Butterscotch vs Caramel, English Toffee vs Butter Toffee

[tbb113]

Anybody know what makes them different? I think butterscotch is made with brown sugar and caramel is made with white sugar. But I have no idea what the difference is between english toffee and butter toffee (except I like english toffee better)

[Beth]

In two side by side recipes I found, the vanilla cream caramel and butterscotch are both made with dark corn syrup and the caramel has more plus more cream and added butter. Other flavors of caramel have different syrups (light corn, maple, the maple has brown sugar). I think it is the proportions of bream and butter in the caramel -- plus the point to which it is cooked. Caramel (as opposed to caramelized sugar) is typically cooked to a softer point.

Didn't find a side by side answer for the toffee question, but again it could have to do with proportions of sugar and butter. I also think I remember seeing something about dark chocolate versus milk chocolate or no chocolate.

I was looking for side by side comparisons in my sources because otherwise you don't know if the recipe name has evolved or is actually distinguished from something similar. Most of my books only have one or the other. My old Joy of Cooking had both caramels and butterscotch as well as English Toffee (semisweet chocolate).

[TerriAb]

Could be completely wrong, but I think English Toffee has the chocolate and nuts on it. Butter toffee is just the toffee itself. I like them all!

[tbb113]

I think the difference between English and Butter toffee is the percentages. Target makes a English Toffee and a butter toffee caramel corn and the ingredient list is the same. After taste comparisons we decided we like English Toffee better. And I like a Skor bar more than a Heath bar.

The question came up because my son wanted to know what the difference was betweeen caramel and butterscotch since 'they both taste the same'.

[Middydd]

I've always thought caramel was just melted (and browned) sugar and butterscotch was melted sugar mixed with butter.