Trisha Yearwood Butterscotch Bars Recipe
Trisha Yearwood’s Butterscotch Bars are rich, tender bars loaded with sweet butterscotch chips. These bars offer a perfect balance of buttery, caramel sweetness with a soft and chewy texture. They are ideal for parties, dessert trays, or anytime you crave a nostalgic homemade treat.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Total Time: 35-40 minutes
- Yield: 24 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Add-ins
- 1 cup butterscotch chips
Instructions
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl or stand mixer, combine the softened butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Beat on medium speed for 3-5 minutes until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, ensuring a tender texture in the bars.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, fully incorporating each before adding the next to emulsify the batter. Then stir in the vanilla extract to enhance flavor.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt to distribute the leavening agents evenly.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed just until combined to avoid overmixing and tough bars.
- Fold in Butterscotch Chips: Use a spatula to gently fold the butterscotch chips into the dough, ensuring even distribution without overworking the batter.
- Prepare for Baking: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan, or line it with parchment paper with an overhang for easy removal.
- Press and Bake: Spread the dough evenly into the prepared pan using your fingers or the back of a spoon. Bake for 20-25 minutes until edges are golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan to set properly before cutting into squares to ensure they hold together well.
Notes
- Do not overbake to keep bars soft and moist.
- Use quality butterscotch chips to maximize flavor.
- Add 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans if desired for crunch.
- Try substituting half the butterscotch chips with chocolate chips for a chocolate-butterscotch twist.
- Drizzle cooled bars with melted chocolate for extra decadence.
- Use salted butter or sprinkle sea salt on top before baking for a salted butterscotch variation.
- Add 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder to dry ingredients for a coffee flavor enhancement.
- Include 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon or nutmeg for a warm, spiced note.
Keywords: butterscotch bars, Trisha Yearwood, dessert bars, homemade bars, baking recipe, butterscotch chips, sweet bars
