Old Fashioned Butterscotch Cookies (Soft and Chewy)
These butterscotch cookies start with my favorite drop cookie-based recipe (with the PERFECT blend of white and brown sugar). No chilling is required, and the dough is easy to work with.
It’s soft and straightforward, with plenty of butterscotch chips in every bite. It’s one of the best classic cookies to make when you want something besides chocolate chip.
Old Fashioned Soft Butterscotch Cookies
Equipment
- Cookie Sheets
Ingredients
- ½ cup salted butter (1 stick) softened to room temperature
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 large eggs
- 1 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 12 ounce package of butterscotch chips
Instructions
- Prep. Preheat oven to 350 with the rack in the center. Prepare 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper or cooking spray.
- Make the dough. Beat the butter, sugars, and egg with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. Add the vanilla and blend until combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl if necessary. Combine the flour, salt, and baking soda in a separate mixing bowl and add to the butter mixture, mixing on low, 1 cup at a time. Scrape down the bowl and fold in the butterscotch chips.
- Scoop and bake. Scoop 1 tablespoon of cookie dough onto the cookie sheets, 15 cookies per sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown. Cool on wire racks
Notes
These butterscotch cookies are my go-to when I need a sweet treat that feels a little bit special. It’s a recipe I’ve been making since I was a kid, and it always brings back a sense of nostalgia. The soft, chewy texture and the sweet, buttery flavor of the butterscotch chips are just irresistible. It’s the kind of cookie that disappears quickly whenever I bake a batch.
What You’ll Need
This easy recipe uses basic ingredients you likely already have in your pantry.
- Salted butter: I prefer using salted butter in this recipe for a balanced flavor. If you only have unsalted butter on hand, add a pinch of salt to the dough.
- Brown sugar: The brown sugar adds a rich molasses flavor and helps to keep the cookies soft and chewy. Make sure it’s fresh and not dried out. If it is hard, you can soften it in the microwave for a few seconds.
- Butterscotch chips: These are the star of the show! You can usually find them in the baking aisle of your grocery store, often near the chocolate chips.
With these ingredients on hand, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying these delicious butterscotch cookies!
A Twist on a Classic
If you’d like to change things up a bit with this recipe, try these ideas:
- Using Brown Butter: If you want to elevate the flavor, try using brown butter instead of regular butter. This adds a nutty, caramelized flavor to your cookies.
- Egg Yolk: Adding an extra egg yolk to the wet ingredients can make the cookies even chewier.
- Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies: If you’re a big fan of oatmeal cookies, you can add a little bit of oatmeal to the dough for a different texture and flavor.
- Butterscotch Chocolate Chip Cookies: Mix in some milk chocolate or white chocolate chips for a delicious twist.
FAQs
Yes, you can substitute half of the butterscotch chips with chocolate chips or even white chocolate chips for a different flavor. You can also use dark brown sugar instead of light brown sugar for a richer taste.
Store the cookies in an airtight container to keep them fresh. You can also freeze the cookie dough balls in a freezer bag and bake them straight from frozen.
If the dough is too soft, place it in the fridge for a couple of minutes to firm up before baking. This will help achieve the perfect cookie texture.
Yes, you can prepare the dough ahead of time and refrigerate it. Just make sure to let the dough rest before baking for the best results.
Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees F, or until the edges are golden brown. If you prefer chewy cookies, bake them for 8-9 minutes.
Enjoy!
I hope you enjoy making and eating these delicious cookies. Feel free to experiment with the ingredients to find your personal preference. Give these butterscotch cookies a try and see if they don’t earn a place in your cookie rotation. Happy Baking!
By Katie Shaw
Katie lives in Virginia with her husband, three daughters, a chocolate lab, and over thirty chickens. She loves creating simple tutorials for sourdough, bread, and soap. Her recipes, articles, and YouTube videos reach millions of people per year.