Description
Delight in the warm, cozy flavors of these Pumpkin Butterscotch Bars, featuring a moist pumpkin-based batter studded with sweet butterscotch chips. Perfect for fall gatherings or a comforting dessert, these bars combine fragrant pumpkin pie spice with the rich sweetness of butterscotch for a truly irresistible treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 15 oz pumpkin puree
Dry Ingredients
- 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
Add-ins
- 11 oz butterscotch chips (about 2 cups)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper to ensure easy removal of the bars later.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl or stand mixer, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is smooth and fluffy. This helps create a light texture in your bars.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Mix in the unsweetened applesauce and vanilla extract until combined. Lightly beat in the egg, then stir in the pumpkin puree. The batter will appear lumpy, which is normal.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin pie spice. This ensures even distribution of the leavening and spices.
- Mix Dry Ingredients Into Wet: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and stir just until combined to avoid overmixing, which can make the bars tough.
- Fold in Butterscotch Chips: Gently fold the butterscotch chips into the batter, distributing them evenly throughout.
- Bake: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared 9×13 inch pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes, until the edges start to pull away from the pan and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before cutting into squares. Serve and enjoy the rich autumn flavors!
Notes
- You can substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend to make these bars gluten-free, but baking time may vary slightly.
- For a dairy-free version, use a plant-based butter alternative.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate for up to a week.
- These bars freeze well; wrap tightly and freeze for up to 2 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 230
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
