Butterscotch Oatmeal Bars

This is a really great dessert I discovered earlier this year.  They are good anytime of year, but for some reason the butterscotch, brown sugar, and oats make them seem like a great fall dessert.  They have the perfect amount of chew. The glaze is optional, but it's a great addition.  I got this from Sweet Treats and More.

Butterscotch Oatmeal Bars

Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
¾ cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
¾ tsp cinnamon
1 ½ cups rolled oats
1 ½ cups quick oats
11-12 oz. package butterscotch chips
Glaze:
¼ cup butter
½ cup brown sugar
2 tbsp milk
½ cup powdered sugar

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°.  Coat a 9x13” baking dish with baking spray.

In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla and mix well.  Add flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon and mix together gently.  Add both kinds of oats and the butterscotch chips and mix again.  Batter will be very thick.  Pour into the prepared baking dish, smooth out evenly, and bake for 22 minutes, or until golden brown around the edges.  Remove from oven and let cool.  

While bars are cooling, melt butter in a small saucepan.  Stir in brown sugar and bring to a boil.  Lower heat to medium and stir constantly for two minutes.  Add the milk and return to a boil, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat and let cool to lukewarm temperature.  Gradually stir in powdered sugar until smooth.  If it’s too thick, add some warm water.  If too thin, add more powdered sugar.  Cut the bars and drizzle with the glaze before serving.

Makes 15 bars.

The original recipe didn't specify what kind of oats to use.  The first time I made these I used rolled oats.  That was okay, but they were a little too chewy for me.  I thought they might turn out too cakey if I used quick oats, so when I made them again last week, I decided to do half and half.  That turned out just perfectly.

Like I said above, the glaze isn't necessary.  If you are one of those people who don't like your desserts "too sweet", definitely skip it.  They are good without it.  I like them with the glaze though.  I will admit to letting my kids have one of these bars for breakfast one morning, but I had left the glaze in a separate container so the "breakfast version" didn't have the glaze.  

I adore butterscotch, so the butterscotch chips are my favorite part of these bars.  If you aren't a huge fan of butterscotch, you can definitely use chocolate or peanut butter chips instead.

These bars are best served the same day they bake.  You can make them a day ahead, but they dry out easily, so be sure to cover them as soon as they are cool.

I've been working on my Thanksgiving menu. Do you know what you are making yet?

What I'm Reading Right Now

Mary Poppins

by P.L. Travers

Doctor Sleep

by Stephen King