Dessert

Butterscotch Chip Cookies Recipe

ByOlivia Monroe October 14, 2025October 14, 2025

Introduction

These Butterscotch Chip Cookies are soft, chewy, and bursting with sweet, buttery flavor. Perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth, they combine golden brown sugar richness with the unique taste of butterscotch chips. Enjoy them fresh from the oven or paired with a glass of milk.

A close-up view of three large, round cookies arranged overlapping on a white plate, each cookie golden brown with a slightly bumpy texture, dotted with smooth, shiny orange butterscotch chips and sprinkled lightly with coarse white salt flakes on top. The plate sits on a white marbled surface with a blue and white striped cloth partially visible at the bottom right corner, a small bowl of coarse salt and another small bowl filled with orange butterscotch chips are out of focus in the background. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1 cup Butter (softened)
1 1/4 cups Brown Sugar
1/2 cup Sugar
2 large Eggs
2 teaspoons Vanilla
2 3/4 cups Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Salt
11-ounce package Butterscotch Chips
Sea Salt Flakes (optional)

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 385°F (196°C). In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and sugar for about 4 minutes, or until the mixture is light and fluffy.
Step 2: Add the eggs and vanilla extract, then mix for another minute, scraping the sides of the bowl halfway through to ensure even blending.
Step 3: Fold in the flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix just until the dry ingredients are combined with the wet ingredients—avoid overmixing.
Step 4: Gently fold in the butterscotch chips, reserving about 1/4 cup to place on top of the cookies after baking.
Step 5: Scoop the cookie dough onto parchment paper-lined, light-colored baking sheets. Bake for 8-10 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden brown. The centers may look slightly underdone but will firm up as they cool.
Step 6: Remove cookies from the oven and carefully press the reserved butterscotch chips onto the tops. Sprinkle with sea salt flakes, if desired. Let the cookies set on the baking sheet for 3-4 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack.

Tips & Variations

Use room temperature butter to ensure proper creaming with the sugars and achieve a tender cookie texture.
For a richer flavor, try adding a teaspoon of cinnamon or swapping half the butterscotch chips with white chocolate chips.
Lightly chilling the dough for 30 minutes before baking can help the cookies hold their shape better.

Storage

Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. To keep them fresh longer, you can freeze the baked cookies for up to 3 months—simply thaw at room temperature before enjoying. Warm briefly in the microwave if you prefer them soft and melty.

How to Serve

Three round cookies sit overlapping inside a white shallow bowl. Each cookie is golden brown with a soft texture and is studded with several smooth, light caramel-colored chips on the surface, along with small flakes of coarse salt sprinkled over them. The bowl is placed on a white marbled texture, with a blue and white striped cloth nearby. In the background, there are two white bowls, one filled with coarse white salt and the other holding more light caramel-colored chips. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I substitute the butterscotch chips?

Yes, you can use white chocolate chips, butterscotch morsels, or even chocolate chips as alternatives. Each will give the cookies a slightly different flavor but keep the delicious sweetness.

Why do my cookies turn out flat?

Flat cookies can result from using melted butter or not enough flour. Make sure to use softened (not melted) butter and measure your flour accurately. Chilling the dough before baking can also help cookies keep their shape.