Caramel- Butterscotch’s Little Sister

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Or maybe little brother… or cousin… or third cousin four times removed. Or who knows; maybe it’s a step child. That wicked red headed one. But I know that for me caramel has never ranked as high on the family list of sweets. Mind you, that doesn’t mean I don’t like it. Ahem… hello, you DO recall whose blog you’re on don’t you?  Janet… liver hating, sweet loving, the richer and creamier the better silly kinda needs massive therapy blog writer. Yep, that’s me!

I love caramel. Just not as much as I love butterscotch. But please… don’t tell either of them where I rank them. I don’t want to be responsible for gooey hurt feelings. There is a time and a place for both. Butterscotch gets my love on sundaes and in schnapps (Oh.My.God. Is that stuff awesome or what?! Liquid “I’m gonna get you tipsy” butterscotch candy) and as a great add in to coffee. Yes, I know; caramel is the normal add in flavor for coffee but if you’ve never tried butterscotch in coffee, you have to try it. Or just buy some, decide you don’t like it and then send it to me. Caramel is for the guts of candy bars that you freeze and then nibble off layer by layer. It’s also for Dulce De leche which is meant to be eaten by the spoonful. Really; it is. It’s the law. Would I lie to you? It’s also for the following recipe. Along with the dulce de leche. I am currently browsing through the Southern Living 1001 Ways To Cook Southern cookbook and among the 3 million four hundred thousand pages I have folded down, one kept saying “try me… NOW. Do NOT wait, do not pass go, do not collect two hundred dollars” (if anyone wants to send me that two hundred dollars, I’m not gonna argue 😛 ). So I listened. Cause I’m cool like that. When books talk to me, I listen. After I stop cowering in the closet cause a book just talked to me.

So try this. Caramel… more caramel. All tucked into a thick brown sugary square… or circle. Or an octagon if that’s what makes you happy.

Death By Caramel Squares

  • 3 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
  • 2 cups unsalted butter, softened (yes, 2 cups)
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract (optional; my addition)
  • 4 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 cup regular uncooked oats
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 6 regular sized Snickers bars, chopped
  • 1 14 ounce can dulce de leche
  1. Preheat your oven to 325. Line a 13×9 inch pan with foil (I used the non stick kind) and spray with cooking spray.
  2. Combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl. Mix well.
  3. In another bowl, combine the flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add to the butter mixture, stirring just until blended. Fold in the chopped candy.
  4. Spread batter in the lined pan. It’s quite thick so you will probably have to pat it down some. I used the tips of my dampened fingers so that I didn’t get covered in goop.
  5. Spoon dollops of the dulce de leche onto the top of the batter. Use a knife to swirl it into the batter. Eat some because again… it’s the law. I swear it is!
  6. Bake for an hour and 20 minutes. The recipe said an hour and five minutes but in my oven, it was still very jiggly in the center. Your oven may vary so check after an hour.
  7. Cool in the pan on a wire rack. This is gonna take a while cause these bad boys are thick! Use the foil to lift the brownies out and cut into squares. Or you could do that octagon thing  again. Just sayin’.
  8. These are very chewy which I liked and very thick; also liked. But next time I think I will add something to it… maybe a little maple flavor. It just needs that little something extra.
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51 thoughts on “Caramel- Butterscotch’s Little Sister”

    • Lindsey, make sure you let me know what you think ok?! Specially about the it needs a touch of something part I mentioned

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  2. Oh Janet, it’s not even 7 am and I’m drooling and now craving caramel! These sound amazing! I love caramel and I love butterscotch but please don’t make me choose which I like better. I think I like them both the same just in different desserts. These sound great and I’m bookmarking!

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  5. Oh, my! I don’t know how this got past me in Southern Living. I must have been blindsided by some other decadent delight. Thank you so much for sharing. I read you bio and feel like I know you. I’m adding you to my blogroll and I will be back for a visit….if I’m invited…of course!

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    • lol! Thanks Briar Rose
      Jackie, of course you’re invited back!! I love meeting new readers. 🙂 And yeah, Southern Living will get ya kind of overwhelmed with what to make next hehe

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  9. I love caramel and butterscotch but no, I haven’t ever tried butterscotch in coffee. I will have to remedy that immediately! I’m also glad you repeated that yes, indeed there are 2 cups of butter in there. Hokey smokes. I’m going to start calling you Paula Deen! It looks decadent and delicious though and you can be sure it’s on my list of things to make (especially because it’s a chocolate-free food).

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    • Same here Lauren… like I said to Erin, that’s why most of it (as well as most things I make lol) go to neighbors 😛
      Lol; yeah, I had the feeling everyone would think that was a typo if I didn’t clarify it 😛 Hope you like it if you make them

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  15. Janet these look amazing! I would prefer death by caramel to death by chocolate any day ;)!

    [WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The poster sent us ‘0 which is not a hashcash value.

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    • Erin, that is exactly why the neighbors across the street got 3/4 of the pan lol. I’m not dumb enough to keep it here 😛
      Amy, with me it depends on the day. Sometimes caramel (or butterscotch), sometimes chocolate

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    • oooo, I loved them when I was a kid Anne. Also the Butter Rum… now you can almost never find those. *sobs* Been years since I had any

      Why thankee Ann! And if I rock, I only rock cause I have great bloggers like YOU to learn from 🙂

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  23. Caramel has been my fave foreverrr… and that pina colada rice pudding in a previous post looks equally appetizing! Maybe combine the two? mmm!

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    • Oooo, you’re easily pleased. To be happy forever, I’d at least have to have a cup of tea and a good book to go with it 😛

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  26. Butterscotch in coffee truly is amazing! I loved the way you write!! That’s really innovative, dear! I must tell you that this is really sounding a great dish to try out in my kitchen…Loved the way you cook and bake. Way to go!!

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  29. The last time I had butterscotch schnapps it was in a drink called “slippery nipples”, gotta love that name. Any-who I absolutely, positively must make these. And I must make a dental appointment afterwards.

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    • Ehhh, drink enough of the schnapps and you’ll be perfectly happy just using pliers, Sandra. See? I’m even good for saving you dental costs 😛

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