Sweet and buttery with a hint of coconut, these butterscotch bars are super easy and crowd pleasing.
Ok, first of all, it was brought to my attention that I should specify which version of the Joy of Cooking I am using for this month’s Cookbook of the Month – which I totally intended on doing. But the thing is, I don’t really know how to tell! So, I went to the copyright page, and the last copyright is 1975, so I’m assuming this is the 1975 version. Anyone know how to tell??
Second, I was pretty confused on this recipe while I was making these Butterscotch Bars. My biggest complaint with this cookbook is that the directions are so basic and sometimes, a little more direction is needed. In the recipe, it says to stir the 1 cup of brown sugar into the 1/4 cup of butter until the sugar is dissolved. Well, after cooking the mixture for over 15 minutes, my sugar was not even close to dissolved, so I just went with it. I’ve read other places on the web of people who have made these, and a lot of the time, the instructions say to just mix them together. I guess everyone is confused by the “stir into it until dissolved” instructions!
Third, these bars in the book are called “Butterscotch Brownies.” I refuse to call them that. Not only are they not brownies, but they are not even blondies in my opinion. But really, all that matters is how they taste, and these are super-duper-addicting-delicious. I’m warning you right now, if you make these butterscotch bars, you may just end up sitting and eating almost the whole pan in one sitting. They really are that addicting and good. I made these to take some to a neighbor, but she wasn’t home, and I ended up eating too many of them that night to take them over to her the next day!! I guess I need to make something else…
Butterscotch Bars
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon double-acting baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup sweetened coconut
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a saucepan. Stir the brown sugar into the butter, and then set aside to cool slightly.
- Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease a 9×9-inch pan.
- When the butter/sugar mixture has cooled slightly, beat in the egg and the vanilla.
- Sift the flour, then re-sift with the baking powder and salt. Mix flour mixture into the sugar mixture. Mix in the coconut.
- Pour batter into the prepared dish and bake for 20-25 minutes. Cut into bars when cool.
NuminosityBeads says
These are so simple. i love that you don't have to cream the sugar with the butter. i know what you mean about the dissolving. It's just fine mixed.
I also add butterscotch chips to this recipe. It's just about candy at this point!
baby crib says
Cookie bars! The ol'good cookie bars of my grandma are one of the best! I got to try this coz Tessa said that it was the exact recipe of her mon! Hope it is the same as my grandma's.
All Things Yummy says
My grandma gave me a copy of the Joy of Cooking for my birthday a few years ago and after making one really awful batch of marmalade cookies, I haven't tried anything in it since. You've inspired me to give the book another chance.
Grace says
anything involving butterscotch is welcome in my mouth, except, ironically, the namesake. great bars!
Sophie says
I don't think I've seen enough butterscotch posts, it's nice to come across one. I wouldn't call 'em brownies either, bars they definitely are. I bet they smelled divine while baking!
Patsyk says
I'll have to make sure to have someone I can pass these off to if I make them… I'm not so good at waiting for someone to come home so, I would've done the same thing as you!
{kiss my spatula} says
ohhhh, these look like a new addiction waiting to happen.
eatme_delicious says
Haha I want to make them since you said they're so addictive. Though I should make sure I have some place to give most of them away to first. 😉
recipe lover says
It remind me how my mother write recipes, with no directions.
Ginny says
delicious! They look great! I love Joy of Cooking directions mainly because I'm a throw things together person and helps me figure how much flexibility I can use with a recipe. Looking forward to seeing what you make!
Rosa's Yummy Yums says
Nice bars! I bet they taste heavenly!
Cheers,
Rosa
kristina says
I have a few cookbooks like that too–that make assumptions you know what you're doing, which can be frustrating when you're not quite sure!
And I'm so sorry I forgot to say in my last comment I hope your husband is feeling better very soon. He wouldn't want to miss out on any butterscotch bars 🙂
K x
Tessa says
Oh my gosh. This is almost the exact recipe for my favorite childhood cookie bars that my mom always made for us growing up! They are addicting!
I checked my recipe and it just says to cook the butter and sugar over low heat until the mixture starts to bubble – then let cool before adding the eggs. Hope that helps!