These butterscotch brownies are so easy the batter will be ready before the oven has even pre-heated! Great first recipe for kids learning to bake. The sweet and salty combo in these potluck perfect treats is utterly addictive.
Butterscotch brownies are the impossible to resist treat you must bake asap.
If you love baking with butterscotch chips, you will love the sweet and salty combo of this crispy-chewy cookie bar recipe.
The dough comes together all in one bowl and you'll have them ready to go in the oven before it is even finished preheating.
They are the perfect dessert to pack for a picnic to take to the beach or your next potluck party.
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Why This is the Best Recipe
I love baking with butterscotch chips but I think these are the best butterscotch brownies because:
- So Fast: The one bowl batter is so easy to make, you'll have it ready before the oven is finished preheating!
- So Easy: This would be such a great dessert recipe for kids to bake all on their own.
- Sweet AND Salty: I love the balance the salted pecans bring to the brownies.
- Travel Friendly: Heading on a vacation? Need a potluck dessert? These blondies are the perfect solution. BONUS: They won't melt in the heat.
Brownie vs. Blondie
This delicious cookie bar has a bit of a funny name.
Though they are called "butterscotch brownies" they are also very similar to a traditional butterscotch blondie bar.
The base of the treat is a vanilla-flavored cookie dough with butterscotch chips and pecans mixed in.
The lighter color suggests "blondie" but the sliced square shape is just like a brownie.
In the end, you can't go wrong with either name! Butterscotch brownies or butterscotch blondies, they taste amazing either way.
Ingredients
This easy recipe is so fantastic because you only need a few simple pantry items to make it:
- Butterscotch Chips: Just like chocolate chips but soooo much better. You'll find them right next to each other at most grocery stores.
- Pecans: I love the crunch and slightly salty flavor they add to these blondies but if you need a nut-free treat, you can leave them out.
- Flour
- Butter
- Brown Sugar
- Egg
- Vanilla Extract
- Baking Powder
- Salt
How to Make Butterscotch Brownies
Line an 8-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil. Be sure to use a piece large enough to cover the sides as well as the bottom.
In a large bowl, add the brown sugar, melted butter, egg, and vanilla extract. Stir them to combine.
Add the flour, salt, and baking powder, stir to combine.
Fold in the pecans and butterscotch chips. The batter will be very thick.
Add the batter to your prepared baking pan and use the back of a spoon or spatula to gently spread the mixture evenly across the bottom of the pan.
Baking Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Bake the butterscotch brownies for 25 minutes or until the center is set and the top is a light golden brown.
Cool on the stove top.
Remove the bars by using the foil to lift the entire batch up and out of the dish. Cut into squares and serve.
Make Ahead Tips
This recipe is so easy, I've even been known to bake them at our beach house rental during our annual family vacation.
You can package up the dry ingredients to bring along and then just add the butter and egg once you get to your destination.
You can also fully bake these cookie bars ahead of time and just store them in an airtight container on the counter for 3 - 5 days.
The butterscotch brownies would also freeze well if you want to bake them ahead and store them until your special event.
Serving Suggestions
I think the butterscotch brownies have the best texture once they've cooled completely. I love that crispy, chewy bite.
However, you could serve them warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a butterscotch blondie sundae. Maybe even add a drizzle of salted caramel sauce over the top!
Baking with Butterscotch Chips
If you are hooked on butterscotch chips and love to bake with them, you will also love these other butterscotch chip recipes:
- Fresh Apple Butterscotch Bars: Chewy oatmeal and fresh juicy apples are a great complement to the sweet butterscotch.
- Pumpkin Butterscotch Cookies: My kids have loved baking these every fall since they were tiny.
- Pumpkin Pecan Waffles: Stir butterscotch chips into the batter before you griddle them or sprinkle them on top.
- Pumpkin Bread: Butterscotch chips are one of my favorite things to mix into the bread batter before baking.
More Dessert Bars
If you're looking for more easy dessert bars, don't miss my best cookie bars and krispie treats!
📖 Recipe
Butterscotch Brownies
Ingredients
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 8 tablespoon (1 stick) butter melted
- 1 egg beaten
- 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup pecans chopped
- 1 cup butterscotch baking chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil. Be sure to use a piece large enough to cover the sides as well as the bottom.
- In a large bowl, add the brown sugar, melted butter, egg, and vanilla extract. Stir them to combine. Add the flour, salt, and baking powder, stir to combine. Fold in the pecans and butterscotch chips. The batter will be very thick.
- Add the batter to your prepared baking pan and use the back of a spoon or spatula to gently spread the mixture evenly across the bottom of the pan. Bake for 25 minutes or until the center is set and the top is a light golden brown.
- Cool on the stove top. Remove the bars by using the foil to lift the entire batch up and out of the dish. Cut into squares and serve.
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Angie
These were delicious! I didn’t have foil so I greased and floured the pan and decreased baking time by 1 minute. Adults that usually don’t like desserts loved these. Perfect for camping, thank you for sharing the recipe.
Lila Kelaita
Can the One Bowl Butterscotch Brownies be made with Lily’s Butterscotch Flavored Baking Chips White Chocolate Style Stevia Sweetened No Sugar Added? Would I have to change the sugar content in the recipe? Thank you
Kelly
So yummy! I made a double batch (and added some chocolate chips), put it in a 9x13 dish and baked it for 35 minutes. It was perfect! Crunchy on the outside (but not break your teeth hard) and oh so gooey on the inside!!
They were so good that I made them again within a week! Definitely a keeper!