Butterscotch is a type of candy made by boiling sugar syrup, butter, cream and vanilla. In many ways it is similar to toffee except that the sugar is boiled to the "soft crack" stage (see confectionery).

Butterscotch is often used as a flavouring for items such as ice cream, dessert sauce and cookies or biscuits.

It is also used as a substitute for caramel in Uganda.

Usually, butterscotch is creamy and sticky, and can pose a greater dental hygiene risk than some other forms of confectionery because of its tendency to become stuck to teeth.