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    Home » Recipes » Cookies & Crackers

    Published: Dec 10, 2022 by Paula Montenegro · Income from ads and affiliates

    Butterscotch Chip Cookies

    Jump to Recipe
    Flat view of single butterscotch chip cookie on white surface, brown text overlay
    Wire rack with stack of butterscotch chip cookies, brown white text overlay

    A twist on the traditional chip cookies, it's a super simple, one-bowl recipe that bakes to a golden brown and has great caramel flavor from the butterscotch chips. You can bake them directly, without chilling if you want, and also freeze the dough or refrigerate it for several days.

    White surface with wire rack and several butterscotch chip cookies.

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy.

    For me, it's cookie season year-round.

    There's always a reason to bake a batch of chocolate chip cookies, or with butterscotch chips during the holiday season.

    Table of Contents Open
    What is butterscotch?
    About this cookie recipe
    Ingredients
    How to make butterscotch chip cookies
    Baking the cookies
    Kitchen notes
    Related recipes you might like:
    Butterscotch Cookies

    What is butterscotch?

    It's a confection that includes butter, brown sugar, and many times cream. Other ingredients can be added, like salt or vanilla.

    Butterscotch flavor: what does it taste like? It's similar to caramel but mellower, with a dairy undertone from the butter and cream. I think of it as a mix between caramel and dulce de leche. It's extremely delicious and versatile!

    About this cookie recipe

    • Easy: as mentioned before, this is a super simple one-bowl recipe for chewy butterscotch cookies that everybody loves. Perfect for gift giving, parties, game night, or just because.
    • Make ahead: the cookie dough can be scooped and frozen so you can bake a fresh batch of butterscotch cookies at a moment's notice.
    • Flavorings: we love them with vanilla and cinnamon, but you can add some orange zest, or some chopped walnuts in addition to the chips.
    Single bitten butterscotch cookie on white marble surface.

    Ingredients

    • Butterscotch chips: they're available at the grocery store and also online. I use Nestle butterscotch morsels or Hershey's butterscotch chips.
    • Unsalted butter.
    • Sugars: the recipe uses white and brown sugar for that unique caramel flavor we all love. Both light and dark brown sugar work, but the cookies will bake to a deeper golden brown with the latter.
    • Egg: fresh, large
    • Vanilla - I use pure vanilla extract or pure vanilla paste when available, but a good vanilla essence (artificially flavored) also works.
    • Cinnamon: use your favorite ground cinnamon. I usually buy Simply Organic cinnamon and Frontier organic Vietnamese cinnamon.
    • All-purpose flour.
    • Salt: I like to use kosher salt when baking. But regular table salt works just fine.
    • Baking soda and baking powder: make sure they're not expired.

    See the recipe card at the end of this post for quantities.

    White surface with bowls containing ingredients for butterscotch chip cookies including butter, sugars, flour, egg, vanilla, cinnamon.

    How to make butterscotch chip cookies

    This is a traditional one-bowl cookie recipe. It can be made by hand, with an electric mixer, or in a stand mixer.

    • By hand: use a spatula or wooden spoon. I make it this way usually. If the butter is soft, it's very easy to mix everything by hand.
    • Electric mixer: it's convenient and easy. Don't overbeat after adding the flour, or do so with a spatula.
    • IMPORTANT: don't overmix after adding the flour as it will toughen the cookies. Integrate completely but don't over do it .
    Metal bowl with paddle attachment mixing cookie dough.

    Stand mixer: use the paddle attachment and don't beat much after adding the flour mixture.

    Cookie dough on a wooden spoon above the metal bowl with rest of batter.

    The final cookie dough is sticky but smooth, and has no dry spots.

    Baking the cookies

    • Cookie sheet: you can butter the baking sheets or line them with parchment paper.
    • Baking time: if you want a soft cookie after it's cooled down, you have to remove them from the oven while the center is still soft, maybe even slightly underbaked or too soft to the touch. For me, it's 10 minutes, but it can take a minute more or less depending on your oven, the temperature of the dough, and the size of your cookies.
    Unbaked cookie balls on a metal cookie sheet. Top view.

    Butterscotch chips: I like to add most of the chips to the cookie dough and then manually add the to the scooped portions before baking. This way, the baked cookie will be more tempting.

    Baked butterscotch chip cookies on a metal baking pan.

    Space: it's essential to leave space between the unbaked cookies so they can expand without touching when they bake.

    One whole and one halved butterscotch chip cookies on white marble surface.

    Kitchen notes

    • Organization: read the recipe first and ensure you have ingredients at the correct temperature, equipment, and enough workspace. This will make the process so much easier.
    • Baking time: keep in mind that all ovens and pans are different, even if they look the same or very similar. The baking time in my recipes is as accurate as it can be, but it might take you more or less time. You can use a thermometer(like the OXO oven thermometer) to check that your oven is at the right temperature. I recommend you keep track of how your oven works and what tiny details you might need to adjust. 
    • Chilling: you can opt to bake the cookies right after you mix the dough or to chill it first. The difference is in its consistency and sometimes flavor. The chilled dough expands less and can have a more rounded flavor as the ingredients have time to meld together. In my experience, the difference is not that big, and I usually bake half and then chill the rest.
    • Freezing: another great way to make these cookies ahead is by freezing the unbaked dough. Scoop the cookie portions and place them on a baking sheet; no need to leave much space between them. Freeze until rock solid and then transfer to a bag to remove the cookie sheet and use less space in the freezer.
    • Storing: keep in an airtight container or jar. If you want them to remain soft, add a few pieces of bread to the container.
    • Flavorings: ground cinnamon goes well with the butterscotch flavor, but you can omit it if you want. Other flavors that pair well with it are coffee (like a tablespoon of coffee liqueur or ½ a teaspoon of coffee extract), white chocolate chips, toasted nuts like hazelnuts, pistachios, or walnuts, hazelnut liqueur (Frangelico) or almond liqueur like Amaretto, adding some shredded unsweetened coconut to the dough (reduce the flour amount).
    Orange background with stack of butterscotch chip cookies on a wire rack. White marble surface.

    Related recipes you might like:

    • Close up of stack of white chocolate chips and individual ones on wire rack
      White Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Grey background and pink surface with oatmeal cookies on a round wire rack.
      Butterscotch Oatmeal Cookies (Scotchies)
    • Top view of pile of chocolate chip cookies on a striped cloth set on a wooden surface.
      Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies
    • Pecan Sandies

    Let me know in the comments below if you made this recipe and loved it and if you had issues so we can troubleshoot together. I love to hear what you think, always. Thanks for being here. It's much appreciated.
    You might also consider subscribing to our FREE email series to Boost your Home Baking Skills! And our regular newsletter.
    And let's connect via Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

    Print
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    Stack and individual butterscotch cookie son wire rack, white marble surface

    Butterscotch Cookies

    Print Recipe
    Save Recipe Recipe Saved

    A twist on the traditional chip cookies, it's a super simple, one-bowl recipe full of butterscotch chips that add great caramel flavor. You can bake them directly, without chilling if you want, and also freeze the dough or refrigerate it for several days. 

    • Total Time: 25 minutes
    • Yield: 20 medium cookies

    Ingredients

    Units
    • ½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
    • ¼ cup white granulated sugar
    • ¾ cup brown sugar
    • 1 egg, at room temperature
    • 1 teaspoons vanilla extract
    • 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • Pinch of baking powder
    • ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 1 cup butterscotch chips

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 350ºF / 180ºC.
    2. Butter baking sheets or line them with parchment paper.
    3. Beat butter with both sugars in a large bowl until creamy. You can use the stand mixer or a hand-held beater. 
    4. Add egg, vanilla extract, and mix well.
    5. Add the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon) and mix until a few dry spots remain. Don’t overbeat at this point. 
    6. Add butterscotch chips and mix until no dry spots remain. I like to switch to a spatula for this part. 
    7. At this point, you can use the cookie dough directly or refrigerate it for a day or two, well covered, before baking the cookies.
    8. Scoop portions of cookie dough and place on the prepared sheets, spacing them an inch and a half or so.
    9. Bake for about 10 minutes, until edges are firm and cookies are golden but still soft in the center. It might take a minute or two more if your cookies are larger. 
    10. Let cool completely on a cooling rack.
    11. Keep in tins or cookie jars.

    Notes

    Organization: always read the recipe first and make sure you have all the ingredients, at the right temperatures, and also the rest of the equipment and space to make it. This will make the process so much easier!

    Baking time: keep in mind that all ovens and pans are different, even if they look the same or very similar. The baking time in my recipes is as accurate as it can be, but it might take you more or less time. You can use a thermometer that is placed inside the oven (like the OXO oven thermometer) to check that your oven is at the right temperature. I recommend you keep track of how your oven works and what tiny details you might need to adjust. 

    Chilling: you can opt to bake the cookies right after you mix the dough or to chill it first. The difference is in its consistency and sometimes flavor. The chilled dough expands less and can have a more rounded flavor as the ingredients have time to meld together. In my experience, the difference is not that big and I usually bake half and then chill the rest.

    Freezing: another great way to make these cookies ahead is by freezing the unbaked dough. Scoop the cookie portions and place them on a baking sheet, no need to leave much space between them. Freeze until rock solid and then transfer to a bag so you can remove the cookie sheet and use less space in the freezer.

    Storing: keep in an airtight container or jar. If you want them to remain soft, add a few pieces of bread to the container.

    Butterscotch chips: they're available at the grocery store and also online. I use Nestle butterscotch morsels or Hershey's butterscotch chips.

    Vanilla - I use pure vanilla extract or pure vanilla paste when available, but a good vanilla essence (artificially flavored) also works.

    Cinnamon: use your favorite ground cinnamon. I usually buy Simply Organic cinnamon and Frontier organic Vietnamese cinnamon.

    Flavorings: ground cinnamon goes well with the butterscotch flavor, but you can omit it if you want. Other flavors that pair well with it are coffee (like a tablespoon of coffee liqueur or ½ a teaspoon of coffee extract), white chocolate chips, toasted nuts like hazelnuts, pistachios, or walnuts, hazelnut liqueur (Frangelico), or almond liqueur like Amaretto, adding some shredded unsweetened coconut to the dough (reduce the flour amount).

    • Author: Paula Montenegro
    • Prep Time: 15 minutes
    • Cook Time: 10 minutes
    • Category: Cookies
    • Method: Baking
    • Cuisine: American

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1/20
    • Calories: 151
    • Sugar: 16.7 g
    • Sodium: 100.9 mg
    • Fat: 5.2 g
    • Carbohydrates: 25.1 g
    • Protein: 1.3 g
    • Cholesterol: 22.3 mg

    Keywords: butterscotch cookies

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    About Paula Montenegro

    I'm Paula, a baker for more than 30 years and your designated recipe developer, sharing the best ones here with simple ingredients + easy-to-follow instructions.

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    1. angiesrecipes says

      November 30, 2021 at 7:52 am

      They look terrific with butterschotch chips!

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Paula!

    A baker for more than 30 years and your designated recipe finder, sharing the best ones on this blog, with simple ingredients + easy-to-follow instructions.

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