Oatmeal Butterscotch Bars

Looking back, I e-mailed this recipe to my sister a few months ago and all the message said was, "Make these. They are phenom." It couldn't be more true. I've always been a butterscotch lover and these absolutely fulfilled my butterscotch desires. The bars are chewy, salty and sweet and super easy to make. Feel free to use either old fashioned or quick cooking oats--the first time I made them I used old fashioned oats, which made them even chewier (which means better, if memory serves me right).

With layer upon layer of butterscotch in the bars and the glaze, I couldn't help adding some chocolate chips and a sprinkle of sea salt at the end--an element of surprise that brought raves from anyone who tried them. I imagine these also go well a scoop of vanilla ice cream...

Recipe after the jump.

Adapted from Cooks Illustrated

Ingredients

Oatmeal Butterscotch Bars

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups quick-cooking oats

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

12 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), softened and cut into pieces

3/4 cup butterscotch chips

1 cup packed dark brown sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 large egg

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Glaze

2 tablespoons dark brown sugar

1 tablespoon water

1/8 teaspoon salt, plus more for garnish

1/4 cup butterscotch chips

Preparation

Oatmeal Butterscotch Bars

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 13x9-inch baking pan with aluminum foil.

2. Mix flour, oats, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl until combined.

3. Heat butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until nutty brown in color, 10-15 minutes. Pour hot butter over butterscotch chips in a large bowl and whisk until smooth. Whisk in brown sugar until dissolved, then whisk in vanilla and egg until combined.

4. Stir flour mixture into butterscotch mixture in two additions until combined. Stir in chocolate chips.

5. Spread mixture into pan and bake until edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few crumbs attached, 17-19 minutes. Transfer pan to wire rack to cool.

Glaze

1. Bring brown sugar, water and salt to a simmer in a small saucepan. Pour hot sugar mixture over butterscotch chips in a small bowl, whisking until smooth. Drizzle glaze over warm bars and sprinkle with sea salt, if desired. Let bars cool on rack until warm to touch, about 1 1/2 hours.

2. Lift bars from pan and cool completely on rack for about 30 minutes... if you can wait. Don't worry. You don't really have to wait.