Trisha Yearwood’s Butterscotch Bars

Trisha Yearwood’s Butterscotch Bars: A Sweet Treat with a Peanut Butter Twist

Introduction

There’s nothing quite like the smell of freshly baked goods wafting through the kitchen, and when it comes to comfort desserts, Trisha Yearwood’s Butterscotch Bars take the cake—or rather, the bar. These delectable treats are a perfect blend of creamy peanut butter, sweet butterscotch, and a soft, chewy base that’s sure to satisfy your sweet tooth. Whether you’re a fan of Trisha Yearwood’s cooking or just looking for a new dessert to add to your repertoire, these butterscotch bars are a must-try. In this article, we’ll delve into the step-by-step process of making these bars, explore the unique ingredients that make them so special, and provide some tips and variations to help you customize the recipe to your liking.

Ingredients Breakdown

The Basics

The beauty of Trisha Yearwood’s Butterscotch Bars lies in their simplicity. With a handful of pantry staples, you can whip up a batch of these bars in no time. Let’s take a closer look at each ingredient:

• Butter (½ cup, at room temperature): Butter is the foundation of many baked goods, providing richness and a tender crumb. Make sure your butter is at room temperature to ensure it creams smoothly with the sugars.
• Granulated Sugar (½ cup): This provides sweetness and helps to create a light texture when creamed with butter.
• Light Brown Sugar (½ cup, packed): Brown sugar adds a deeper, molasses-like flavor and contributes to the bars’ chewy texture. The slight moisture content of brown sugar also helps keep the bars soft.
• Creamy Peanut Butter (¾ cup, divided): Peanut butter is the star of the show, adding a rich, nutty flavor that pairs perfectly with butterscotch. You’ll use ½ cup in the batter and the remaining ¼ cup in the glaze.
• Large Egg (1): Eggs act as a binding agent, holding the ingredients together while also adding moisture and richness.
• Vanilla Extract (1 teaspoon): Vanilla enhances the flavor of the other ingredients and adds a warm, sweet aroma.
• All-Purpose Flour (1 cup): Flour gives the bars structure. Be sure to measure it accurately, as too much flour can result in dense bars.
• Baking Soda (1 teaspoon): This leavening agent helps the bars rise and become fluffy.
• Salt (¼ teaspoon): A small amount of salt balances the sweetness and enhances the flavors.
• Quick-Cooking Oatmeal (½ cup): Oatmeal adds texture and a subtle nutty flavor. It also gives the bars a bit more substance, making them slightly heartier.
• Butterscotch Chips (1 cup): Butterscotch chips add pockets of sweet, creamy butterscotch flavor throughout the bars, complementing the peanut butter beautifully.

The Glaze

The glaze is what takes these bars to the next level, adding a layer of sweetness and a smooth, creamy finish.

• Powdered Sugar (1 cup): Powdered sugar dissolves easily and creates a smooth, sweet glaze.
• Milk (4 tablespoons): Milk thins out the glaze, making it pourable. You can adjust the amount depending on your desired consistency.
• Remaining Peanut Butter (¼ cup): The addition of peanut butter to the glaze not only adds flavor but also ties the whole dessert together.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Preparing the Batter

1. Preheat the Oven: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Greasing your baking dish with butter ensures that the bars won’t stick, making it easier to remove them later.
2. Cream the Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the room temperature butter, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, and ½ cup of peanut butter. The mixture should be smooth and well-combined. This step is crucial as it incorporates air into the batter, which will help the bars rise during baking.
3. Add the Egg and Vanilla: Once the butter and sugar mixture is light and fluffy, add in the egg and vanilla extract. Continue mixing until the egg is fully incorporated. The egg will act as a binder, holding all the ingredients together.
4. Combine the Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir in the quick-cooking oatmeal. Sifting the flour ensures there are no lumps, and it evenly distributes the baking soda and salt throughout the mixture.
5. Incorporate the Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the flour and oatmeal mixture to the butter mixture. Mix on low speed until just combined. Overmixing can result in tough bars, so it’s important to mix only until the dry ingredients are fully incorporated.
6. Spread in the Baking Dish: Once the batter is ready, spread it evenly into the prepared 9×13-inch baking dish. The batter will be thick, so use a spatula to smooth it out. Sprinkle the butterscotch chips evenly over the top.

Baking and Glazing

1. Bake the Bars: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes. You’ll know the bars are done when the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few crumbs.
2. Prepare the Glaze: While the bars are still warm, it’s time to make the glaze. In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and remaining ¼ cup of peanut butter until smooth. The glaze should be thick but pourable. If it’s too thick, add a little more milk, a teaspoon at a time.
3. Glaze the Bars: Pour the glaze evenly over the warm bars. The heat from the bars will help the glaze spread out smoothly and seep into the top layer, adding extra flavor and moisture.
4. Cool and Serve: Allow the bars to cool completely in the baking dish before slicing them into squares. This ensures that the glaze sets and the bars firm up, making them easier to cut and serve.

Tips and Variations

Customizing Your Butterscotch Bars

One of the best things about this recipe is how versatile it is. Here are a few ways you can customize your butterscotch bars:

• Add Nuts: For a bit of crunch, consider adding ½ cup of chopped nuts, such as pecans or walnuts, to the batter or sprinkle them on top with the butterscotch chips.
• Chocolate Lover’s Twist: Swap out half of the butterscotch chips for chocolate chips for a peanut butter and chocolate combination that’s hard to resist.
• Coconut Delight: If you love coconut, try adding ½ cup of shredded coconut to the batter for a tropical twist.
• Gluten-Free Option: Substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend to make these bars gluten-free. Just ensure the blend includes a binding agent like xanthan gum.

Storage Tips

• Room Temperature: Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. This keeps them soft and chewy.
• Refrigeration: If you prefer your bars chilled, store them in the refrigerator for up to a week. The bars will firm up slightly but remain delicious.
• Freezing: These bars freeze well! Wrap them individually in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. They can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.

Why You’ll Love Trisha Yearwood’s Butterscotch Bars

A Perfect Blend of Flavors

Trisha Yearwood’s Butterscotch Bars are a delightful combination of flavors and textures. The rich peanut butter base is complemented by the sweet butterscotch chips, and the oatmeal adds just the right amount of chewiness. The glaze, with its smooth peanut butter flavor, ties everything together, creating a dessert that’s not too sweet but incredibly satisfying.

Easy to Make

Despite their complex flavor profile, these bars are surprisingly easy to make. The recipe requires just a few simple steps, and the ingredients are likely already in your pantry. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or a beginner, you can confidently whip up a batch of these bars with great results.

Crowd-Pleasing Dessert

These bars are perfect for sharing. Whether you’re bringing them to a potluck, serving them at a family gathering, or just enjoying them at home, they’re sure to be a hit. The recipe yields 12-16 bars, making it ideal for feeding a crowd.

FAQs

Can I use crunchy peanut butter instead of creamy?

Yes, you can substitute creamy peanut butter with crunchy peanut butter if you prefer a bit of extra texture in your bars. The crunchy peanut butter will add small peanut pieces to the bars, giving them a slightly different texture.

Can I use old-fashioned oats instead of quick-cooking oats?

While quick-cooking oats are recommended for this recipe due to their finer texture, you can use old-fashioned oats if that’s what you have on hand. Keep in mind that the bars may be a bit chewier with old-fashioned oats.

Can I make these bars ahead of time?

Absolutely! These bars can be made a day or two in advance. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator. If you plan to freeze them, it’s best to do so without the glaze and add the glaze after thawing.

How do I know when the bars are done baking?

The bars are done when the edges are golden

Trisha Yearwood’s Butterscotch Bars

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• Author: recipevalue.com
• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 12-16 bars 1x
• Diet: Vegetarian

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Description

Trisha Yearwood’s Butterscotch Bars are a rich and chewy dessert featuring a peanut butter base topped with sweet butterscotch chips and a creamy peanut butter glaze. Perfect for any occasion, these bars are easy to make and deliver a delightful blend of flavors and textures.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• For the Bars:
  • ½ cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
  • ¾ cup creamy peanut butter, divided
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup quick-cooking oatmeal
  • 1 cup butterscotch chips
• For the Glaze:
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 4 tablespoons milk
  • Remaining ¼ cup peanut butter

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Instructions

• Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter.
• Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, cream together the butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and ½ cup of peanut butter until smooth.
• Add Egg and Vanilla: Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until fully combined.
• Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir in the oatmeal.
• Mix Batter: Gradually add the flour and oatmeal mixture to the butter mixture, mixing on low speed until well incorporated.
• Spread and Top: Spread the dough evenly in the prepared baking dish and sprinkle the butterscotch chips on top.
• Bake: Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown.
• Prepare Glaze: While the bars are still warm, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and remaining ¼ cup of peanut butter until smooth.
• Glaze Bars: Pour the glaze evenly over the warm bars.
• Cool and Serve: Allow the bars to cool completely before slicing and serving.

Notes

• For a crunchy twist, add ½ cup of chopped nuts to the batter.
• Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate for up to a week.
• These bars freeze well; just wrap them individually and store them in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Calories: 320 kcal
• Sugar: 30g
• Sodium: 190mg
• Fat: 16g
• Saturated Fat: 7g
• Carbohydrates: 40g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 5g
• Cholesterol: 30mg

Keywords: Trisha Yearwood's Butterscotch Bars