Having come across this recipe, I was curious about the flavor combination. Peanut butter and butterscotch together in one recipe is quite unique.
The flavors do compliment each other. The bar itself has a chewy texture that stems from the oats included in the mix. It is a peanut butter bar but the surface has the real combo of flavors with butterscotch chips on top along with a peanut butter glaze. The butterscotch chips heightens the sweetness. That surface combo is what makes them very rich.
Since most peanut butter has sugar in it there is not contrast, the butterscotch is just sweeter than the peanut butter. Had the recipe called for natural peanut butter, it would have been a salty/sweet bar. Perhaps not natural peanut butter but store bought peanut butter with no added sugar is a thought on attaining salty/sweet bars.
Butterscotch Peanut Butter Bars
adapted from Food network
Ingredients/Bars
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 egg, room temperature
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup quick oats
6 oz butterscotch chips
Ingredients/Glaze
1 cup confectioners sugar
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup milk
Prepare a 9x13 inch pan by greasing the interior with butter. Also, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
For the bars, start by sifting the flour, salt and baking soda together. Then whisk in oats and set aside. Fill the bowl of a stand mixer with butter, both types of sugars and 1/2 cup of peanut butter. Beat with the paddle attachment until light and fluffy. In a separate bowl, whisk together the vanilla and egg. Then incorporate the mixture into the peanut butter batter by mixing on medium speed.
Then, using a wooden spoon, fold the sifted ingredients into the batter until just combined and no dry streaks remain. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and smooth out into the pan by using a spatula. Sprinkle butterscotch chips evenly over the surface of the batter. Place in oven and bake until edges are golden, about 20 to 25 minutes.
While the bars are baking, make the glaze by mixing all ingredients together until smooth. Pour over warm bars. Once completely cool, cut into squares.
Tips and Notes:
1. My bars took 25 minutes to bake.
2. I thought that the butterscotch chips would settle and melt more into the bars while baking, but they did not change much and remained on the surface.
3. These are not a thick bar, but are still quite satisfying as is.
**LAST YEAR:Maple Date Loaf**
