Recipe

Gooey Butterscotch Nut Bars

Updated on 2 min read

These gooey, chewy, and nutty dessert bars are a semi-homemade treat made with sugar cookie mix, butterscotch pudding, caramel, and roasted nuts. Perfect for potlucks, bake sales, or anytime you want something irresistibly sweet and salty.

📋 Recipe Card

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 24 bars
Calories: 149 kcal per serving

Ingredients

  • 1 package (17.5 oz) sugar cookie mix
  • 1 package (3.4 oz) instant butterscotch pudding mix
  • ½ cup butter, softened
  • 1 egg
  • 1 package (14 oz) caramels
  • ½ cup evaporated milk
  • 1 cup roasted macadamia nuts
  • 1 cup roasted cashews
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup butterscotch chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven – Set oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Make Crust – In a large bowl, mix sugar cookie mix, butterscotch pudding mix, softened butter, and egg until a dough forms. Press into an ungreased 9×13-inch baking pan.
  3. Bake – Bake crust for 20–25 minutes, or until set and lightly golden.
  4. Prepare Caramel Layer – While crust bakes, melt caramels with evaporated milk in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat, then stir in nuts and vanilla.
  5. Assemble Bars – Pour caramel mixture over baked crust. Sprinkle with butterscotch chips on top.
  6. Cool & Cut – Let bars cool completely before cutting into squares. Store in an airtight container.

✨ Tips & Variations

  • Nut Options: Swap macadamias and cashews with pecans, walnuts, or peanuts.
  • Extra Gooey: Add a drizzle of melted chocolate over the top once cooled.
  • Shortcut: Use caramel bits instead of wrapped caramels for faster prep.
  • Festive Twist: Add a sprinkle of sea salt on top for sweet-and-salty flavor.

📊 Nutrition (per bar, 24 servings)

  • Calories: 149 kcal
  • Carbs: 11 g
  • Protein: 2 g
  • Fat: 12 g
  • Saturated Fat: 4 g
  • Cholesterol: 19 mg
  • Sodium: 71 mg
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Sugar: 7 g

These Gooey Butterscotch Nut Bars are the ultimate indulgent dessert with a buttery cookie base, creamy caramel center, and nutty crunch in every bite. A crowd-pleasing treat that looks (and tastes!) like it took hours but comes together in under an hour.

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