Butterscotch Oatmeal Bars

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These decadent oatmeal cookies are filled with a rich and creamy layer of butterscotch and are topped off with a buttery oat crumble.

As I’m sure you know I love making cookies.  When I have the time I’ll bake a big batch that makes several dozen but I don’t always have the time to scoop, bake, cool, and repeat. 

This is when I like to make bar cookies.  Bar cookies are much easier because they are all made in one pan and then cut into bars or squares.  While the cooking time is longer, the prep time and hands on time is much shorter.

What are bar cookies?

Bar cookies are a type of cookie that is baked in a pan as a single bar and is then cut into squares or rectangles after baking. Bar cookies are usually denser and often have layers or toppings. They often include ingredients such as chocolate chips, nuts, fruit preserves, or coconut, making them easy to customize and popular for a wide range of flavors.

I make a lot of bar cookies. My current favorite are these Copycat Starbucks Coconut Lime Bars with white chocolate chips in them. At the holidays I always make a batch of Cranberry Bliss Bars. For an easy treat these Funfetti Cake Batter Cookie Bars topped with colorful frosting are the best. One of my fruity favorites are these Strawberry Pie Bars. 

The bar cookie I decided on this time is one will make your friends and family drool. It’s an oatmeal cookie sandwiched with creamy butterscotch filling.

What is butterscotch?

Butterscotch is a sweet confection made from brown sugar and butter.   It can be made with cream, vanilla, and salt if desired.  The ingredients are melted into a smooth and rich caramel like mixture.  It is rich and buttery but has a lighter flavor than caramel.

I first made these terrific bundles of butterscotch goodness last Christmas and they were well received. Then again who wouldn’t like a layer of butterscotch sandwiched between two oatmeal sugar cookies?!

I found the recipe in Cooking Light, so not only are these bars easy and delicious, they are lower in calories than many other cookies I make at the holidays!

The crust is made from an oatmeal sugar cookie that is layered with a creamy butterscotch filling. It’s finished off with a sprinkling of the same oatmeal sugar cookie.

Ingredients:

• butter (I prefer salted but you can use unsalted)
• granulated sugar
• light brown sugar
• vanilla extract
• eggs
• all purpose flour
• old fashioned oats
• salt
• baking soda
• sweetened condensed milk
• butterscotch chips (they are with the chocolate chips in the market)

To make the cookie bars preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray.

In a large bowl cream together the butter and sugars.  Add the eggs and vanilla and mix well to combine.

In a medium bowl combine the flour, oats, salt, and baking soda.  Then add the flour mixture tot he butter mixture ad stir until crumbly.

Place 3/4 of the oat mixture in the bottom of the prepared pan and press to firm into a base layer.  Then place the sweetened condensed milk and butterscotch chips in a microwave safe bowl and heat for 45 seconds.  Stir until melted and combined then pour over top of the cookie layer in the pan.  Crumble remaining oat topping on top.

Bake for 30-35 minutes.  Remove from oven and cool completely.

The end result is a creamy butterscotch layer in between two chewy oatmeal cookie layers. It’s a quick, easy bar cookie that can be make a few days in advance or right when company is coming. It’s a great looking cookie that looks like it took a lot of time and effort to make.

How do I store Butterscotch Bars?

Store them in an air tight container at room temperature.  I like to put parchment paper in between the layers so that the butterscotch doesn’t stick.

Butterscotch Oatmeal Bars

A layer of oatmeal cookies topped with a creamy butterscotch layer.

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Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes minutes

Servings: 24 bars

Author: Hezzi-D

Equipment

• 1 Mixing Bowl
• 1 9 x 13 Baking Dish

Ingredients

• ½ c. sugar
• ½ c. packed brown sugar
• 6 Tablespoons salted butter softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 egg
• 2 c. flour
• 2 ½ c. oats
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¾ c. sweetened condensed milk
• 1 c. butterscotch chips

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 13 x 9 pan with cooking spray and set aside.
• In a large bowl cream the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar.
• Beat in the eggs Add the vanilla and stir well.
• In a medium bowl combine the flour, oats, salt, and baking soda. Add the flour mixture to the sugar mixture and stir with a fork until it is crumbly.
• Place 3 cups of the oat mixture on the bottom of the pan pressing into the bottom.
• In a microwave safe bowl heat the sweetened condensed milk and butterscotch chips. Microwave for 45 seconds and stir. Continue heating at 15 second intervals until the mixture is completely melted and mixed well. Pour the butterscotch mixture over top of the oat crust and spread.
• Sprinkle the top with the remaining oat mixture.
• Bake for 30-35 minutes or until butterscotch is bubbling and the topping in a light brown. Put the entire baking pan on a wire rack to cool. Cut into 24 bars.

Notes

Recipe adapted from Cooking Light Magazine.