butter, sweet and deep brown sugar, fiery whiskey, dark and bitter chocolate, and a little flaky salt for good measure and crunch. The ganache top-hat does double duty–adding a welcome chocolatey bitterness, PLUS it seals the pudding, preventing the (dreaded) skin from forming. I love a practical and pretty garnish!
Whiskey Brown-Butterscotch Pudding w/ Ganache + Sea Salt
Makes 4 large or 8 moderate servings.
adapted from THIS recipe.
This recipe is adapted from an earlier post–I just really love homemade butterscotch pudding, guys! This version has a bit more butter and booze, and of course the ganache cap. This recipe can be made with whole or percent milk–I’ve made it both ways with great results. You can adjust the amount of whiskey for your liking. I did 4 tablespoons–it was super boozey and delish!
Ganache:
3 ounces dark chocolate, chopped or chips
3 ounces heavy cream
sea salt for sprinkling
Pudding:
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon sea salt
3 tablespoons cornstarch
2 1/4 cups milk
1/4 cup heavy cream
3 egg yolks
2-4 tablespoons whiskey
1 teaspoon vanilla
Make the ganache first. Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Begin by scalding the cream in a saucepan–that means heat the cream until small bubbles begin to form around the edges and some steam starts to rise off the surface of the cream–just before it begins to boil. Remove from heat and pour the hot cream over the chocolate, cover the bowl and allow to sit for about 5 minutes. After resting the chocolate should be melted, gently whisk the cream and chocolate until it is smooth, shiny, and completely combined. Set aside.
In a medium sauce pot, brown butter over medium low heat. The milk solids will become brown and smell nutty like toffee, watch it closely so it doesn’t burn. Remove from heat and immediately stir in brown sugar and salt. Once the sugar is completely moistened with the butter, whisk in the milk.
In a small bowl whisk together the cream and the cornstarch until smooth. Whisk in the eggs. Whisk the egg mixture into the milk and butterscotch mixture and heat over medium, whisking constantly, until the pudding thickens to coat a spoon and is the consistency of hot fudge sauce. Remove from heat and stir in whiskey and vanilla. Using an immersion blender or regular blender, pulse a few times to aerate. Pour into individual cups (4-8), spoon ganache over the top of each pudding cup and smooth over the top to cover completely, so that pudding is no longer exposed, and sprinkle lightly with sea salt. Allow to cool slightly and chill for several hours, or until ready to serve. Serve with softly whipped, unsweetened cream.
Oh my goodness! I’ll be thinking about this the rest of the day.
YES!
Yes. I want to eat this for breakfast lunch and dinner. And I’d also like to wear a ganache hat and get matchy matchy with this tasty concoction.
you should just be twins with it! ha!
Mmm this looks so good, and the combination sounds perfect. I am a huge lover of butterscotch, and I imagine it’s amazing with a little whiskey (since most things are amazing with a little whiskey). Yum!
thanks, Natasha!
You had me at grownup snack pack. YUM!
YES!
Oh wow, butterscotch pudding by itself is delicious, but you just took it to the next level! Yum!
Thanks, Whitney!
Love love love! I never think to make pudding, but I think you’ve convinced me to start.
yes, definitely do!
CINDYYYYY. Gurl you are out of control! I capital Love that ganache idea for the top and that pudding sounds like I could eat it on anything.
I think the ganache cap is my fave part–practical and edible!
I dont blame you for loving pudding. This looks comforting and so delicious
Thanks!
That looks heavenly! Love butterscotch pudding. Adding whiskey and brown butter must make it even better!
I am soooo on board for a grown-up snack pack. These look amazing, especially that ganache cap!
Made this today and it was yummy! I had to let my pudding set up in the fridge for about an hour before I put the ganache on (when I first tried to put on the ganache it sunk right into the pudding!) but this was a quick, pantry-friendly recipe to take to a friend’s house for dessert!
Nice! I’m so glad!
I love every part of this. Every. part. Yum!
MMMMMMMM pudding. Never has a food so perfectly embodied comfort food.
This amazing. I love everything in it!
this looks like an absolute dream. sweet and salty and butterscotchy pudding with chocolate. i died and went to dessert heaven.