Better than Butterscotch Bars

One thing that I HAVE been doing for the past year is baking.  I can't help myself. Baking just makes me happy.  I almost get that endorphin high from it - minus building all those muscles and stuff.  Although I must say lifting those 5lb bags of flour and sugar can be a great work out.  Maybe I will start lifting those while I wait for dessert to finish in the oven!  Things to ponder while laying in bed tonight...

As I was making a "quick" trip to the grocery store for two or three things--is there really such thing as a "quick" trip to the grocery store?  I just don't think so. -- I stumbled upon 98cent Butterscotch Chips.  So besides thinking of HRG, I immediately knew I had to buy a few bags.  I kept thinking the price was wrong, my luck couldn't be that good could it?!  Lucky for me, they all rang up for 98cents.  Then my obsessive daydreaming began. From that point on, I was brainstorming all the delicious things I could make with these little beauties.  Because really, daydreaming about the possibilities was almost as good as eating them.  Almost...

 

It wasn't too long before I had concocted a sugary recipe in my head.  I wanted a blondie like bar on the bottom, with a soft caramel like gooey middle.  I was nervous as I am new to the whole developing a recipe from the scritch scratch of my own brain.  But I was pleasantly surprised with the results.  I knew they were a hit when I headed out the door with a plate of goodies and was quickly asked whether my plate had the bars.  When I replied with "Yes, but there are more in the fridge."  I was met with "Good, cause I was downing those last night!"

FABULOUS.

Better Than Butterscotch Bars

 Yields 24 bars

Ingredients

2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup butter - softened
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup dark chocolate (or semisweet) chocolate chips - divided
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 cups butterscotch chips

 Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease a 9x13 pan.

In a small bowl flour, salt, and baking powder.  In large bowl cream brown sugar and butter.  Add vanilla and egg until combined.  Slowly add the flour mix until it is fully incorporated. 

Reserve 1/2 cup of the brown sugar mixture, and then press the remaining mix onto the bottom on the prepared 9x13 dish.  Sprinkle 1/4 cup of chocolate chips over the top and gently press them in - feel free to add more!  Place in oven and bake for 15-18 minutes.  Just until you can see the edges are getting feeling the heat :)  It will not be baked all the way through at this point.

Meanwhile, in a double boiler put sweetened condensed milk and butterscotch chips.  Allow the chips to melt completely, then remove from heat.

As soon as you pull the pan out of the oven, slowly pour the butterscotch goodness over the top.  Then sprinkle the reserved 1/2 up of dough and 1/4 cup chocolate chips (again feel free to add more!).  Return the pan to the oven, and cook for another 15-18 mins.  The edges will begin to look darker, but don't worry - it will be ok!

Allow the pan to cool, then place in the refrigerator to chill for a few hours, or even overnight!

I personally liked them better the next day  :)

Then dive into the caramel like goodness.