One of the things I have learned in my expanding understanding of cooking and baking is how a simple change in a recipe can produce a totally different result.  In this case, I am talking about flavor.  Said differently, working with a base, change up the cooking vessel or throw in a different ingredient, and you would not know that the 2 concurrently created recipes were so closely related.  That conclusion may be a little extreme but if I did not tell you and show you my Hot Cocoa Cookies, would you know these Butterscotch Bars started with the same base?

The bars were transformed by turning them into brownies, making them more of a bar and adding the butterscotch chips.  The cookies have a firmer texture and different flavors from the marshmallow and Heath Bars compared to these gooey bars with the crunch of the chips.

As a side note, isn’t the baking dish fun?  Perfectly suited for Valentines Day.  Valentines Day is one of my favorite holidays.  It is a simple reminder of how much I love my wife and how lucky I am to have found her.  27 years of marriage and someone still puts up with me.  Go figure?

Prep of the chocolate base, go to the Hot Cocoa Cookie recipe link provided herein.

The Recipe

Butterscotch Bars

Print Pin

Decadent chocolate brownie complimented with butterscotch chips

Prep1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Cook30 minutes mins

Total1 hour hr 45 minutes mins

Servings10

Scale

1x2x3x

Ingredients 

• ▢ 1 stick, 4 oz. unsalted butter
• ▢ 1 – 12 oz Cocoa Bar plus 1/4 – 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• ▢ 1 1/2 cups flour
• ▢ 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ▢ 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon salt
• ▢ 1 1/4 cups light brown sugar
• ▢ 3 eggs, at room temperature
• ▢ 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• ▢ 1 – 2 cups butterscotch chips

Instructions 

• In a medium saucepan, melt the butter, chocolate chips and chopped chocolate, stirring frequently, over medium heat. Let cool for 15 minutes.
• In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt.
• Using an electric mixer, beat the sugar, eggs and vanilla at low speed until smooth, 2 minutes. Mix in the cooled chocolate mixture just until blended.
• Add the flour mixture in 3 batches, mixing on low speed until just combined.
• Fold in butterscotch chips.
• Refrigerate the dough for at least 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Spray a baking dish with non-stick spray.
• Pour batter into dish.
• Bake for 30 minutes. (Top should be firm but a toothpick should come out clean).
• Serve and enjoy!

 Chips Added.

 Added to Valentines Dish.

 After Baking.

 Plated.