Description
Delight in the rich, autumn-inspired flavors of Pumpkin Butterscotch Bars, a moist and spiced pumpkin dessert loaded with sweet butterscotch chips. Perfect for fall gatherings or as a cozy treat, these bars combine the natural sweetness of pumpkin with creamy butterscotch in a tender, cakey texture.
Ingredients
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
Add-ins
- 2 cups (11 oz) butterscotch chips
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare 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 using a stand mixer, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is smooth and fluffy, which helps incorporate air for a tender texture.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Mix in the unsweetened applesauce and vanilla extract until well combined. Lightly beat the egg and add to the mixture, then stir in the pumpkin puree. The batter will appear slightly lumpy, which is normal.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin pie spice to evenly distribute the leavening and spices.
- Mix Dry into Wet: Gently add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix just until combined to avoid overmixing, which could toughen the bars.
- Fold in Butterscotch Chips: Carefully fold the butterscotch chips into the batter to distribute them evenly without breaking.
- Bake: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared 9×13-inch 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 squares. This helps them set and makes slicing easier. Serve and enjoy your seasonal treat!
Notes
- Ensure the pumpkin puree is pure pumpkin and not pumpkin pie filling which contains added sugars and spices.
- Use unsweetened applesauce to reduce added sugar and maintain moisture without extra sweetness.
- Check doneness at 30 minutes and adjust baking time as ovens vary; overbaking can dry out the bars.
- For extra flavor, consider sprinkling a pinch of sea salt on top before baking to complement the butterscotch chips.
- Bars can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerated for up to a week.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 230 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
