Butterscotch cookies are a classic American treat, deeply rooted in mid-20th-century home baking traditions. Popular in family cookbooks and index card collections, these cookies typically feature brown sugar and butter or shortening, producing a rich, caramelized flavor profile. This vintage recipe exemplifies the resourceful simplicity of home bakers, especially during the 1950s and 1960s, when processed ingredients like shortening were staples. Though not as famous as chocolate chip cookies, butterscotch cookies offer a nostalgic taste of American culinary history with their chewy texture, toasty nuts, and golden sweetness.
Ingredients
- ½ cup shortening (or butter)
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
Instructions
Step 1: Preheat the Oven
- Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C).
- Grease a cookie sheet or line with parchment paper.
Step 2: Mix Wet Ingredients
- In a large bowl, cream together the shortening (or butter) and brown sugar.
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Step 3: Add Dry Ingredients
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until well combined.
Step 4: Add Nuts
- Fold in the chopped nuts.
Step 5: Bake
- Spread the batter evenly on the prepared cookie sheet.
- Bake for 25 minutes at 300°F or until golden brown.
Step 6: Cool and Cut
- Allow to cool slightly on the sheet.
- Cut into squares before fully cooled.
Tips
- Substitute butter entirely for a richer flavor.
- Add ½ tsp vanilla extract for depth.
- Mix in butterscotch chips for extra sweetness.
- Try with toasted pecans or almonds for added crunch.
- Sprinkle sea salt on top before baking for a sweet-salty twist.
Transcription of the Original Recipe
Read or copy the transcription
300° Butterscotch Cookies Pete ½ c. shortening (or butter) 2 c. Brown Sugar. 2 eggs. 2 c. flour 2 tsp. B. Powder ½ tsp. salt. 1 c. nuts Bake on cookie sheet 25 min @ 300° Cut in squares
From Transcription to Instructions
That little note from Pete gives you ingredients and one line,“Bake on cookie sheet 25 min @ 300° , Cut in squares”,so we broke that quick original directions into clearer steps in our instructions: preheat and prep a sheet, cream the shortening and brown sugar and add the eggs one at a time, whisk the dry ingredients and fold in the nuts, spread the batter evenly, bake 25 minutes at 300°F, then cool slightly before cutting. We didn’t change amounts, temperature, or time , we just spelled out when to mix, when to spread, and when to cut so you won’t have to guess.
Nutrition
Calories: 150kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 2gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2.5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 80mgPotassium: 50mgFiber: 0.5gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 75IUCalcium: 25mgIron: 0.5mg
