Best Ever Butterscotch Cookies

Featured in: Garden-Inspired Meals

These chewy butterscotch and chocolate chip cookies combine rich flavors with the added crunch of walnuts and a touch of flaky sea salt. Easy to prepare, they bake golden with a soft center, delivering a perfect balance of sweet and salty in each bite. Ideal for any occasion, these cookies keep well stored and can be customized with nut options or browned butter for extra depth.

Simply mix wet and dry ingredients, fold in chips and nuts, scoop dough onto baking sheets, and bake until edges are golden. Let cool slightly before sprinkling sea salt for a delicious finishing touch.

Updated on Sun, 23 Nov 2025 11:44:00 GMT
A freshly baked stack of Best Ever Butterscotch Chocolate Chip Cookies with sea salt, ready to enjoy. Pin
A freshly baked stack of Best Ever Butterscotch Chocolate Chip Cookies with sea salt, ready to enjoy. | toastybasil.com

These irresistibly chewy cookies combine rich butterscotch and semisweet chocolate chips, finished with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt for the perfect sweet-and-salty bite. Easy to make and impossible to resist!

I have made these cookies countless times and they always disappear quickly at family gatherings. The combination of butterscotch chips with sea salt is a personal favorite that makes them unforgettable.

Ingredients

  • Unsalted butter: ½ cup (113 g) at room temperature or straight from the fridge
  • Brown sugar: ¼ cup (50 g) packed
  • Granulated sugar: ½ cup (100 g)
  • Egg: 1 large
  • Vanilla extract: 1 teaspoon
  • All-purpose flour: 1½ cups (195 g)
  • Baking soda: 1 teaspoon
  • Salt: ½ teaspoon
  • Butterscotch chips: 1 cup (170 g) use less if desired for less sweetness
  • Semisweet chocolate chips: 1 cup (170 g)
  • Chopped walnuts: ½ cup (55 g) optional
  • Flaky sea salt: for sprinkling

Instructions

Preheat oven:
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
Mix wet ingredients:
In a large bowl, beat together the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar with an electric mixer at medium speed until smooth and creamy, with no butter lumps remaining.
Add egg and vanilla:
Add the egg and vanilla extract mix on low speed until just combined.
Mix dry ingredients:
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
Combine mixtures:
Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix until just incorporated do not overmix.
Fold in mix-ins:
Gently fold in the butterscotch chips chocolate chips and optional walnuts.
Portion dough:
Using a large ice cream scoop (¼ cup dough for large cookies) or heaping tablespoon (2 tablespoons for medium cookies) drop dough onto prepared baking sheets leaving space between each cookie. If desired press a few extra chips onto the tops of the dough mounds.
Bake cookies:
Bake one sheet at a time Medium cookies (2 tbsp dough) Bake 8–10 minutes Large cookies (¼ cup dough) Bake 10–13 minutes Cookies are done when the edges are lightly golden and the tops are just set.
Cool and finish:
Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. While still warm sprinkle with flaky sea salt.
Store:
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
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These cookies have become a favorite treat for my family especially during holiday gatherings where the sweet and salty combination always brings smiles.

Required Tools

Mixing bowls electric mixer measuring cups and spoons baking sheets parchment paper ice cream scoop or tablespoon wire rack

Allergen Information

Contains Wheat (gluten) eggs milk (in chips and butter) and optional tree nuts (walnuts). Check all labels for chips and flavorings for potential allergens.

Nutritional Information

Per large cookie approx. Calories 260 Total Fat 13 g Carbohydrates 34 g Protein 3 g

Warm, chewy Best Ever Butterscotch Chocolate Chip Cookies with sea salt, golden edges, and melted chocolate. Pin
Warm, chewy Best Ever Butterscotch Chocolate Chip Cookies with sea salt, golden edges, and melted chocolate. | toastybasil.com

Try these tips to elevate your cookies from great to exceptional every time you bake.

Recipe Q&A

How do I achieve chewy texture in these cookies?

Using a combination of brown and granulated sugars helps retain moisture, creating a soft, chewy texture. Avoid overbaking to keep them tender.

Can I substitute walnuts in the mix-ins?

Yes, you can swap walnuts for pecans or omit nuts entirely if preferred, without losing flavor or texture.

What’s the purpose of flaky sea salt on top?

Sprinkling flaky sea salt enhances the sweet butterscotch and chocolate flavors by adding a crunchy, savory contrast.

Can the dough be frozen for later baking?

Yes, both baked cookies and unbaked dough balls freeze well, preserving freshness for convenient future treats.

Is it better to use browned butter?

Browned butter adds a nutty, deeper flavor to the cookies, enriching the overall taste, though regular softened butter works fine too.

What baking tips ensure even cooking?

Line baking sheets with parchment paper, space dough scoops apart, and bake one sheet at a time for consistent heat distribution.

Best Ever Butterscotch Cookies

Chewy cookies blending butterscotch, chocolate chips, and a sprinkle of sea salt for balanced sweetness.

Prep duration
10 min
Cooking duration
13 min
Complete duration
23 min


Skill level Easy

Origin American

Yield 12 Portions

Dietary specifications Vegetarian

Components

Wet Ingredients

01 ½ cup unsalted butter, chilled or room temperature
02 ¼ cup packed brown sugar
03 ½ cup granulated sugar
04 1 large egg
05 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Dry Ingredients

01 1½ cups all-purpose flour
02 1 teaspoon baking soda
03 ½ teaspoon salt

Mix-Ins

01 1 cup butterscotch chips
02 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
03 ½ cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Finishing

01 Flaky sea salt, for sprinkling

Directions

Step 01

Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Step 02

Cream Butter and Sugars: Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter with brown and granulated sugars until smooth and creamy without lumps.

Step 03

Incorporate Egg and Vanilla: Add egg and vanilla extract; mix on low speed until just combined.

Step 04

Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.

Step 05

Mix Dry Ingredients with Wet Mixture: Add dry ingredients to wet and mix until just incorporated, avoiding overmixing.

Step 06

Fold in Mix-Ins: Gently fold butterscotch chips, chocolate chips, and optional walnuts into the dough.

Step 07

Portion Dough onto Baking Sheets: Using a large ice cream scoop (¼ cup dough for large cookies) or heaping tablespoon (2 tablespoons for medium cookies), drop dough onto prepared sheets, spacing each dollop. Optionally press additional chips on top.

Step 08

Bake Cookies: Bake one sheet at a time: 8–10 minutes for medium cookies, 10–13 minutes for large cookies. Cookies are done when edges are lightly golden and tops just set.

Step 09

Cool and Finish: Cool cookies on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely. While warm, sprinkle with flaky sea salt.

Step 10

Store Properly: Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Necessary tools

  • Mixing bowls
  • Electric mixer
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Baking sheets
  • Parchment paper
  • Ice cream scoop or tablespoon
  • Wire rack

Allergy information

Review each component for possible allergens and if uncertain, we recommend consulting with a healthcare professional.
  • Contains wheat (gluten), eggs, milk (in chips and butter), and optional tree nuts (walnuts).
  • Check labels for chips and flavorings for further allergens.

Nutrient breakdown (per portion)

These values are provided as a general guide and shouldn't replace professional medical advice.
  • Calories: 260
  • Fat: 13 g
  • Carbs: 34 g
  • Protein: 3 g