Butterscotch Pudding

Treat yourself to Butterscotch Pudding, lightened up with 1% milk and Greek yogurt. A nod to Gone Girl, this dessert is a sweet treat for awards season!

Two bowls of butterscotch pudding with spoons on the side

I’m so excited to be participating in the #OscarNomsParty today with several of my blog friends. We’ve all made recipes inspired by films nominated for this year’s Academy Awards, and we’re hosting a pretty sweet giveaway! More information on that in a bit, as well as our wonderfully decadent menu, too.

Real talk: I’m nowhere near as good about seeing movies as I once was.

In 2006, my roommate and I saw all the films nominated for Best Picture, and we created a running list on the chalkboard wall in our kitchen of who thought which movie was going to win in what categories.

This year, I’ve seen one film nominated for Best Picture and a few others that picked up various nods.

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    One of those is Gone Girl.

    Overhead view of two bowls of butterscotch pudding with spoons

    Like a good student, I read the book before I watched the movie, and while the two were relatively similar, I enjoyed the book better. (Question: Has anyone ever liked the movie more than the book?)

    That being said, I appreciated the movie for what it was. It just didn’t capture the characters as fully as the novel did, even though it was artfully done.

    Winston, who didn’t read the book, enjoyed the film, too, and was on the edge of his seat most of the time. When it first got started, he kept shooting me questioning glances as something new would come to light.

    Two bowls of butterscotch pudding with chocolate drizzle

    Rosamund Pike, the actress who plays Amy Dunne, is nominated for Best Actress, and I wanted to tip my hat to both the movie and book with a recipe. But… the initial thought I had for food didn’t make it into the film. (It was a scathing statement that made me laugh out loud as I listened to the novel, and it was referenced a few times when certain information came to light.)

    Since Gone Girl was one of the only nominated films I saw this year, I asked if I could bend the rules a little to create this dish that’s more about the book than the movie.

    Because it stars butterscotch.

    (If you’ve read the book, please tell me you know what/who I’m referencing here.)

    Close up of two butterscotch pudding bowls next to spoons

    Butterscotch Pudding is a super simple dessert to pull together, and it’s absolutely delicious once chilled for a few hours. I’m sure it would be delicious straight off the stovetop, too, but since pudding needs additional time to thicken in the fridge, it might be best left alone for a bit.

    This pudding is creamy, slightly sweet and decadent. And it’s totally worth cheating (on a diet) for.

    In honor of the Academy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 22, I’ve teamed up with 15 incredible bloggers to bring you an awesome menu!

    Each of the participating bloggers has prepared an Oscar-themed recipe!

    The Oscar Noms Party
    Menu & Movies

    Appetizers

    Aged Cheddar & Apple Grilled CheeseBoyhood
    Asparagus RollsInto the Woods
    Magic Garbanzo Beans Into the Woods

    Desserts

    Rocket Raccoon CakeGuardians of the Galaxy
    Texas Peach Cobbler SkilletAmerican Sniper
    Chocolate-Covered Cherry GranolaWild

    Cocktails

    Pink Lady CocktailGrand Budapest Hotel
    Oscar Chambord RoyaleThe Theory of Everything

    Overhead view of pudding bowls on napkins next to spoons

    Close up of two butterscotch pudding bowls next to spoons
    Yield: 2 large servings

    Butterscotch Pudding

    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes

    A nod to the "Gone Girl" book, even if the butterscotch reference didn't make the movie, which Rosamund Pike is nominated for Best Actress at this year's Academy Awards. Treat yourself this Sunday to some decadent Butterscotch Pudding, lightened up with 1% milk and Greek yogurt.

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
    • ¼ cup dark brown sugar
    • A pinch of good sea salt
    • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
    • 1 cup 1% milk
    • ½ cup Greek yogurt
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

    Instructions

    1. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter, and let it brown slightly.
    2. While the butter is browning, combine the milk and greek yogurt. Whisk until smooth and no lumps visible. Set aside.
    3. Once the butter has browned, add the brown sugar. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Let the brown sugar cook and bubble for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring frequently so the sugar doesn't burn. Reduce the heat to low.
    4. Add the pinch of salt and measure in the cornstarch, stirring until combined until the combination forms a paste.
    5. Slowly pour in the milk/Greek yogurt mixture, whisking vigorously.
    6. Once the milk/yogurt mixture is completely added, cook the pudding over low heat, stirring frequently with a spoon, until the mixture gently simmers. While continually stirring, let the mixture simmer for a minute. It will thicken during this stage.
    7. Remove the saucepan from the heat, and measure in the vanilla extract.
    8. Pour the pudding into ramekins, and cover with plastic wrap. Transfer to the refrigerator, and chill for 1-2 hours, until set.
    9. Enjoy chilled with a dollop of whipped cream (or more Greek yogurt) and with a drizzle of chocolate sauce.

    Notes

    Adapted from Smitten Kitchen's Butterscotch Pudding.

    Nutrition Information:

    Yield:

    2

    Serving Size:

    1 serving

    Amount Per Serving: Calories: 259Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 24mgSodium: 148mgCarbohydrates: 38gFiber: 0gSugar: 31gProtein: 10g

    Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate.

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    About the Author:

    Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her

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    32 Comments

    1. YUM! That butterscotch pudding looks amazing. I love that it includes Greek yogurt too.

      I read Gone Girl when it first came out and keep thinking I still need to see the movie.

      1. Thanks so much, Trish! The Greek yogurt just makes it so creamy and delicious! If you enjoyed the book, I definitely suggest checking out the movie. It’s different and incredibly dark, but is well done.

    2. I was bad this year and haven’t seen like any of the Best Picture nominations! I’ve always been really into movies though. I haven’t read or seen Gone Girl, but I really want to! This butterscotch budding looks divine! Butterscotch is one of those flavors that’s forgotten a little bit, but it’s so good. 🙂

      1. I’ve only seen one, Beth, so you’re not alone in being bad this year. I definitely recommend Gone Girl, though I’ll go ahead and warn you that it’s DARK. And butterscotch… it’s so good! I don’t really ever think about it, but ever since I finished the book, it kept popping back into my mind, and now was the perfect time to make something featuring it.

      1. Butterscotch really is SO good… and I’m sure you can make yours look just as pretty! Any additional treats on top of a pudding is pretty to me!

    3. Yum, yum, yum!! My fiancé loves anything butterscotch, so I need to save this recipe for his birthday. It sounds delicious!

      1. Glad you enjoyed the book and love butterscotch, Michelle! This pudding was quite the treat, and I’m so glad I had the chance to make it in honor of the nomination and #OscarNomsParty.

      1. Thanks, Cate! Pudding is such an easy and delicious dessert… and I suggest checking out the movie or book if you’re into dark thrillers!

    4. I loved Gone Girl (book and movie), so I was curious to see what you’d make for it. This sounds so good! I’m not a butterscotch fan normally, but your recipe sounds so yummy I may have to try it.

      1. I’m glad you loved the book and movie, too! What kind of recipe were you expecting from it? Thanks! The recipe is good and delicious. I’m not sure if it’s for a non-butterscotch fan, but you can totally dress it up with toppings to change it up!

    5. Absolutely trying this. Love butterscotch! And I was trying to think of a movie I liked better than a book and I just couldn’t think of one! I think the Lords of the Rings gives the books justice though.

      1. I hope you enjoy this, Cat! Butterscotch is so good. 🙂 And I think you’re right — Lord of the Rings did the books justice, as did Harry Potter. Good call!

    6. You had me at brown butter. And brown sugar. And vanilla. Man, everything that’s good starts with something brown, doesn’t it? I’m craving some butterscotch now, girl! Hubby watched Gone Girl without me…I apparently need to catch up and see why you chose it!

      1. Brown butter. Brown sugar. Vanilla… it’s kind of a hard combination to go wrong with, right? You should totally catch the movie (AND read the book so you get the reference I’m making here!) and let me know what you thought of it all!

      1. Nice! I really enjoyed both… and am disappointed the butterscotch reference didn’t make it into the movie, though I know it wasn’t really a huge thing. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the cat!

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