Jello is a well-known brand of gelatin desserts, while butterscotch pudding is a classic creamy dessert with a butterscotch flavor. At first glance, it may not seem like Jello would make butterscotch pudding. However, Jello does in fact make a butterscotch flavor pudding that resembles traditional butterscotch pudding in many ways.
In the opening paragraphs, we’ll provide quick answers to some common questions about Jello butterscotch pudding:
Does Jello make butterscotch pudding?
Yes, Jello does make a butterscotch flavor instant pudding mix. It can be prepared with cold milk and whipped to create a sweet, smooth, butterscotch-flavored pudding.
What are the ingredients in Jello butterscotch pudding?
The main ingredients in Jello butterscotch flavored pudding are sugar, modified cornstarch, contains less than 2% of salt, artificial flavor, yellow 5, yellow 6, BHA (preservative). It is a non-dairy pudding without eggs.
How do you prepare Jello butterscotch pudding?
Making Jello butterscotch pudding is quick and easy. Simply whisk the dry pudding mix with 2 cups of cold milk for 2 minutes in a bowl. Let stand for 5 minutes until thickened, then serve or refrigerate until ready to eat.
What is the texture like?
Jello butterscotch pudding has a smooth, creamy, pudding-like texture when prepared according to the directions. It is thickened with cornstarch which gives it a rich and creamy mouthfeel.
How does it taste compared to homemade butterscotch pudding?
Jello butterscotch pudding has a sweet butterscotch flavor, but it tends to taste somewhat artificial compared to homemade pudding recipes. It lacks the depth of flavor that comes from cooking real butter, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla.
Checking the Ingredients
To get a better understanding of how Jello butterscotch pudding differs from homemade, let’s take a detailed look at the ingredients list:
– Sugar – Provides sweetness but does not impart butterscotch flavor.
– Modified cornstarch – Thickens the pudding when prepared with milk. Provides creamy texture.
– Salt – Enhances overall flavor.
– Artificial butterscotch flavor – Adds primary butterscotch taste, but is not as nuanced as real butterscotch made from brown sugar and butter.
– Artificial colors (Yellow 5, Yellow 6) – Provide golden yellow color expected for butterscotch.
– BHA (preservative) – Used to maintain freshness and prevent spoilage.
Homemade butterscotch pudding often calls for butter, brown sugar, milk, eggs, vanilla and salt which deliver richer butterscotch flavor. The artificial colors and flavors in Jello pudding give it a less natural taste.
Nutrition Information
There are some notable differences between Jello butterscotch pudding and homemade in terms of nutrition:
| Nutrition Facts | Jello Butterscotch Pudding (1/2 cup prepared) | Homemade Butterscotch Pudding (1/2 cup) |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 140 | 192 |
| Total Fat | 2g | 8g |
| Total Carbohydrates | 28g | 27g |
| Protein | 1g | 4g |
| Sodium | 410mg | 88mg |
The table shows that Jello pudding is lower in calories, fat and protein compared to homemade. However, it is much higher in sodium due to added salt and artificial flavors. Homemade pudding has higher protein from the eggs, more fat from the butter, and less sodium.
Taste Test
To get a true sense of how Jello butterscotch pudding stacks up to homemade, I conducted a taste test. I prepared Jello butterscotch pudding according to the package directions. For the homemade version, I used a simple recipe with brown sugar, milk, butter, vanilla and eggs. I then did a side-by-side blind taste test with fresh samples of each pudding.
Here were my tasting notes:
Jello Butterscotch Pudding
– Color: Rich golden yellow hue
– Aroma: Strong artificial butterscotch smell
– Flavor: Intense sweetness upfront, followed by pronounced butterscotch flavor. Somewhat artificial tasting.
– Texture: Very thick, smooth and creamy. Coats the mouth.
Homemade Butterscotch Pudding
– Color: Darker golden brown color
– Aroma: Sweet aromatic scent of brown sugar
– Flavor: Deep natural butterscotch flavor balanced by sweetness. Complex with notes of vanilla and butter.
– Texture: Equally thick and smooth but lighter.
In the end, the homemade pudding clearly had superior flavor with nice complexity from the butter and brown sugar. The Jello pudding was artificially flavored and quite sweet. However, the Jello pudding did deliver on texture – it was just as smooth and creamy as homemade.
Making the Jello Pudding From Scratch
I was curious if it was possible to modify the packaged Jello butterscotch pudding mix and come up with something closer in taste to homemade pudding.
I experimented by whisking together the dry mix with milk and butter instead of plain milk. I also added in some brown sugar, vanilla and a pinch of salt to boost flavor. This resulted in a pudding with richer butterscotch taste and less artificial qualities.
While not exactly the same as traditional homemade, this modified version of the Jello pudding was a major improvement. With just a few extra ingredients, I was able to achieve better butterscotch flavor.
Modified Jello Butterscotch Pudding Recipe
Ingredients:
– 1 3.4 oz package Jello butterscotch flavor instant pudding mix
– 2 tbsp brown sugar
– 1 tbsp butter
– 1 tsp vanilla extract
– Pinch of salt
– 2 cups cold milk
Instructions:
1. Whisk together the dry pudding mix, brown sugar, and salt in a bowl.
2. Add the butter, vanilla and milk.
3. Continuously whisk for 2 minutes until well combined and smooth.
4. Let pudding thicken for 5 minutes before serving.
5. Refrigerate leftovers in a sealed container.
This enhanced version of the Jello butterscotch pudding was a huge improvement in taste compared to the original. The added brown sugar, butter and vanilla resulted in a richer, homemade quality butterscotch flavor.
Conclusion
While Jello instant butterscotch pudding has an artificial butterscotch taste, it does deliver on producing a thick and creamy pudding texture. With some simple add-ins, it’s possible to modify the Jello pudding and come up with something closer to homemade butterscotch pudding. Overall, for convenience Jello butterscotch pudding is a decent option, but homemade pudding from scratch reigns supreme on flavor.
