Description
These Butterscotch Bars with Ruby Cranberries are an easy, festive blonde brownie recipe, perfect for a quick dessert or lunchbox surprise. They offer a delightful alternative to traditional brownies, combining rich butterscotch flavor with tart cranberries for a chewy, sweet treat.
Ingredients
- 0.5 cup (113 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup (200 g) brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract
- 1.5 cups (180 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon (5 g) baking powder
- 0.5 teaspoon (3 g) salt
- 1 cup (115 g) dried ruby cranberries
Instructions
- Prep Oven & Pan: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy lifting.
- Melt Butter & Sugar: In a large microwave-safe bowl or saucepan, melt the butter until completely liquid. Stir in the brown sugar until fully combined and smooth.
- Wet Ingredients: Whisk in the eggs one at a time until well incorporated, about 30 seconds per egg. Stir in the vanilla extract until just fragrant.
- Dry Ingredients: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Make sure it is lump-free and evenly distributed.
- Combine & Add Cranberries: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet, mixing until just combined and no flour streaks remain. Fold in the dried ruby cranberries. The batter will be thick and shiny.
- Bake: Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs (not wet batter). If the top browns too quickly, loosely tent with foil.
Notes
For gluten-free bars, substitute all-purpose flour with an equal amount of a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend. For dairy-free bars, use a plant-based butter (like vegan butter sticks). Consider reducing brown sugar (up to 0.25 cup) or substituting half the all-purpose flour with white whole wheat flour for healthier options. Do not overbake to avoid dry, crumbly bars; watch for golden edges. Avoid overmixing the batter once flour is added to ensure tender bars. Let the bars cool completely in the pan for 1-2 hours before cutting for clean, firm slices. A stand mixer can be used for quicker mixing, and white chocolate chips can be added for extra sweetness.
- Prep Time: 13 minutes
- Cook Time: 28 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar (approx 60 g)
- Calories: 280 calories
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
Keywords: easy dessert, blonde brownie, butterscotch, cranberries, family-friendly, baking, chewy, sweet treat, quick recipe, festive