When I was a little girl, the traditional desserts at family holiday celebrations always included tray after tray of cookies and squares, in what seemed like every possible variation. It was a children’s paradise, and I remember standing transfixed in front of the buffet, trying desperately to decide which treat to choose. These Old Fashioned Butterscotch Squares, made by my lovely Aunt Dorothy, were always one of my favourites. I also had a real weakness for my Auntie Irene’s Cherry Date and Coconut Squares.
Although perhaps not the most beautiful squares, Aunt Dorothy’s Old Fashioned Butterscotch Squares have an intense butterscotch hit and fabulous texture most people find absolutely irresistible. I’m pretty disciplined about my healthy eating plan, but when it comes to Aunt Dorothy’s squares, all bets are off! They also make sweet holiday gifts.

Sourcing the Ingredients and Substitutions
I struggle to get the ingredients for these butterscotch squares here in England, but I still try to make them at least once each year at Thanksgiving or Christmas. Whenever I am able to source Vanilla Wafers and Butterscotch chips/morsels throughout the year I’ll make a batch just for fun. On a few occasions I have substituted graham crackers for vanilla wafers. This altered the flavour slightly, but the squares still tasted delicious.
For those of you who live in North America, these ingredients should all be pretty easy to find. For UK based readers, McVitie’s Digestive Biscuits can be substituted for the vanilla wafers. Or you can make your own homemade Vanilla Wafers. Butterscotch chips/morsels are a bit harder to source, but they can be found online and in speciality stores.
Easy, No Bake Butterscotch Squares
Aunt Dorothy’s Butterscotch Squares are no bake squares, and all the cooking is done on top of the stove. Once you’ve chopped or crushed the wafers or cookies up, their really isn’t much effort involved and you can throw these Butterscotch Squares together in no time at all.
Store Butterscotch Squares in the fridge, where they will keep happily for almost a week. They make fabulous gifts as part of a cookie tray, or in sweet little gift packages just on their own.
Aunt Dorothy, now my only Auntie, is ninety years young and still going strong. Making Old Fashioned Butterscotch Squares always brings back wonderful memories. I’m so glad Aunt Dorothy shared her recipe with me!
Aunt Dorothy’s Old Fashioned Butterscotch Squares – Printable Recipe
Aunt Dorothy’s Old-Fashioned Butterscotch Squares
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter plus extra for greasing the pan
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 beaten egg
- 8 ounces vanilla wafers, chopped in pea size bits In a pinch, you can use lightly broken up graham crackers or Digestive Biscuits.
- ¾ cup chopped nuts
- ¾ cup butterscotch morsels
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Grease an 8 x 8 inch square pan with butter.
- Melt the ½ cup butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
- Add sugar and egg; stir to blend well.
- Put the pan back on the burner and heat over moderate heat, stirring almost constantly until mixture boils.
- Allow to boil for one minute, stirring constantly.
- Remove from heat.
- Stir in vanilla wafers, nuts, butterscotch morsels and vanilla.
- Press the toffee-like rubble firmly into the buttered 8 x 8 inch pan.
- Press in this toffee-like rubble into the pan firmly.
- Refrigerate for several hours or overnight.
- Remove from the fridge an hour or so before cutting. Cut in small pieces to serve. You should get about 20 squares from the pan.
- Store leftovers (if there are any) in the fridge.
did you make this recipe?
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Comments & Reviews
Just discovered the website & love the recipes!
Thank you, Maureen!
Love this! Could I take out the nuts? I’m allergic. 🙂
Thank you, Courtney! Yes, I think you could take out the nuts but I think you’d need to add something else in their place. Or perhaps try using a few more vanilla wafers and butterscotch chips. I’ve never tried doing this but just off the top of my head, maybe add an extra quarter to half cup of vanilla wafers and an extra quarter cup butterscotch chips. If you do try adapting the recipe, I’d love to know how it turns out. Please do let me know 🙂
Ok great, I might try that! These look tasty! Would love to add them to my desserts on Christmas Eve.
I love Butterscotch and your Butterscotch Squares will be delicious. Hope you have a fantastic weekend and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday!
Miz Helen
Thank you, Miz Helen. Butterscotch is a real favourite of mine too, sometimes even more than chocolate! Merry Christmas to you and your family!
I really enjoy the history of Aunt Dorothys Butterscotch Squares. Your squares look amazing and I am sure would be delicious! Hope you have a fantastic week and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Merry Christmas
Miz Helen
I’m so glad you enjoyed the post, Miz Helen! Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!
These look gorgeous, and easy enough for an older child to make on their own. Old recipes are often the best aren’t they! Well done Aunt Dorothy!
Yummy! This is making me want to get down to the kitchen and start baking!
Thank you, Calleen! They really are delicious 🙂
Wow, these butterscotch squares sound fabulous. Found you at Friday Features.
Thank you so much, Amy. It’s lovely to ‘meet’ you!
Yum, I cannot wait to try this recipe.
Pinned!
Merry Christmas,
Kippi
Thank you so much, Kippi! And thank you for pinning too!
Looks absolutely delicious!
Thank you so much, John!
oh my! They look sinfully good! I love butterscotch flavor and I’m sure i’d love these–there goes my diet!
Oh bless you, Pat! Thank you so much though 🙂
Yummy! Butterscotch is such a lovely flavor. I’ve never had it in a bar before.
Butterscotch is definitely one of my favourite flavours, Alexandra!
Thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with us on Full Plate Thursday 563, we featured it! Hope you have a great Thanksgiving and hope to see you soon!
Miz Helen
Thank you so much for the feature, Miz Helen! I really appreciate it! I hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving.