The very first time I made these Peanut Butter Butterscotch Bars, my entire kitchen filled with the warm, buttery smell of brown sugar melting into peanut butter, and I instantly felt like I was back in my childhood home, waiting by the oven for treats to cool. There was something so comforting about stirring together the glossy batter, folding in the butterscotch and chocolate chips, and watching it all come together into a pan of gooey, golden bars. When I finally sliced into them, the soft center and rich aroma made me fall completely in love.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
You’ll love this recipe because it gives you that perfect mix of chewy peanut butter goodness and melty butterscotch richness, all in a bar that takes hardly any effort—but tastes like something you’d buy from a bakery.
Ingredients
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup butterscotch chips
- 1 cup chocolate chips
When choosing peanut butter, I always recommend standard creamy peanut butter—not natural varieties that separate—because it creates a smoother, more stable batter. Brown sugar gives these bars their caramel-like chewiness, and I love using a mix of butterscotch and chocolate chips for contrast. If you prefer a slightly less sweet bar, you can reduce the chocolate chips or use dark chocolate. Flour, baking powder, and salt form the dry base, and while simple, they make the texture soft without being cakey.
Equipment Needed
- 9×13 baking pan
- Mixing bowls
- Hand mixer or stand mixer
- Rubber spatula
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Parchment paper
I usually line my pan with parchment paper because it makes lifting the bars out so easy—you get perfectly clean slices without digging them from the corners. A mixer helps cream the butter, sugar, and peanut butter quickly, but you can mix by hand if needed (just be ready for a bit of an arm workout). Spatulas are great for folding in the chips, and measuring cups ensure you get consistent results every time.
Step-by-Step Instructions
When I start making these Peanut Butter Butterscotch Bars, the first thing I do is cream together the softened butter, peanut butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. As soon as the mixture turns smooth and fluffy, the smell of peanut butter begins to bloom, and it already feels like the beginning of something decadent. I scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the eggs and vanilla, making sure everything mixes into a glossy, rich batter. This base is what gives the bars their signature chewiness.
In a separate bowl, I whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. I used to skip this step and toss the dry ingredients straight into the wet mixture, but trust me—your texture will be more even if you mix them separately first. Once the dry ingredients are ready, I slowly fold them into the wet batter. The dough becomes thick and dense, almost like cookie dough, and that’s exactly how it should look. The moment the batter starts resisting the spoon, you know you’re on the right track.
Now comes my favorite part: folding in the butterscotch chips and chocolate chips. As they tumble into the bowl, the colors—warm butterscotch gold and deep chocolate brown—create such a pretty combination. I fold gently so the chips distribute evenly. Sometimes I reserve a small handful to sprinkle on top before baking because it makes the bars look extra appealing once they’re finished. Then, I spread the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing it into each corner so it bakes evenly.(See the next page below to continue…)