These Salted Butterscotch Bars are a sweet, chewy, and buttery dessert bar made with melted butterscotch chips and finished with a light sprinkle of coarse sea salt. If you love brownies but want something a little different, this easy butterscotch bar recipe is a delicious way to bring rich flavor and a sweet-and-salty finish to your dessert table.
There are times when a classic brownie is exactly what you want, and there are other times when it is fun to change things up. These salted butterscotch bars have the same soft, dense texture you expect from a brownie-style dessert, but the flavor comes from butterscotch instead of chocolate. The result is a golden, caramel-like bar with a smooth topping and just enough sea salt to balance the sweetness.
Butterscotch desserts are rich by nature, so the salt is not just for decoration. A small amount of coarse sea salt on top helps cut through the sweetness and makes each bite more interesting. The contrast between the creamy frosting, chewy bar, and little pops of salt is what makes this recipe so satisfying.
These bars are also a great dessert for parties, bake sales, potlucks, or family gatherings because they bake in a 9×13 pan and can be cut into 24 squares. They are simple to make, easy to serve, and sturdy enough to pack in a dessert tray. If you enjoy sweet and salty dessert recipes, this is one to keep on your baking list.
The base of these bars starts with butter and butterscotch chips melted together until smooth. Once brown sugar and vanilla are added, the mixture becomes even richer. Eggs give the bars their structure, while flour and salt turn everything into a thick, soft batter that spreads easily into the pan.
One important thing to remember is that the warm butterscotch mixture should be added to the beaten eggs slowly. If the hot mixture is poured in too quickly, the eggs can cook before they blend into the batter. Adding a small amount at a time keeps the texture smooth and helps create a tender, chewy bar.
After baking, the bars need to cool completely before the frosting is added. The topping is made by melting salted caramel chips or butterscotch chips with heavy whipping cream. It spreads into a soft, creamy layer that sets slightly as it rests. A final sprinkle of coarse sea salt gives these salted butterscotch bars their signature flavor.
How to Make Salted Butterscotch Bars
- Melt the butter and butterscotch chips in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the mixture is smooth.
- Whisk in the brown sugar and vanilla extract until fully combined.
- Beat the eggs for a few minutes until frothy. Slowly add a small amount of the hot butterscotch mixture to the eggs, stirring as you go. Continue adding the rest gradually until everything is mixed together.
- Add the flour and salt, then stir until a soft batter forms.
- Spread the batter into a greased 9×13 pan and bake until set.
- Let the bars cool completely before adding the frosting.
- Melt salted caramel chips or butterscotch chips with heavy cream, then spread the mixture over the cooled bars.
- Allow the topping to set slightly, then sprinkle with coarse sea salt before cutting into squares.
Recipe Tips
- Add the warm butter and butterscotch mixture to the eggs slowly. This prevents the eggs from scrambling and keeps the batter smooth.
- If you cannot find salted caramel chips, use butterscotch chips for the frosting instead.
- Use coarse ground sea salt for the garnish. Fine salt can make the bars taste overly salty rather than balanced.
- Let the bars cool completely before frosting so the topping stays thick and creamy.
- For cleaner slices, allow the frosting to set before cutting the bars into squares.
The type of salt matters in this recipe. Coarse sea salt gives you small bursts of salty flavor without overwhelming the dessert. If the salt is ground too fine, it can spread too evenly across the topping and make the bars taste too salty. A light hand is best here; you want enough salt to balance the sweetness, not cover it up.
More Easy Cookie Bar Recipes
- Congo Bars
- M&M Blonde Brownies
- S’mores Swirled Blondies
- Frosted Rainbow Chip Brownies
- Vanilla Unicorn Sugar Cookie Bars
Recipe
Salted Butterscotch Bars
24 squares
20 minutes
25 minutes
45 minutes
These Salted Butterscotch Bars are chewy, rich dessert bars made with melted butterscotch chips and topped with a creamy frosting and coarse sea salt. They are a delicious sweet-and-salty treat for anyone who loves easy bar desserts.
Ingredients
For the Bars
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 2 cups butterscotch chips
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 large eggs
- 1 ¼ cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
For the Frosting
- 1 cup salted caramel or butterscotch chips
- ⅓ cup heavy whipping cream
- Coarse ground sea salt, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13 pan with non-stick baking spray.
- Place the butter and butterscotch chips in a saucepan and heat over medium heat until melted and smooth.
- Whisk in the brown sugar and vanilla extract.
- Beat the eggs for 2-3 minutes. Slowly add a little of the hot butter mixture at a time, beating or stirring as you go, until everything is combined.
- Add the flour and salt and mix until a batter forms. Spread the batter in the prepared pan and bake for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely.
- Place the frosting chips and heavy cream in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat for 30 seconds, then stir until melted and creamy. If needed, heat again in 15-second intervals.
- Spread the frosting over the cooled bars. Let it set slightly, then sprinkle the top with coarse sea salt.
Notes
Salted caramel chips were used for the frosting. If you cannot find them, butterscotch chips can be used instead.
Use coarse sea salt for the best flavor and texture. Fine salt can make the bars taste too salty.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24
Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 218
Total Fat: 12g
Saturated Fat: 8g
Trans Fat: 0g
Unsaturated Fat: 3g
Cholesterol: 37mg
Sodium: 149mg
Carbohydrates: 26g
Fiber: 0g
Sugar: 21g
Protein: 2g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
*The post for Salted Butterscotch Bars was first published on April 25, 2016. The post was updated and republished April 28, 2020.