Why it works: Milk and vanilla are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 5% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 19,187 recipes. Both carry ethyl caproate, which smells fruity, apple peel. The science ↓
Milk-free Butterscotch Sauce
Ingredients
Directions
Make the sauce
Mix brown sugar and cornstarch in a small saucepan.
Slowly add nondairy creamer and water, stirring until cornstarch dissolves.
Add honey and margarine.
Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until sauce is thickened and comes to a boil.
Remove from heat and add vanilla.
Store
Store in a covered container in the refrigerator.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
Counts 5 of 6 ingredients. The other 1 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.
What these numbers assume: 5 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Flour | 1 cup (125g) all-purpose | 455 |
| Butter | 1 tbsp (14g) | 102 |
| Honey | 1 tbsp (21g) | 64 |
| Sugar | 1 tbsp (12.5g) granulated | 49 |
| Vanilla | 1 tsp extract (4ml) | 12 |
| Water | not in our table | 0 |
One typical portion per ingredient; the recipe's quantities are not counted. A rough guide only, not for medical or dietary planning.
Steps grouped into stages for easier reading; the method is the source's own.
Explore the science
The flavor team
The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.
-
Milk + vanillatop 5% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together19,187 recipes
Shared aroma: ethyl caproate (fruity, apple peel).
-
Sugar + vanillatop 8% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together35,032 recipes
Shared aroma: beta-damascenone (apple, rose).
-
Honey + vanillatop 9% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together1,262 recipes
Shared aroma: beta-damascenone (apple, rose).
-
Honey + milktop 10% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together1,336 recipes
Shared aroma: ethyl octanoate (fruity).
-
Sugar + milktop 18% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together77,875 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-nonenal (fatty, green).
Sugar and vanilla barely smell alike, yet cooks put them together in 35,032 recipes: they work on texture and structure more than aroma.
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Brown sugar
- Provides the butterscotch sweetness and caramel flavor.
- Cornstarch
- Thickens the sauce as it heats and comes to a boil.
- Nondairy creamer
- Adds body and creaminess to the liquid base of the sauce.
- Margarine
- Adds fat for smooth texture and rich flavor.
The step that matters
Cook until thickened and boiling. Cornstarch needs to reach a boil to fully thicken. Stirring constantly prevents lumps and keeps the sugar and creamer from scorching on the bottom of the pan.
“What each ingredient does” and “The step that matters” were written by Claude from this recipe’s own method and reviewed in samples by CompKitchen.
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