Dessert or Dessert Topping 2008

Outstanding Dessert or Dessert Topping 2008: Shootflying Hill Sauce Co., Inc. Salty Butterscotch Dessert Sauce

Cory Clarke, founder and CEO of Shootflying Hill Sauce Co., Brookline, Mass., knew she liked to bake at a young age; she used to stand on a chair in her mother’s kitchen to reach the counter. Although always passionate about desserts, Clarke studied engineering in college and later worked at a software company as a mechanical engineer. But, when a year of experimenting with dessert sauces in her kitchen started to detract from her ‘day job,’ Clarke decided to follow her passion and create Shootflying Hill Sauce Co. The company is named after a local road in Centerville, Mass., that led to her family’s favorite ice cream shop.

“I played with recipes until I finally got it right,” says Clarke. She ultimately came up with Salty Butterscotch—her best-selling flavor—because of its nostalgic properties. “It often evokes a childhood memory for people. To make the sauce more appealing to adults and round out the sweetness, I added fleur de sel. Adults love the salty-sweet combo.” 

Clarke suggests merchandising Salty Butterscotch or her other sauces—Milk, Dark and Peach Bourbon—near ice cream. She also encourages demos to help move the product. All of her sauces are multi-functional; the Salty Butterscotch can be added to Bananas Foster while the Peach Bourbon can serve as a glaze or finishing sauce for pork.

Currently, Clarke is developing a 70 percent chocolate sauce as well as a Cherry Rum Sauce to add to her line. Suggested retail: $9.99/9-ounce jar; dessertsauce.com.—Nicole Potenza Denis