Chewy Butterscotch Blondie Bars are a hand-held comfort dessert with warm, cozy flavor. Using a boxed vanilla cake mix makes this recipe quick and easy, so you can have soft, chewy blondies with minimal effort.
Why you’ll love this recipe
This is recipe #4 in the Time Saver Recipe series. If you’ve followed the series, you know that shortcuts like using cake mix for cookies or refrigerated dough can produce home-baked results without a lot of time or fuss. This recipe uses a vanilla cake mix combined with a few pantry staples to make tender, chewy bars in under 30 minutes from start to finish.
They stay soft for up to a week when stored properly, so they’re ideal for gift tins, care packages, or holiday cookie trays. The texture is dense and chewy, studded with sweet butterscotch chips and finished with a sprinkling of toffee for extra crunch and flavor.
Instructions
Overview of the method — full details are in the recipe card below.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a mixing bowl, combine the vanilla cake mix, packed brown sugar, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract. Mix until evenly combined, then fold in the butterscotch chips.
- Press the dough evenly into an ungreased 13″ x 9″ baking pan using a spatula.
- Sprinkle toffee bits over the top and use your fingers to lightly press them into the dough.
- Bake 20–23 minutes, or until the top is golden and the edges are set. Allow to cool completely in the pan before cutting into bars.
Storage
Keep the bars at room temperature in an airtight container or a freezer-weight zip-top bag for up to 7 days. For longer storage, wrap tightly and freeze.
Frequently asked questions
Butterscotch is typically made from brown sugar and butter. Toffee uses the same basic ingredients but is cooked to a higher temperature, producing a hard, crunchy candy. Caramel is usually made with white sugar combined with cream and butter, giving it a creamy flavor profile.
“Doctored” cake mix refers to using a boxed cake mix as the base while altering the liquid, fat, or other ingredients to create a different baked good, such as cookies or bars, rather than following the box instructions exactly.
Commercial cake mixes often contain preservatives, which can help baked goods made from them remain fresh somewhat longer than some scratch recipes.
Related recipes
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars are thick, chewy bar cookies that taste like a peanut butter cup.
Chocolate Chip and Butterscotch Chip Cookies are crunchy oatmeal cookies loaded with both kinds of chips.
Cocoa Puff Cereal Bars add chocolate and extra sweetness to classic crispy cereal bars for a special treat.
Rootbeer Bars offer a unique spiced flavor that’s delicious and surprising.
Raspberry Chocolate Chip Bars are fruity and chewy—great for picnics or summer care packages.
Butterscotch Peanut Bars combine a shortbread crust with melted butterscotch and crunchy peanuts.
Caramel Chocolate Peanut Bars are chewy, indulgent bars inspired by popular café treats.
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Butterscotch Blondie Bars (Time Saver Recipe)
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 top
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
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In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the cake mix, brown sugar, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla.
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Stir in the butterscotch chips until evenly distributed.
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Press the dough evenly into an ungreased 13″ x 9″ pan with a spatula.
-
Sprinkle toffee bits over the top and press lightly to adhere.
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Bake 20–23 minutes, or until golden brown at the edges.
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Cool completely in the pan before slicing into bars.
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Store at room temperature in an airtight container or freezer-weight bag for up to 7 days.
Notes
- Wrap bars in pairs or individually in plastic wrap, then place snugly in an airtight container or freezer-weight zip-top bag.
- For long-distance shipping, leave the pan uncut. Wrap the whole 13″ x 9″ slab in foil, then plastic wrap to protect it.
- Include a small plastic knife in care packages so recipients can cut the blondies into portions easily.
Nutrition
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Carbohydrates: 27g
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Protein: 1g
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Fat: 6g
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First Published: December 6, 2015. Last Updated: December 29, 2022.