Description
These Pumpkin Butterscotch Bars are a delightful fall treat combining the warm spices of pumpkin pie with sweet, gooey butterscotch chips. Soft, moist, and perfectly sweetened with a balance of brown sugar and applesauce, these bars are perfect for Thanksgiving or any cozy autumn gathering.
Ingredients
Units
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
Other
- 11 oz (2 cups) butterscotch chips
Instructions
- Prepare the Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl or stand mixer, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture becomes smooth and fluffy, which helps create a tender texture in the bars.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Mix in the unsweetened applesauce and vanilla extract until combined for moistness and flavor. Lightly beat in the egg, then stir in the pumpkin puree; the batter will appear lumpy but that’s normal.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin pie spice to ensure even distribution of leavening and spices.
- Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring just until combined to avoid overmixing which can make the bars tough.
- Fold in Butterscotch Chips: Gently fold in the butterscotch chips evenly throughout the batter for sweet pockets of flavor.
- Bake the Bars: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared 9×13 pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes or 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 24 squares. This helps the bars set and makes cutting easier. Serve and enjoy your delicious pumpkin butterscotch bars!
Notes
- Make sure not to overmix the batter once the flour is added to keep the bars tender.
- Using unsweetened applesauce helps reduce added fats but keeps the bars moist.
- You can substitute pumpkin pie spice with a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves if you prefer.
- These bars can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerated for up to a week.
- For a richer flavor, consider using browned butter instead of regular softened butter.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 230
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
