Butterscotch Blondie Bars

Name: Butterscotch Blondie Bars (Time Saver Recipe)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 box vanilla cake mix; ¼ cup brown sugar (packed); 2 large eggs; ½ cup unsalted butter (melted); 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 cup butterscotch chips; 2 tablespoons toffee bits (for sprinkling on the top)

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Chewy Butterscotch Blondie Bars are like hand-held comfort. Butterscotch is a comforting, cozy flavor that warms the soul. Starting with a cake mix, makes these bars quick and easy.

Blondie Bars with butterscotch chips on a platter with Christmas ornament balls.

Why you'll love this recipe

This is recipe #4 in the Time Saver Recipe series! If you have been following along, you have already seen that using cake mix for Gingerbread Spice Cookies, or refrigerated cookie dough for Chocolate Covered Cherry Bars can be a shortcut to home-baked deliciousness.

This recipe speeds baking preparation using vanilla cake mix to create soft, chewy, Butterscotch Bars. With this easy recipe, you can bake and share these bars in less than 30 minutes!

They also make great care package treats, staying soft for up to a week!

Be sure to see the other Time Saver Recipes in this series. Cinnamon Chip Biscotti, Sugar Cookie Roses and Chocolate Orange Cookies are all perfect for gifts, care packages, and holiday cookie platters!

Butterscotch bars in a gift tin lined with red tissue paper.

Instructions

This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the recipe card below.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the cake mix, brown sugar, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla. Mix in the butterscotch chips.
Using a spatula, press the dough evenly into an ungreased 13” x 9” pan.
Sprinkle toffee bits on top, using fingers to lightly press the bits into the dough.
Bake for 20-23 minutes at 350 degrees F, or until golden brown.

Storage

Store butterscotch bars at room temperature in an airtight container or freezer weight ziplock bag for up to 7 days.

Stack of three butterscotch blondies showing the thick edges and chips inside.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between butterscotch, toffee, and caramel?

Butterscotch is made with brown sugar and butter.
Toffee has the same ingredients but is cooked longer to produce crunchy, hard candy.
Caramel is made with white sugar, cream, butter, and vanilla with the primary flavors being the sugar and cream.

What is doctored cake mix?

Cake mix can be made according to the instructions on the box to produce a light, airy cake.
Using the cake mix while changing the instructions and additonal ingredients is considered to be a "doctored cake mix" recipe.

Do cake mix recipes stay fresh longer than recipe made from scratch?

Yes. For better or for worse, cake mixes contain preservatives which keep baked goods fresh longer.

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Butterscotch Blondie Bars in a gift tin lined with red tissue paper.

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