The Ultimate Butterscotch Bars

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Rich butterscotch chips and a terrific chewy oatmeal texture combine to make these Oatmeal Butterscotch Bars different from any other cookies or bars I’ve had before now.

I made these bars for the first time over 6 years ago. When Mel shared these Oatmeal Butterscotch Bars, I made them that same day! I took them to an event with friends that evening and they were the fastest thing devoured.

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Oatmeal Butterscotch Bars recipe by Barefeet In The Kitchen

Several recipe requests came along with that, so I shared the recipe here as quickly as possible to make sure I would have it at my fingertips later. I love a great bar recipe. They’re perfect for get-togethers and lunch snacks too.

For more easy dessert recipes, check out these Lemon Bars, Cheesecake Cookie Bars, Cinnamon Toast Bars, and Monster Cookie Bars.

Butterscotch Bars

If anyone in your life enjoys butterscotch, I guarantee that they will find these Oatmeal Butterscotch Bars irresistible. For more butterscotch treats, check out these Soft and Chewy Butterscotch Cookies. This Butterscotch Hot Cocoa Mix is basically what winter dreams are made of.

If the weather is still warm where you are, maybe this Butterscotch Blended Iced Coffee will hit the spot. Last but not least, this Creamy Butterscotch Pie needs to be on my Thanksgiving table this year.

Oatmeal Butterscotch Bars are chewy, sweet, buttery treats! get the recipe at barefeetinthekitchen.com

Kitchen Tip: I use this pan to make and store this recipe.

PLEASE NOTE: Regarding the glaze

The glaze recipe as written is perfect for drizzling LIGHTLY over the bars – this is my preferred way to make them. For a thicker glaze, as pictured in this post, you will need to double or triple the glaze recipe.

As a result, the bars will be significantly sweeter this way. (My kids love these bars with the extra glaze, I’m partial to the very lightly drizzled version.)

IF you are going to increase the amount of glaze to top these bars, you’ll want to let the bars cool completely before pouring the glaze, so that you’ll be able to spread it across the top of the bars with a spatula. If the bars are warm when you try to spread the glaze, it won’t work well.

Butterscotch Bars Recipe

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9X13-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, letting the foil hang over each edge by one or two inches. Lightly grease the foil with cooking spray.

  2. Whisk together the flour, oats, baking soda, and salt and then set aside. Place the ¾ cup butterscotch chips in a large bowl. Pour the hot melted butter over the butterscotch chips and whisk together until the chips are melted and smooth. Add the brown sugar and whisk until combined. Add in the egg and vanilla. Whisk until smooth. Stir in the flour mixture, just until incorporated.

  3. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and spread the batter evenly to the edges. Bake the bars until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs, this was about 16 minutes.

  4. While the bars bake, place the ¼ cup butterscotch chips, brown sugar, water and salt in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave the mixture until melted and smooth, this was about 2 minutes on 50% power. Whisk to combine well.

  5. Slowly drizzle the glaze over the warm bars. Let the bars cool completely in the pan. I left the bars sitting on the counter overnight. Remove the bars from the pan using the foil overhang and cut into small squares.

  6. These will keep well in an airtight container for several days.

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oatmeal-butterscotch-bars

Oatmeal Butterscotch Bars

4.75 from 20 votes
Recipe slightly adapted from and with thanks to Mel's Kitchen Cafe
Servings: 12 -16 servings

Ingredients 

  • Bar Ingredients:
  • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups quick-cooking oatmeal
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3/4 cup butterscotch chips
  • 1 cup butter, melted
  • 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 
  • Glaze Ingredients:
  • 1/4 cup butterscotch chips
  • 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9X13-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, letting the foil hang over the each short edge by one or two inches. Lightly grease the foil with cooking spray.
  • Whisk together the flour, oats, baking soda, and salt and then set aside. Place the ¾ cup butterscotch chips in a large bowl. Pour the hot melted butter over the butterscotch chips and whisk together until the chips are melted and smooth. Add the brown sugar and whisk until combined. Add in the egg and vanilla. Whisk until smooth. Stir in the flour mixture, just until incorporated.
  • Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and spread the batter evenly to the edges. Bake the bars until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs, this was about 16 minutes.
  • While the bars bake, place the ¼ cup butterscotch chips, brown sugar, water and salt in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave the mixture until melted and smooth, this was about 2 minutes on 50% power. Whisk to combine well.
  • Slowly drizzle the glaze over the warm bars. Let the bars cool completely in the pan. I left the bars sitting on the counter overnight. Remove the bars from the pan using the foil overhang and cut into small squares.
  • These will keep well in an airtight container for several days.

Notes

The glaze recipe as written is perfect for drizzling LIGHTLY over the bars - this is my preferred way to make them. For a thicker glaze, as pictured in this post, you will need to double or triple the glaze recipe.
As a result, the bars will be significantly sweeter this way. (My kids love these bars with the extra glaze, I'm partial to the very lightly drizzled version.)
IF you are going to increase the amount of glaze to top these bars, you'll want to let the bars cool completely before pouring the glaze, so that you'll be able to spread it across the top of the bars with a spatula. If the bars are warm when you try to spread the glaze, it won't work well.
Tried this recipe?Mention @barefeetkitchen or tag #barefeetkitchen!
{originally published 6/6/11 – recipe notes and photos updated 10/22/17}
Oatmeal Butterscotch Bars - get the recipe at barefeetinthekitchen.com

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Mary Younkin

Mary Younkin

Hi, I’m Mary. I’m the author, cook, photographer, and travel lover behind the scenes here at Barefeet In The Kitchen. I'm also the author of three cookbooks dedicated to making cooking from scratch as simple as possible.

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  1. purabi naha says

    Oh, I love oatmeal. The dish looks perfect! There is no question on this. I am so happy to have stumbled upon your blog!! Loved your blog and your photography!! Do visit mine if you love Asian (especially Indian) food. Shall come back again very soon!

  2. jennaseverythingblog says

    Mmmm! I'm a butterscotch lover, so these look incredible to me. My husband is addicted to a weekly batch of chocolate chip cookies, and I'm tempted to see if I can convince him to embark on this with me instead . . . (technically we could do both, but being a household of 2, our sweet treats sometimes go bad before we can get through them!)

  3. sheila @ Elements says

    Do you have any idea how much I'd love one of your bars right now? Oh man…I can almost taste the butterscotch in my mouth! They look so good, and I'm sure if I made these they'd be gone in no time! 🙂

    • Mary Younkin says

      Hi Dianna,
      These bars are pretty rich just the way they are. Personally, I wouldn't add maple flavor to them. However, if you try it and like it, please let me know!
      Mary

  4. Dianna says

    Well, Mary, these were delicious! Mine didn't want to cook well in the middle so the edges got dry but I still managed to get them down…lol! Have you ever tried them using the cinnamon chips? I've got a couple of bags to use and wondered if you or anyone had substituted cinnamon chips for the butterscotch. That icing was the best part for me. Chomp, chomp!5 stars

    • Mary Younkin says

      I bet the bars would be delicious with cinnamon chips and I imagine that the cinnamon chips would create a great glaze on top as well. If you try it, let me know. Have a great weekend, Dianna!

  5. Kakemilla says

    AWSOME!!! These look sooooo yummy and I'm planning to make them this weekend. I just shared this link on Red White and Blueberries page on Facebook. She is hosting a Pay It Forward Party today where we post something we like from another blogger and I just had to send her this (also with link to your facebook-page) 🙂 Great recipes you have here!! 🙂
    xo Camilla (Kakemilla)

  6. Dianna says

    Hi Mary! I tried using the cinnamon chips rather than the butterscotch chips in the bar. It was virtually tasteless to me compared to your original recipe. I used Hershey's cinnamon chips…maybe a different brand would provide more flavor but Hershey's was tasteless. I think next time that I'll stick with your recipe and just add some cinnamon powder to the bar to see how that goes.

    • Mary says

      Oh, that is a bummer! Thank you for coming back to tell me that the cinnamon chips didn't work as well. At least we know the butterscotch version still rocks! Have a great week.

    • Linda Parr says

      I've used the same cinnamon chips & always add additional cinnamon to whatever recipe I'm using them in. They're not robust enough to stand alone in a recipe without a little boost.

  7. Anonymous says

    gonna try peanut butter chips and chocolate chips for the topping and make a batch of the butterscotch ones too !!!