If you are looking for something interesting to do with butterscotch morsels, here's an old recipe for Butterscotch Brickle Bars. Originally from an Oklahoma Junior League cookbook, the recipe start with a simple shortbread crust. You bake the crust then pour on a melted butterscotch chip mixture which transforms from sticky goo to a caramel-like matrix holding together nuts.
For this batch I used toasted walnuts. They tasted great, but I think they'd be even better with cashews.
Here’s a recipe for the full batch. I made a half batch and added a few notes about that at the bottom.
Recipe
Butterscotch Brickle Bars
Butterscotch Brickle Bars are bar cookies made with nuts and melted butterscotch chips.
Ingredients
- 1 ⅓ cups flour 6 oz
- ¾ cup light brown sugar
- 4 oz 1 stick butter, softened
- ½ teaspoon of salt divided use
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup butterscotch chips
- ¼ cup light corn syrup
- 1 tablespoon water
- 2 cups chopped nuts toasted (I used coarsely chopped walnuts)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a 13x9 inch pan with foil and spray lightly with cooking spray. If you want to skip lining the pan, feel free.
- Mix the flour, brown sugar, softened butter and ¼ tsp. salt and blend until crumbly. Press into the prepared pan and bake on middle rack for 10 minutes.
- Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Add the remaining salt, butterscotch chips , corn syrup and water to the hot butter and stir well. Microwave at 50% powder for 30 seconds. Stir and repeat if necessary until chips are melted. Note: You may also do that step in a double boiler. The microwave works perfectly, just don't use a high setting. Stir in the nuts (batter will be kind of thick and goopy) and spoon over baked shortbread layer, spreading evenly. Bake for 8 minutes longer. Let sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes, then remove from pan and score while still warm.
- Let cool completely before serving.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Upstate NY Native says
Laura E - I am intrigued - I have never seen maple chips. Where do you find them? Are they regional?
Mary
Tessa says
Yum! I love all things butterscotch and these look delicious!
melissa says
These look great -- though decadent! Since I'm on the post-holiday track right now, I'll have to wait to make these... 🙂
Melissa says
Mmmm these sound so yummy!
Anna says
Sue, you jogged my memory. I made a version of this 4 years ago with peanuts. It was filed under butterscotch blondies.
https://www.cookiemadness.net/2006/10/butterscotch-peanut-bars/
Lyon Travis says
Yum! Your site is amazing. Visiting it makes me want to eat some sweets! I am very happy that I came across your site. I love pastries! I’ve been learning how to bake. That’s why I’ve been browsing on the internet for some recipes. I am grateful that I found your website. I would bookmark this for sure. I will come back to see your updates. I hope you continue to keep this site up and running! I wish I could bake those pastries that you’ve shown here. I still need to learn a lot. Anyway, this is a really wonderful website. I hope you keep it up!
Sue says
I got to thinking more about these bars and I have a very similar recipe. It calls for 2 c. "mixed fancy nuts" and it's made in a 10x15 inch pan. We LOVE those bars and haven't made them in eons!
Base layer:
1 1/2 c. brown sugar, firmly packed
1 c. softened butter
3 c. flour
1 t. salt
2 c. fancy mixed nuts
Second layer:
1/2 c. light corn syrup
2 T. butter
1 T. water
1 c. butterscotch morsels
The base is baked in a 10 x 15 pan at 350 for 10-12 min. Then the nuts are scattered over the top.
The second layer is cooked in a saucepan and boiled while stirring constantly for 2 min. Pour over crust and bake for 10-12 min.
Thanks for reminding me about these!
Carolyn says
I have that cookbook and I love it. I'll have to try the cookie recipe.
Gloria says
The bar looks golden delicious...I love shortbread crusts...never made one with brown sugar. Do you think soft raisins could be baked into the topping? or dried softened craisins?
Barbara says
Don't you love those JL cookbooks? They are chock full of great recipes and this one is a perfect example. Looks delicious!
Laura E. says
I think cinnamon, vanilla or maple chips could substitute for the butterscotch if you can find them.
vanillasugar says
never heard of these. is that weird? or am i weird.
Katrina says
My husband hates butterscotch. sigh
Sounds good to me!
Hanaa says
These sound easy and look very tasty! Thanks for sharing! :o)
Sue says
My son would LOVE these. He loves anything butterscotch!!