This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure for more information.
I bake quite a bit. We have study groups at our house once a week during the school year, and part of hosting means providing a snack for the group. It’s amazing how much more kids engage when there are cookies or muffins on the table! I also like to offer a treat when we have guests over, and sometimes I bake just to be a nice mom.
I have one recipe card in my cabinet that I don’t even put in my recipe box, because I use it so much. It’s really more a list of ingredients than a recipe. It’s faded and has dried crusty bits on it. Have you got a recipe like that?
Most often I make these as chocolate chip cookie bars. But I’ve come up with some tasty variations that you might like, too.
Hold out the chips – up the vanilla and brown sugar – and you’ve got rich butterscotch bars.
Reduce the flour a bit and stir in some oats and you have what I think are my new favorite variety. Oatmeal chocolate chip cookie bars. Divine.
Obviously, you can substitute any kind of chips you like, or add candy, nuts, or dried fruit, too.
Have you figured out yet that I like recipes that I can customize? My brownie recipe and triple chip skillet cookie both fit this description.
And aside from customizing the recipe for add-ins, you can also substitute some of the butter for coconut oil. I usually go halfsies when I do that.
I’m making two pans today… chewy butterscotch bars and oatmeal chocolate chip. (May I insert here that if you are a dough snatcher, the oatmeal chocolate chip is not to be missed.)
Having basic recipes that you can build on is a big part of kitchen success, I think. If you’re an experienced homemaker, don’t you have a handful of recipes that you return to time and again, often tweaking them to fit your mood? Having some foundational recipes in your back pocket means that you aren’t constantly trying to re-invent the wheel.
You can find the printable base recipe including variations below.
Make these! I’ll bet that you have all of the ingredients in your pantry right now!
Ingredients
- Basic Recipe:
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1 heaping cup chocolate chips
- Oatmeal Variation:
- 1 cup butter
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups oats
- 1 cup flour
- 1 heaping cup raisins or chocolate chips
- Butterscotch Variation:
- 1 cup butter
- 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, lightly packed
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups flour
Instructions
- Cream butter and sugars together until smooth.
- Add eggs and vanilla and mix well.
- Mix in salt and flour (and oats, if using).
- Stir in any add-ins.
- Spread in 9x13 pan and bake at 350 for about 25 minutes, or until top is golden brown
Inspiration recipe found here.
Looks delish! I’ll have to try this the next time I want cookie bars.
I have a recipe that I use so much, I don’t know where it’s written down. I just keep it all up here. It’s similar to yours, but different:
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Cream together:
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
Add and stir in:
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
Add and barely mix in:
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup rolled oats
Finally stir in:
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Drop 1/8 cup dollops onto parchment-lined cookie sheet and bake 11 minutes at 350 F.
I make a half recipe because we love fresh cookies. This recipe doesn’t last more than an hour or two in this house.
Love it and will definitely be making it! Thanks so much for sharing, Wanda. Sometimes when I want to save dough to make later, I freeze it in a Ziploc bag to take out another day and bake with no mess.
I’ll roll the balls of dough out and freeze them. That way I can make up a few at a time instead of eating a whole (or half) recipe.
Smart lady!
Susan, I just wanted to let you know that I went crazy and made your butterscotch version and threw in a few butterscotch and chocolate chips I had leftover in. Magnificent!!! I will be using this recipe and the variations all the time!! I can’t wait to experiment and try more ideas. I’m thinking pecans in the butterscotch bars or some chopped heath bars in the oatmeal chocolate chip would be good.
Yum! I’m thinking that your ideas sound delicious…butterscotch pecan and Heath bars, yes please!! Thanks for sharing. 🙂