Yesterday at the grocery store I saw butterscotch morsels and it totally hit a craving for me that I didn’t even know I was having. I picked that up along with some condensed milk, graham crackers and roasted peanuts (AND about 6 different types of cheese which I need to figure out what to do with…this is why I should never go to grocery stores hungry). I got home and wasn’t exactly sure what to make with my random ingredients but then settled on adapting this recipe from The Pioneer Woman – changing it around to match what I just bought. Much to my surprise, I have grown to love The Pioneer Woman because the recipes are always pretty simple and accessible. Plus its one of the only actual cooking shows left on the food network to watch amidst a million competitions (although I am not going to lie, I can…and do…binge watch Chopped for hours). Three words sums this dessert up: so freaking good.

I start by making the base/crust for the bars with graham crackers, flour, and brown sugar.

Smashing graham crackers is a fun way to get out aggression

Then I add butter and cinnamon before pressing the base into a pan and popping it into the oven.

Any excuse to add cinnamon to something, I use it!

While that’s cooking I heat up the condensed milk on medium heat and add in the butterscotch morsels.

Butterscotch and condensed milk could replace my morning coffee.

After I take the crust out of the stove, its ready for the toppings.

This crust is ready to go

First I pour on the butterscotch/milk mixture and then I add chocolate chips and peanuts. I think walnuts or a dried fruit topping would have also been delicious. Dried fruits make it healthy right?

I was going for a chocolatey, nutty flavor

l let it sit in the fridge for two hours and then its ready to cut up and eat! My husband and I could have eaten the whole pan so I am really happy to report that we only ate four pieces between both of us yesterday. That REALLY ranks up there on my list of accomplishments. I actually can’t think of any other accomplishments right now to compare it to.

Prep time: 25 minutes      Cook time: 2.5 hours

Serves: 16

Ingredients:

• 1 cup flour
• 3 graham crackers, smashed to crumbs
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 stick butter (unsalted)
• 6 oz condensed milk
• 1 cup butterscotch morsels
• 1/4 cup corn starch (optional to thicken)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Chocolate chips and roasted peanuts for topping

Recipe: 

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. To make the base/crust, mix the flour and graham crackers together. Add the brown sugar and salt and combine.
3. Cut up the butter into small pieces, soften slightly in the microwave (15 seconds).
4. Combine the butter into the flour mixture and add the cinnamon. Combine well so that the whole mixture looks like crumbs.
5. Press the mixture into a slightly greased pan and bake in the oven for 30 minutes.
6. While the base is baking, pour the condensed milk and vanilla extract into a sauce pan and heat for a few minutes. Stir constantly so the milk doesn’t curdle. Once the milk is warm add in butterscotch morsels. Continue to stir constantly to thicken the mixture  for about 5-10 minutes. You can add some corn starch here if you like to thicken.
7. After the base is fully baked (should be golden brown), take out of oven and let cool.
8. Pour on the condensed milk/butterscotch mixture creating an even layer over the whole base.
9. Add the chocolate chips and peanuts, pressing them into the pan so they set.
10. Let the bars sit in the fridge for two hours until everything has set. Cut up into pieces and serve!