Butterscotch Bars

Butterscotch bars are made using only 5 ingredients you probably already have in your pantry. These bars are thick, chewy, and taste like they came straight from a bakery!

I have a lot of easy dessert recipes on my website, but this recipe for butterscotch bars might be the easiest of them all.

This recipe comes from a lovely woman named Laura over at Heavenly Homemakers. It uses 5 ingredients, comes together in one bowl, and the simplicity really lets the flavor of the butter and sugar shine. They’re sweet but not too sweet, and chewy without being too gooey.

I encourage you to whip up a batch or two to enjoy as a quick snack or dessert — I guarantee you already have the ingredients on hand!

Ingredients

Butter
Brown sugar
Eggs
Vanilla
All-purpose flour

How to make butterscotch squares

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, mix melted butter and brown sugar.
Add eggs and vanilla and mix well.
Stir in flour and mix until well combined.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 25 minutes.

Top tips

Don’t over bake butterscotch bars

For the gooiest butterscotch bars, I recommend slightly under baking them. The bars should still be under baked in the middle when you take them out of the oven, but will continue to bake as they cool!

How to store bar desserts

Let your butterscotch bars cool completely before covering with plastic wrap. Store at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, although they are best enjoyed the day they are made. They will stay fresher if you don’t cut them until you’re ready to serve.

You can also store them in an airtight container the freezer for up to 3 months. I recommend cutting them into individual servings before freezing so you can remove just as many as you’d like.

Tips for customizing butterscotch bars

Add butterscotch chips or any favorite combination of baking chips
Add in your favorite chocolate candy, like M&Ms or Reese’s Pieces
Add in your favorite dried fruit, like cherries or cranberries
For gluten-free bars, use all purpose gluten-free 1-to-1 baking flour
Add your favorite chopped nuts, like macadamia nuts, pecans, walnuts, or almonds
Sprinkle with finishing salt, like Maldon or fleur de sel

a stack of butterscotch bars on a blue and white plate

FAQ

Should I use salted or unsalted butter?

Most bakers swear by unsalted butter for baking cookies. I don’t usually have unsalted butter on hand and usually use salted.

You can use either, just keep in mind that if you use unsalted butter you’ll want to add some salt to the dough yourself (up to 1 teaspoon), and if you use salted butter you will only need to add a pinch or maybe none at all.

Can you freeze butterscotch bars?

Yes! These cookie bars freeze great, just make sure you let them cool completely before cutting and placing in an airtight container, separating any stacked brownies with parchment or aluminum foil.

If you prefer to thaw them, simply pop them in the microwave for 20-30 seconds until warmed.

More dessert bar recipes

If you make this recipe, be sure to rate it, leave a comment, or tag #theliveinkitchen on Instagram!

Recipe