So far here I’ve posted lots of healthy side dishes and main courses. Even my desserts have been full of fruit! And there will be more of that to come. However, today it’s time for something a little different. This is the other side of ‘A Little Bit Of Bacon’ when it’s time for a sweet treat and not a vegetable or fruit in sight. Instead, I have yummy, gooey, easy butterscotch bars for you. And, if that wasn’t enough, I’ve filled them with chocolate chips too.
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The base of this recipe comes from the Cookie Companion by King Arthur Flour
I have their Baker’s Companion
As for this particular recipe, these butterscotch bars don’t get easier. Really, they don’t!
There is no mixer required. Nothing fussy at all. Just a bowl and a spoon. (Okay, and a few measuring type things.) It takes about five minutes to combine everything in the bowl and then you’re ready to spread it out in the pan and put it in the oven.
Don’t you love easy cookie recipes? I do! Like my One Bowl Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies or my Simple Double Chocolate Cookies.
While you can, and I frequently do, cut the bars right in the pan, sometimes it’s nice to be able to pull the whole thing out. Take a length of parchment paper, trim it to the size of the pan with a few inches hanging over either side, and press it into the greased pan (so it sticks to the bottom), and then grease the parchment paper.
When the bars are done, let them cool until just warm, slip a butter knife down each of the short sides and pull it all out onto the cutting board. Boom! You’ll have the whole tray of bars right there where you can cut them neatly. Your choice whether you cut the edges off (cook’s treat 🙂 ) or go country style and keep them on.
Once they are cut, I like to set them out on a rack to finish cooling. Or at least I like to put the ones we haven’t eaten yet on a rack.
Oddly enough a few always end up disappearing as soon as I get them cut up. I have no idea what happens to them. None at all. But the rest have to wait until dessert.
Just look at all those gooey chocolate chips! Yum!
Is it dessert time yet? 🙂
– Happy Eating, Annemarie
Need some other chocolatey ideas? How about:
-
- Triple Chocolate Banana Scones
-
- Best Every Easy Chocolate Lava Cakes
-
- Chocolate Almond Stuffed Cookies
-
- Dark Chocolate Mousse Pie
Chocolate Chip Butterscotch Bars
Ingredients
- 1 stick (4 oz 8 tbsp) unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 c (12 oz) light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 1/2 c (7 1/2 oz) all purpose flour
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup butterscotch chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a 9x13 pan. If desired, cut a length of parchment paper to size - so that it fits the length of the pan and overhangs the sides by at least a few inches - and then grease the parchment.
- Melt the butter, either in a saucepan set on medium low or in a bowl in the microwave. If using the microwave, use a medium sized mixing bowl which will be large enough for all the ingredients and have one less thing to clean.
- Now, either add the brown sugar to the microwaved butter in the bowl or pull out your medium sized mixing bowl and whisk the butter and brown sugar together until smooth.
- One at a time, add the eggs, the vanilla, the salt, and the baking power and, using a large spoon, mix each one in until well combined.
- Add the flour and mix in until almost combined. Then pour in the butterscotch and chocolate chips and mix until no white streaks are flour are left. This should take only a few swift strokes of the spoon.
- Scrape batter out of the bowl and into the prepared pan. Spread it out evenly to the edges. Bake the bars for 20-25 minutes being careful not to overcook them. When they are ready to come out the top will be set and shiny and the edges will be brown and beginning to pull away from the side of the pan. A little underbaked in this case is better than dried out and overbaked.
- Let the bars cool until just warm and then - if you used the parchment - run knife along the short edges of the pan, pull them out carefully, and transfer them to a cutting board. Cut into 24 bars and let cool completely if you can resist eating them while they are all warm and melty.
Notes
Rachel says
I halved the sugar because we don’t really like very sweet stuff. Brownies did turn out very yummy indeed! But not chewy though because of the reduced sugar. Loved it! Family loved it as well!
justalittlebitofbacon says
Yeah, it’s a trade off when you reduce the sugar! And thanks for the feedback. 🙂
JN says
Hi, I made these for the first time for a cookie exchange party and they were YUMMY!!!! I may have cooked them longer as the sides had not browned so a little dry as they cooled off BUT simply divine!!!! This time I’ll cook it for just 20 min.
I had a hard time spreading it though in the 9/13 tray as it was so thick & sticky, so the bar size was not even all over. Any suggestions?
I am going to make there for Christmas day dinner as the kids demanded it!!!!! :-))
I accidentally found this recipe and SO GLAD I did!
justalittlebitofbacon says
I’m glad it was a hit! 🙂 I usually use a silicon spatula and that seems to work for me. However, you could also use your hands to spread out the dough. Either wet or grease the spatula or your hands as needed and that should do it.
JN says
PERFECT! Thanks for the suggestions! I am so keen to make these again as one of the comments below by Taylor was the one that convinced me to try these! Boy, am I glad I did!
Robyn says
I’ve made these 3 times now and they are delicious. I did, however nix the chocolate chips, using those made them a little too sweet. But I did use some chopped up m&m’s instead and, even though they’re chocolate too, something about them broke up the sweetness. Maybe the shell part? Anyways, super delish! Thanks!
justalittlebitofbacon says
I like the chopped m&m idea! Thanks for the comment and review.
Taylor says
This is THE Quintessential butterscotch chocolate chip recipe! Even though I didn’t bake much then, I can’t thank you enough for posting this recipe back in September of 15 so I could find it now. Those reading – MAKE. THESE… you’ll wonder how you lived so long without them. I’ve made them 6 times in 5 weeks. I just want everyone I know and work with to try them and absolutely everyone loves them. Not to mention how fast and easy they are to make. I would like to ask if the recipe can be doubled while mixing and then put in 2 pans and cooked at the same time, and on the same oven rack? Or any info on how to make more at one time. I definitely dont want to take anything away from the pure perfection of these bars so if it’s best not to, so be it. Again…. THANK YOU!
justalittlebitofbacon says
Wow, thanks for the enthusiastic thumbs up! 🙂 As for doubling, I haven’t done that and I’m not sure if it would throw off the ratios. Also, your bake time would be off as well if you are double filling the oven. Your best bet is to whip up a second batch while the first one is baking and then pop it in once the first comes out.
Taylor says
Thanks for your advice. I just didn’t have the time today and went ahead and made them. I did 2 bowls side by side and baked them at the same time. Considering I only had one of my metal pans available I used a glass 9*13 along side stainless!! They’re just great. I baked them 25 minutes on middle rack, checked them and added 6 minutes. The stainless Pan was done and I left the glass in for about 4 or 5 more minutes. So it’s the perfect recipe…. Delicious, fast, easy, economical and idiot proof!! 😊
justalittlebitofbacon says
Excellent. Thanks for testing a double batch. I’m sure there are other people out there who will be happy for the info. 🙂
Betty F. says
I’m sorry, my boyfriend and I think they are way too sweet.
I think half the amount of chips would have been sufficient.
It’s a gooey mess of chips. There isn’t much of a taste of cookie in these. Sadly disappointed 😞! It was such a waste of my chips and time. My boyfriend isn’t a picky person but he did say these are just too sweet and I again sadly ‘Agree’! 🙁
justalittlebitofbacon says
Yes, these butterscotch bars are very sweet, I agree, and they are not for everyone. I do have many more lightly sweetened desserts on site if you want to give something else a try.
Eva says
I made these and my family LOVED them! My oldest daughter wants these made for her birthday treat at school! Thank you for this delicious recipe. ☺
justalittlebitofbacon says
I’m glad you all loved them as much as we do! Thank you for the nice comment. 🙂
Cynde says
Goodness sakes! These are so delicious!! I made them on a whim because I had butterscotch chips that I needed to be used. So an hour before going to bed tonight I made them. Luckily, I had all the ingredients. It’s so easy to make! And so easy to eat! They will be cut into squares and brought to work tomorrow. Can’t wait to see what everyone will say. Or maybe I’ll just check back in the lunchroom after about an hour to see it an empty plate. Thank you, this one is a definite keeper!
justalittlebitofbacon says
Thank you for the comment! And they are a bit too easy to eat. 🙂 It’s good you brought them into the office.
Charlie Taylor says
Fantastical!! These babies disappeared at a graduation party. Everyone loved them. Such an easy recipe to make, I have it memorized after one time so I can whip these out again. Thank you!
justalittlebitofbacon says
Thanks for the comment! And I’m glad they went over so well. 🙂
Sarah says
Just made these….phenomenal!
justalittlebitofbacon says
Thank you!
Machelle says
Just made these, they are delish! So easy to make on a weeknight too.
justalittlebitofbacon says
Great! I’m glad you loved them! And thank you for the comment.
Kari says
Hi. These look delish! Can they be frozen?
Thanks.
justalittlebitofbacon says
Yes, they can! Just make sure to wrap them well in plastic wrap and then put them in a freezer bag. They’ll last 2-3 months in the freezer if well wrapped.
Sarah H says
These are a HUGE hit in my house! I love them and I LOVE how easy they are – only take a few minutes to whip up, no mixer, minimal dishes. These are awesome! I make them pretty often, and just made them again right now. Usually I make a half recipe in a square baker or pie tin. No changes; baking time is about the same but watch a little closer at the end. But with how fast they disappear here, maybe I should be making a full recipe!
justalittlebitofbacon says
Thank you. I’m glad your family loves them so much! And I think they might appreciate a full recipe. 🙂
Lisa Sharp says
Oh my, these sound delicious! I’ll have to pin them for later. Thanks for sharing.
justalittlebitofbacon says
You’re welcome! I hope you enjoy them as much as we did.
Alison @ Puppies & Pretties says
Oh these look so delicious!
justalittlebitofbacon says
Thanks! They were! 🙂
Cole says
These look so delicious and amazing! I really need to get back into cooking and baking more.
justalittlebitofbacon says
Thank you. These are a good cookie ease back into things with since they are so quick to make!
Chandler @ Life as a Larsen says
OH. MY. GOODNESS. These look so good I’m trying not to type in all caps but I really am so going to try these!! They look amazing and my husband might actually love them too! Thanks for sharing!
justalittlebitofbacon says
Thanks! 🙂 Every time I mention this recipe my family asks me when I’m going to make them again. This was one recipe they really enjoyed testing!
Aishwarya S says
I have to go and try this out now! It looks so tasty and delicious! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
justalittlebitofbacon says
Thank you! These do make a great, easy treat!
Nicole says
These sort of posts make me wish that I had more time in my kitchen to cook and bake! Looks delicious.
justalittlebitofbacon says
thanks! I hope you have some time to give them a try soon. 🙂
Dana says
Are these supposed to be gooey on the inside? I feel like mine aren’t done!! But I baked them 21 min!
justalittlebitofbacon says
They shouldn’t be gooey on the inside. However, they do start out a bit soft and then firm up as they cool. Ovens are variable, so yours probably needed the full 25 minutes in the recipe.