Butterscotch mixed nut bars use butterscotch chips, nuts and sweetened condensed milk. This EASY recipe makes the best sweet and salty cookie bars!
Do desserts with butterscotch chips make you nostalgic? It seems that chocolate, peanut butter and caramel tend to take the spotlight in treat recipes. In all honesty, I don't use butterscotch all that frequently. When I do, it takes me straight back to childhood!
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are butterscotch mixed nut bars a blondie?
No. This cookie bar recipe has an easy shortbread base that is topped with a sweet and salty layer. The sweet layer comes from the butterscotch chips and sweetened condensed milk. The mixed nuts and shortbread base help to balance all that sweet. Oh, and if you want to off set that sweet just a little more, drizzle the top with some dark chocolate!
Let's make these easy butterscotch nut bars!
First, make sure you grease a 9x9 baking pan really well. The sweetened condensed milk has a tendency to run over the edges while baking. This can make the bars stick to the sides of the pan. Not that I would know from experience or anything!😂 I highly recommend that you generously grease the pan and line it with parchment paper.
Next, cream the butter and powdered sugar until it gets nice and fluffy. Then add the flour and salt on low until just combined. The dough is a little crumbly. Use lightly buttered fingers, if needed, to press it into the prepared pan. Bake until the edges are barely brown, about 12-15 minutes.
what mixed nuts do I use?
There is no right answer to that question! You want 1 ⅓ cups total of nuts and you should use your favorites. I went with walnuts, peanuts and almonds. While the mixture of nuts is nice, if you only have one nut, just roll with it. This recipe is flexible!😉
Making the sweet and salty layer
While the shortbread base bakes, prepare the topping layer. In a medium bowl, mix together the butterscotch chips, sweetened condensed milk, mixed nuts and vanilla extract.
Once the cookie bar base has lightly browned edges, pour the butterscotch nut mixture over the top. Then continue to bake for another 25-30 minutes, until the edges of the bars are golden in color.
Allow to cool and then cut into bars. If desired, melt 2 ounces of chocolate and drizzle it across the top. They are positively delightful either way!
more dessert bar recipes to enjoy!
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Butterscotch Nut Bars
Dessert bars using butterscotch chips, mixed nuts and sweetened condensed milk. This EASY recipe makes the best sweet and salty cookie bars!
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup (6 ounces) butterscotch chips
- 1 ⅓ cup mixed nuts, chopped (I used ⅓ walnuts, ⅓ peanuts, ⅔ almonds)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 ounces chocolate, melted (if desired)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare a 9x9 baking pan by greasing it (really well!) and lining it with parchment paper.
- In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment or with a hand-held mixer, cream butter and sugar on medium-high until fluffy, about 2 minutes. With the mixer on low, slowly add in the flour and salt, mixing until just combined. The dough will be crumbly. Press into the prepared pan, use lightly buttered fingers, if needed.
- Bake 12-15 minutes until barely browned at the edges.
- In a medium bowl, mix sweetened condensed milk, butterscotch chips, chopped nuts and vanilla. Pour over the par-baked base and continue baking until golden at the edges, about 25-30 minutes more.
- Allow to cool completely and cut into 25 squares.
- If desired, melt 2 ounces of chocolate and drizzle over the bars.
Notes
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
25Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 178Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 17mgSodium: 101mgCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 1gSugar: 14gProtein: 4g
The nutrition information is an estimate and may not be entirely accurate.
Kimberlee Ho
I love how simple these are! And the use of butterscotch - YUM!!!
Tasia
Thank you Kim! They really are so easy to make!
Suzi
We will be trying these!
Tasia
Yay! Thank you Suzi, I look forward to hearing how you like them!
Christie
These butterscotch mixed nut bars sound amazing! I love that you also used condensed milk to make them! We often use condensed milk in a lot of Asian recipes too! It's got such a wonderful flavour and texture.
Tasia
Thanks Christie! Sweetened condensed milk is such a secret weapon in baking!
Heidi | The Frugal Girls
That chocolate drizzle on top looks so so good. I would love one of your butterscotch bars right now, yum!
Tasia
Thank you Heidi! I hope you get a chance to make the recipe!
Katherine | Love In My Oven
These totally remind me of the butterscotch bars my Mom would always make us! The nuts in here are perfect, they add so much texture. Yum!!
Tasia
Thank you Katherine! The nuts help to balance the sweetness of the butterscotch perfectly!
Leanne
Any cookie bar with sweetened condensed milk is a hit with my family so I'll have to give these a try. I'm sure the chewy texture and butterscotch flavour makes them irresistible!
Tasia
Thank you Leanne! Sweetened condensed milk is such a secret weapon in baking! I hope you enjoy the recipe!