One-bowl Butterscotch Bars take only minutes to make, and the sweet, brown sugar, and caramel flavors of these bars are simply irresistible!
Quick and sweet-tooth satisfying Butterscotch Bars are the perfect go-to when you need something buttery and delicious! Grab your pantry staples, such as flour, brown sugar, butter, eggs, and vanilla, and sprinkle in butterscotch chips for a sweet treat that is perfect as is or with a big scoop of ice cream!
Buttery Goodness
Butterscotch bars are the perfect treat when we want something super easy and wonderfully sweet! Buttery, caramel flavors with a chewy texture, these cookie bars are great for an afternoon pick-me-up or a scrumptious dessert with ice cream. We usually have light brown sugar on hand, which gives these bars a great flavor. However, dark brown sugar would give these butterscotch bars an even richer caramel flavor, making it a tasty substitution if you have some on hand. Enjoy these bars on the go or for a great dessert; either way, these butterscotch bars are amazing!
Caramel Pumpkin Blondies are a decadent treat, but you can turn anything into an out-of-this-world dessert with Homemade Salted Caramel Sauce!
Other Recipes to Serve with Butterscotch Bars
- Sure, vanilla ice cream would be delicious with butterscotch bars, but seriously consider Brown Sugar Cinnamon Ice Cream– it’s dynamite!
- Brew up a few lip-smacking Iced Caramel Macchiatos for everyone to enjoy with their sweet treat!
Ingredients
Pantry Items: To make these bars, you will need all-purpose flour, brown sugar, butterscotch chips, baking powder, vanilla extract, and salt.
Refrigerated Items: Set out butter and a few eggs to come to room temperature.
How to Make Butterscotch Bars
STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Using a stand mixer or a bowl and beaters, cream the butter and sugar together. Once smooth, add vanilla and eggs and mix well.
STEP TWO: Sprinkle in the flour, baking powder, and salt and mix to combine. Lastly, fold in the butterscotch chips using a spatula.
STEP THREE: Grease a 9×13 cake pan well (or line it with parchment paper) and spread the cookie dough evenly in an even layer. Bake the bars for 30-35 minutes, or until the center is set.
STEP FOUR: Once the bars are out of the oven, slice them while they’re still warm and enjoy them when they are cool.
Tips for Success
- Be sure to grease the cake pan well, or the bars will stick. You can use non-stick spray, butter, shortening, or any other favorite cooking oil or fat you may have. You can also line the pan with parchment paper if that’s your go-to.
- It is much easier to slice these bars while they are still warm, so cut them and then allow them to cool to room temperature. If you let them cool first, it becomes a little tougher to cut them!
- For softer butterscotch bars, remove them from the oven after 30 minutes of baking, or when the center is just set. For firmer bars, you can let them bake for the entire 35 minutes, or until the middle is fully cooked.
- Store leftover butterscotch bars in an airtight container for up to four days or freeze individually wrapped bars for up to three months.
What is the difference between butterscotch and caramel?
Many people consider butterscotch and caramel to have a similar flavor, but once you taste each of them, you can tell there is a fundamental difference between them! Butterscotch is made with salted butter and brown sugar, which gives it a rich, buttery flavor that is sweet with a hint of salt. Caramel, on the other hand, is granulated sugar that has been caramelized. Butter, juice, or wine can be added, but it’s not strictly necessary. This gives caramel a sweet, sugary flavor that sometimes has a slight salty note, especially if butter is used.
Can I add more to this recipe?
There are a few tasty ideas of things to add to take your bars over the top, or new ways to enjoy them if you make them often! For a wonderful, sweet, and salty treat, sprinkle a few salted peanuts, walnuts, or pecans on top of the bars before baking. Alternatively, for a touch of sweetness, add a drizzle of white chocolate topping to these bars once they have cooled slightly. Lastly, you can also add chocolate chips to these bars. Substitute all the butterscotch chips for chocolate chips, or use a half-and-half mix of the two; both are delicious options!
More Sweet-Treat Bars to Enjoy
- German Chocolate Cookie Bars
- Snickerdoodle Cookie Bars
- Monster Cookie Bars
- Lemon Poppy Seed Sugar Cookie Bars
- Brown Sugar Cookie Bars
*This post originally posted on 01/13/2017.
Equipment
- Parchment Paper (optional)
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter softened
- 2 cups light brown sugar packed
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup butterscotch chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Generously coat a 9-inch x 13-inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray, or line the pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter and sugar for 1 minute on medium speed until fluffy. Add the vanilla and eggs and mix to combine.
- In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Use a rubber spatula or wooden spoon to fold in the butterscotch baking chips by hand until well distributed. Spread the cookie dough in an even layer in the prepared baking pan.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the bars are set in the middle.
- Remove from the oven and place the pan on a wire rack. Cut into 15 bars while still warm. Allow to cool completely.
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