Easy Butterscotch Pie

What Is Butterscotch Pie Made Of?

As with any classic pie, there are dozens of local and regional variations. Traditional butterscotch pie has a texture more like a custard, with a base of brown sugar that has been slow simmered until it creates a thick pie filling. The downside? It takes a really long time and you can’t take your eyes off of it, or it could burn.

So if you’re after that perfect balance of flavor and simplicity, this easy butterscotch pie is what you’ve been waiting for. It uses butterscotch pudding mix with a flavor that’s every bit as sweet and rich, plus a similar smooth texture, but with far fewer steps.

The same pudding mix you can find in your corner grocery store will combine with just a few other ingredients to create an amazingly decadent pie. And the finishing touch is just like all the variations on butterscotch pie—the whipped cream topping. For a fun alternative with a few more ingredients that’s still quite simple, try our Butterscotch-Brown Sugar Baked Pie.

How to Make a Butterscotch Pudding Pie

Get ready to be amazed. This easy Butterscotch Pie has only 5 ingredients, and just 3 simple steps. Simply bake the pie crust, mix in the filling, add a topping and let your refrigerator do the rest. The full instructions can be found below, but let’s talk about some highlights, and things to watch out for.

Pre-baking the Crust

Since the pie filling is set in the fridge, the crust is baked on its own in advance. Follow the instructions on the package so it isn’t underbaked, which could leave you with a soft, doughy pie, and you can probably guess what overbaking can do.

Mix the Filling

Mixing the filling is pretty foolproof, so this is a perfect opportunity to get the whole family involved and give the kids a chance to learn. It’s just pouring the pudding mix and milk together and whisking until thick. Otherwise known as the fun part!

Pour the Filling

Pour the filling into the prebaked, cooled pie crust and smooth the top with a spatula. Careful not to overfill the pie. Leave about 1/8” of crust above the filling.

Toppings

Some of the whipped cream is going into the filling, but the rest is for topping the pie. Let the butterscotch pie filling set for at least 2 hours in the fridge before adding the whipped topping. Too soon, and it’ll sink into the butterscotch that hasn’t had a chance to set. A little patience, and you’ll have an incredible creamy topping that melds together in your mouth, not on the plate!

Storing Butterscotch Pie

Traditional homemade butterscotch pie can last in the fridge for about 2 days, but because this easy variation uses pudding mix, its shelf life is a lot longer, and it will keep up to a week, when loosely covered in your fridge.

You can also freeze this variation for up to 3 months! However, take care as freezing and thawing can alter the texture. For best results, thaw until it’s no longer frozen solid, and enjoy it as you would an ice cream cake!