If you read my blog regularly, you probably know what I was doing Sunday night. That’s right: I was watching the Oscars. I look forward to Oscar night all year long, particularly as winter drags on. I watch for the gowns and the jokes, the winners’ speeches and movie montages. No matter how long the show runs, my eyes are glued to the TV. And then there are as many hours of red carpet coverage as my TiVo will hold and, of course, Fashion Police.
This year, along with the past couple, left me dreaming, vividly imagining what it will be like to go to the Oscars. To don a haute couture ball gown chosen from a handful made just for me. Millions of dollars of unfortunately borrowed jewelry on my fingers, wrists, neck, and ears. Six inch platform heels that can’t even take away the feeling I am walking on clouds. Walking the red carpet, the sun shining, basking in the glow of warm winter weather, photographers yelling my name, wanting me to strike a pose, which I will be all too happy to do. Interview after interview: Ryan Seacrest, Chris Harrison, Maria Menunos, Al Roker, Robin Roberts. Then I enter the theatre, not nervous, only excited, hopefully a nominee, perhaps even a winner. I enjoy each moment, knowing it may be my only time to do so.
I don’t hope this will happen. I think that’s a defeatist attitude. We all hope lots of things, knowing they’ll probably never happen. I hope I’ll win the lottery. I really doubt I ever will. But I know I will make it to the Oscars one day. I will be a screenwriter living in California. I will be a nominee. One day, maybe soon.
For now, I spend as much time as I can writing and then I make cookies. This time Caramel Butterscotch Cookies to be exact. I’ve been wanting to try this recipe, as it simply sounded divine. Super easy to make, it didn’t take long to put together, though there is some waiting time in between, and it doesn’t require a mixer to make.
The end result is a delicate cookie, lightly brown and slightly firm on the outside, the inside remains moist and perfectly gooey with a deep caramel flavor that is intoxicating, almost as much as the smell when they are in the oven. I added butterscotch chips, which intensifies the caramel complexity. I don’t use butterscotch chips enough; they really add great flavor.
While these cookies are good at room temperature, the flavor really sings when warm from the oven, the butterscotch chips melty. They’re the perfect complement to a writing session.
By the way, if you watched, who did you think was Best Dressed? I loved Jennifer Aniston, Amanda Seyfried, and Kristen Chenoweth.
Caramel Butterscotch Cookies
- Prep Time: 30 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Total Time: 45 mins
- Yield: 14 1x
Ingredients
- 1 stick unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- 1 ½ cups packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 cup butterscotch chips
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, over medium heat, bring the butter and sugar to a boil, stirring frequently. Continuing to stir, simmer for 1-2 minutes until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat and pour into a large mixing bowl. Allow to cool about 20 minutes.
- While it cools, in a small bowl, stir together salt, flour, and baking powder. Once the mixture has cooled – it is okay if it is still warm – add the eggs and vanilla and stir to combine. Stir in the flour mixture until just incorporated. Stir in the butterscotch chips.
- Refrigerate the dough for at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours.
- When almost ready to bake the cookies, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment.
- Using a small ice cream scoop, scoop chilled batter onto prepared baking sheets. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until lightly golden brown, firm on the outside, but still pliable when touched. The longer the cookies have been chilling, the longer they will take to bake and may even need 3-5 additional minutes. Serve warm or cool completely on trays. May be stored at room temperature in an air tight container for up to 3 days or frozen wrapped in parchment and foil and placed in a zipper bag for up to 4 months. Thaw at room temperature for about an hour or in a 350 degree F oven for about 10 minutes for that fresh baked cookie taste.
Notes
Recipe adapted from Not Without Salt
Yess I loved Amanda’s dress!
We’ll get to those Oscars soon babe 😛
★★★★★
Oh, yeah, Oscars, here we come! Hollywood better watch out 😉
Oh great combo!!!
★★★★★
Thanks, Debbie 🙂
I LOVE your attitude. I can’t wait to see you at the oscars! Thanks for sharing my cookies. I really like your addition of butterscotch chips. Brilliant.
Thank you so much, Ashley, and thanks for stopping by! The butterscotch worked so well with the caramel flavor!
Butterscotch is my absolute fave ‘chip’ to throw into some cookie batter, the flavour it gives is drool-worthy! Awesome cookies!
These look scrumptious. I too often forget about butterscotch but every once in a blue moon when I do bake with it I love it! And I think most everything is better straight from the oven! This girl doesn’t have any patience anyways. And Jennifer Aniston looked gorg at the oscars!
Things really are better right from the oven, but it’s such a pain because sometimes they cool down by the time Ive taken pictures, so I’ve been trying to eat my serving warm and worry about the pics later. I want a dress like Jennifer Aniston’s when I get to go . . . one day 🙂 Thanks, Elizabeth!
These were so good you don’t want to share them with anyone.
Wow! Thanks so much, Rick! And welcome to the sample club 🙂
Wow, These could be dangerous to have around. I would have a hard time not eating the whole batch. Very good!
So glad to hear they were a hit, Linda!
These were great cookies. A great combo, nice and chewy. I’m trying to decide if this is the best snack I’ve eaten since I’ve been aloud to try your creation. I love both butter scotch & caramel. Once again great job.
★★★★★
I’m glad you liked them, Eric! I can’t believe they may be your favorite treat. Such a complement!
It was quite a disappointment when I was told I had to share these, but I did as requested, with great protest mind you. They were quite good and it made it all the more difficult to part ways with my last remaining quarter of one. (That was all that was left….. you never said how much I had to share)
★★★★★
It’s always a good thing when a treat is too good to share 🙂 Thanks, Arturo!
MY SWEET TOOTH WAS JUST WAITING FOR THIS,VERY GOOD
★★★★
Yay! Thanks, Sal 🙂
These are perfection – love love love! I can only imagine how wonderful these would taste with coffee 🙂 It is always a great surprise when Art brings treats from you home!
★★★★★
Wow! Thank you so much, Jessica! I bet they would be great with coffee. They’re so easy to make, you should whip up a batch and enjoy them with some coffee!
Caramel AND butterscotch? Wow, sounds amazing! I hope all your dreams come true!
Thank you so much 🙂
caramel and butterscotch!! Two of my favorites, Laura! And Look how thick these cookies are! I am loving them. 🙂
I loved how thick these cookies were, Sally! They barely spread in the oven which left me practically jumping with joy to eat one. Thanks!
The Caramel Butterscotch Cookies tasted great. It’s amazing the combinations you put together always seem to mesh really well. Those Butterscotch chips added alot of flavor.
★★★★★
Thanks, Lendon! I’m glad you like my flavor combinations 🙂 That’s so nice to hear!
Very good. I really enjoyed it.
Thanks! Glad you liked them 🙂
I didn’t watch the Oscars 🙁 Don’t hate me! lol I NEED to try these cookies! I love the addition of the butterscotch chips.
The Oscars aren’t entertaining for everyone. I think most people would get bored watching as much coverage as I do. Please let me know if you try the cookies – you’ll love them 🙂
These were very tasty – great combo and texture. Thank you! 🙂
★★★★
Thanks, Jackie! I liked the texture too!
I watched the Oscars this year, even though I hadn’t seen a lot of the movies. Thought Jennifer Aniston looked amazing, as usual. And I did actually see Argo, which I really liked. I wish I had these cookies to eat while watching. I love caramel and butterscotch!
I didn’t see many of the movies either, Natasha, but I will as they come OnDemand and DVD. I also saw Argo and liked it too. I was glad to see it won. These cookies would make the perfect award show snack!
These look SO good! I love any cookie that incorporates butterscotch chips!
Thanks, Maggie, and thanks for visiting 🙂 I need to bake with butterscotch chips more – this is the first cookie I’ve made with them.
The cookie was very good, I especially liked the butterscotch chips. I think it might taste even better with a vanilla frosting, what do you think?
★★★★
Glad you liked the cookie, Mike! I think vanilla frosting might make them a little too sweet, but I’m all for giving frosting a try on just about any treat 😉
I think they are scrumptious and would eat the whole batch if you let me, good thing it was only a sample!
As far as the Oscars, I was disappointed with Seth…not funny rather insulting.
As for you my dear, can’t wait to see you nominated, and of course in a beautiful designer gown to accept the award. GOOD LUCK!
★★★★★
I’m glad to hear you liked the cookies, Carol! I thought Seth did a pretty good job, not that I loved everything. Thanks for your constant support and kind words 🙂
I love the flavor, caramel is my favorite. They were crunchy on the outside, but nice and chewy on the inside. The butterscotch was a great idea, very tasty!
★★★★★
Thank you so much, Stan! I love caramel too and chewy cookies!
these sound yummy!
Thanks, Dina! They are yummy for sure!
These cookies look great! I love the Oscars, too. I have to watch them every year! Hmm best dressed… I kind of like Charlize Theron. She looks good in anything!
Thanks, Emily! Charlize Theron definitely looked amazing, but like you say, she would look good in anything.
These look incredible! I’ve never made my own caramel, but I’m really tempted to to make these! And I never watch the Oscars or any award shows, but I probably should just to see what they’re wearing haha
You should give these a try! They aren’t true caramel but definitely have teh flavor. If you want to make real caramel I have a great and easy recipe Thanks for visiting, Dru!
Hi there! I just discovered this recipe now and tried it today. I followed the directions exactly for the caramel, but the butter separated once it became caramel. Then when I took it off the heat and transferred it to the mixing bowl, it seized up and turned hard as a rock. What happened, and what should I do to keep it caramel?
I’m sorry to hear the caramel didn’t work out. It sounds like maybe the caramel got over cooked. Try lowering the heat when you make it. You’re really just melting the butter and sugar together and then letting them bubble for a minute, so it’s not important to reach a certain temperature or anything. I wish I could help more, but it’s hard to pinpoint what went wrong. I do hope this helps!