Butterscotch Cookies
These tender butterscotch cookies are packed with butter, dark brown sugar, and butterscotch chips. The inside of these cookies are gooey and made a great addition to any cookie tray.
These cookies are one of my favorites. I can’t seem to get enough butterscotch, and include it in a variety of recipes: from my peanut butter butterscotch cookies to my harry potter butterbeer fudge recipe.
Reasons Why You'll Love This Recipe
Quick and Easy - No need to let the butter come up to room temperature in this recipe. It’s melted on the stove! The cookie recipe can be thrown together as little as 10 minutes.
Simple Ingredients - This butterscotch cookie recipe only requires 7 ingredients and they are likely to be in your pantry!
Delicious - These cookies have a crispy outside and a gooey inside. What’s not to love?!
Ingredients
See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for all ingredients and quantities.
- Butter - Use salted butter for this recipe or if you’re using unsalted butter, add ½ teaspoon of salt.
- Dark Brown Sugar - This has more molasses in it than light brown sugar for a richer flavor.
- Egg - Always use large eggs for my recipes unless otherwise stated.
- Vanilla Extract - Use your favorite store-bought or homemade vanilla extract.
- Flour - All-purpose flour is a must for this recipe. I used King Arthur brand for my cookies.
- Baking Soda - The leavening agent in this cookie.
- Butterscotch Chips - You need loads of butterscotch flavor for your butterscotch cookies!
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How to Make Chewy Butterscotch Cookies
Step 1 - Melt the butter and brown sugar in a small saucepan.
Step 2 - Once melted, remove from the heat and stir until combined. Let cool to room temperature.
Step 3 - Pour the mixture into a bowl and beat in the egg and vanilla extract.
Step 4 - Add in the flour and baking soda and mix until combined.
Step 5 - Fold in the butterscotch chips.
Step 6 - Scoop the cookie dough with a 2 tablespoon cookie scoop and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet.
Step 7 - Bake the cookies for 10 minutes.
Tips and Tricks
- You can use a combination of butterscotch and chocolate chips.
- A stand or hand mixer are a must have to make these cookies.
- Cookie scoops are also a great tool to use and make it much easier.
- Parchment paper or silicone baking sheet liners will help your cookies come off the baking sheet much easier.
- Light brown sugar or granulated sugar substitutes will not work for this recipe. Butterscotch requires dark brown sugar for the right flavor.
How to Store/Freeze
To store these cookies, place them in an airtight container or storage bag at room temperature for 5 to 7 days.
You can freeze these cookies for up to 2 months in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag.
You’ll need to thaw them either on the counter or in the refrigerator overnight.
Recipe FAQ’s
Not for this butterscotch cookie recipe. You can’t use granulated sugar as a substitute either.
Yes! Place the cookie dough on a rimmed sheet pan. No need to space them out because we aren’t baking them. Place the sheet pan in the freezer until the dough balls are firm.
Now pop the cookie dough balls in a freezer bag or freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
To bake them off, place them frozen on a parchment lined cookie sheet and bake as directed. They may require 1 to 3 minutes of additional baking time.
Yes! You can do this by using your favorite gluten free flour in place of the all-purpose flour.
More Favorite Cookies To Try
I really love these chocolate chocolate chip pudding cookies. They're so soft, chocolaty, and not at all bitter like some rich chocolate cookies. Another must-try are my cream cheese chocolate chip cookies, cheesecake cookies, or cream cheese sugar cookies because cream cheese in cookies is pretty spectacular.
One last favorite are my sour cream sugar cookies. I tested and retested them until they were everything I wanted in a sugar cookie. Highly recommend them if you haven't already made them.
If you try this recipe, be sure to leave a rating below and also share it on Instagram, and tag me! You can also find me on Facebook and stay up to date on recipe releases by joining the Newsletter!
Butterscotch Cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup salted butter sliced
- 1 cup dark brown sugar packed
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ cup butterscotch chips plus ½ - ¾ cup more to top the cookies
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a small saucepan, add the butter and dark brown sugar. Stir until smooth and creamy. Allow to cool to room temperature.
- Using a hand mixer on medium speed, beat in the egg and vanilla. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat in any remaining bits.
- Add the flour and baking soda. Mix until well combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Fold in the butterscotch chips until evenly distributed.
- Use a 2 tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop the dough into nice rounded dough balls and place them 1 inch apart on the prepared cookie sheet.
- Place in the preheated oven and bake for 10 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the cookie sheet for 10 minutes.
- While the cookies are hot, gently push 3 to 4 butterscotch chips on the top of the cookies.
- Place on a paper towel or cooling rack until cooled completely.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Notes
Nutrition
(Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietitian for special diet advice.)
These look so good! And I've never seen butterscotch m&m's before, I'm really hoping I come across them now!
Finally, someone who was as excited as I was about the BOO-terscotch M&Ms! I don't know why I didn't think to try this, but I'm SO glad you did! 🙂 Love these!
They look so delicious. I'm going to make these as small giveaway packs for Christmas at work and also the the kids' school. I can't wait to make them.
whaaatt! How have a I missed butterscotch m&m's?! I have to track some down so I can make these goodies.
Miranda, this stack of cookies is seriously making me faint right now. So gorgeous, so tasty-looking, so sweet-tooth inspiring! Ha. Love this!
Butterscotch m&m's?? Craziness. These cookies look delicious!
I didn't even know butterscotch m&ms existed?! Have I been under a rock?! LOL I need these cookies in my life!