Do yourself a favor and make this butterscotch cookies recipe. Not only does the butterscotch flavor burst in your mouth, but the cookies are soft, chewy and delicious. Add these to your holiday cookie tray and you are going to have very happy guests.

When I visit relatives, they look expectantly at my hands when they greet me at their door. Why? Because I usually have a few bags of cookies clutched in them.
They want my cookies.
Yes, they also like when I visit because I’m an easy and fun guest, but they really love when I bring my cookies. And I’m okay with that.
Wait until you taste these delicious butterscotch cookies and you will see what I mean.
Other cookies that my family love to see me carrying are the pistachio, pumpkin and chocolate cream cheese cookies.
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Helpful tips
- Take the butter out an hour before you start the cookies. To soften it more quickly, unwrap the butter, cut it into pats and drop them into your mixing bowl.
- There is no need to take the cream cheese out to soften ahead of time, as it is already softened.
- Be careful not to over mix the dough, you want the cookies to be soft and succulent.
- I used two different sizes of cookie scoops to show you how they would look. See the photo below where I explain it.
- I dribble both dark chocolate and white chocolate on some of the cookies because I think chocolate enhances everything, but alas, Christopher does not think so. That part of the recipe is optional. You choose.
Ingredients and substitutions
- Butter – I only use butter, not margarine as I don’t trust the ingredients. And I use organic whenever I can get it.
- Cream cheese – organic.
- Sugar – Organic cane sugar but you can also use white or brown sugar.
- Egg – organic large.
- Flour – I usually use white flour in my cream cheese cookies but I didn’t have enough in the cupboard, so I used my trusty sprouted spelt flour instead.
- Pudding mix – butterscotch flavored.
- Baking powder – a rising agent.
- Salt – helps flavor the cookie.
- Butterscotch chips – This really enhances the flavor of the cookie.
How to make butterscotch cookies
Pre-step
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Get out your stand mixer, cookie sheets and cookie scoop.
Step one
Get the wet ingredients – cream cheese, butter, sugar and egg.
Step two
Place cream cheese, butter and sugar in the mixer bowl. (A)
Step three
Turn the mixer on and combine the ingredients until creamy. (B)
Step four
Get the dry ingredients – butterscotch pudding mix, flour, baking soda and salt.
Step five
Add the dry ingredients to the mixing bowl. (D)
Step six
Mix until combined and then stir in the butterscotch chips.
Step seven
Use a cookie scoop to form the batter into balls of dough and place them on the cookie sheets. (I used the medium scoop for these.)
Step eight
Bake for 15 – 17 minutes. Remember all ovens are different, check after 15 minutes. The cookies should be a little brown around the edges and slightly soft to the touch.
Step nine
Let the butterscotch cookies cool for 5 minutes on the cookie sheet before transferring to a wire rack.
Step ten
This next part is optional.
Melt some chocolate (I chose to use bittersweet and white chocolate) on the stove with a teaspoon of butter until smooth. Spoon the chocolate in a sandwich baggie, cut off a corner and squeeze the chocolate over as many cookies as you like.
This next photo shows the results of the cookies with the two different scoops.
The front cookie was with the medium scoop.
The cookie in the back is with the small scoop.
And the right cookie is still with the small scoop but I leveled it off so it looks rounder. Which one will you make?
Which one would you eat first?
Let’s see the overhead view.
I hope you enjoyed this butterscotch cookies recipe. It makes an outstanding cookie!
And as always, may all your dishes be delish.
If you’ve tried this recipe, I’d love the know what you thought about it in the comments below. I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!
Butterscotch Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter (softened)
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- .75 cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2.25 cups flour (sprouted spelt flour)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- .50 teaspoon salt
- 3.4 ounces butterscotch pudding mix (1 package)
- 1 cup butterscotch chips (½ cup to 1 cup – I enjoy it both ways)
Optional for Dribbles
- .50 cup bittersweet chocolate chips (for drizzle)
- .50 cup white chocolate chips (for drizzle)
- 2 teaspoons butter (divided)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F
- Place butter, cream cheese and sugar in your stand mixer bowl. Mix until combined and creamy
- Add egg and vanilla and mix until combined
- Add flour, baking soda, salt and butterscotch pudding mix and mix until combined. Be careful not to over mix
- Stir in the butterscotch chips
- Take a cookie scoop and place each batter ball on cookie sheets. (see notes about the different sizes.)
- Bake for 15 – 17 minutes. Check after 15 minutes. The cookies should be slightly browned around the edges and a little soft to the touch
- Let cookies sit for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool
Optional
- Add white chocolate and bittersweet chocolate to two separate small saucepans. Turn the heat under the pans to low and slowly melt the chocolates. I add 1 teaspoon of butter to each pan to make the chocolate really creamy
- Spoon the melted chocolate each in its own plastic sandwich bag and cut a corner off the bag and squeeze out the chocolate over the cookie in whatever shape you like. I just did strips
Equipment
Notes
- Take the butter out an hour before you start the cookies. Unwrap the butter and put it in the mixer bowl and cut it in pats for quicker softening.
- There is no need to take the cream cheese out to soften as it is already softened.
- Be careful not to over mix the dough, you want the cookies to be soft and succulent.
- I used two different sizes of cookie scoops to show you how they would look. See the photo below where I explain it.
- I dribbled both dark chocolate and white chocolate on some of the cookies because I think chocolate enhances everything, but alas, Christopher does not think so. That part of the recipe is optional. You choose.
Sharon
I love butterscotch but don’t have too many recipes that I use it in, now I’ve got these cookies!!
Elaine
Yay! I’m so glad Sharon. I hope you enjoy them.
Alison
Made these cookies for my work cookie exchange and they were a huge hit! Perfectly chewy and full of butterscotch flavor.
Elaine
Thanks so much Alison! I’m so pleased they were a hit and thank you for letting me know.
Erika
These butterscotch cookies are so amazing! Yum!!
Elaine
Thanks Erika!
Chef Dennis
I will be having these butterscotch cookies on our Holiday party. This looks really scrumptious and I love that they’re soft and chewy. Perfect for everyone.
Elaine
Thanks Dennis! Everyone will love them. So vibrant and delicious!
Andrea Metlika
These cookies are my new favorite butterscotch cookie! Hands down the best!
Elaine
Thanks so much Andrea! They are our families favorite as well.
Anjali
These cookies were so delicious!! Love that they’re made with spelt flour and aren’t overly sweet – they’ll definitely be making an appearance at my holiday party this weekend!
Elaine
Thanks Anjali! I think you and your guests will enjoy them.
Sara Welch
These look amazing! Definitely adding this to my holiday baking line up! Delish!
Elaine
Thanks so much Sara! They are so delicious and everyone will love them.
Kelly Anthony
I always have cookies on hand that I bring with me everywhere too. These butterscotch cookies will be the perfect addition to my cookie recipe collection.
Elaine
Thanks Kelly! Everyone will love them! 🙂
Denise
Oh wow! These Butterscotch Cookies look incredible, and seem so easy to make! This will be a good addition to a cookie tray this holiday season.
Elaine
Thanks so much Denise. I appreciate it!
Jacqui Debono
I love the sound of these, and they look so pretty! Butterscotch is one of my faves and you don’t see it in many things!
Elaine
Thanks Jacqui! I love butterscotch and try to make these throughout the year.
Carrie | Clean Eating Kitchen
These cookies sound absolutely delightful! They’ll be making an appearance in our house this season for sure!
Elaine
Thanks so much Carrie! They are so yummy and I hope you enjoy the cookies when you try them.
Kushigalu
Soft and chewy cookies. Must try this holiday season. So delicious.
Elaine
Thanks so much Kushigalu!
Danielle
I am sooo ready to make myself a favor right now and make these! Just reading through your post made my mouth water. But answering your question, I would definitely use a medium scoop – these cookies are too good to come in small size! 🙂
Elaine
Lol! I actually prefer the smaller ones. That way I can have more than one, Danielle and not feel ‘guilty’.
Jamie
I’m always looking for cookie recipes to bake for my coworkers and now I found a delicious one to add to my collection! I’ll be making this this week!
Elaine
Yay! Thanks Jamie! I hope you and your coworkers enjoy the cookies. I don’t think you will be disappointed.
Jo
My kids adore butterscotch and I got to try these cookies for them! I’m sure they are going to enjoy these cookies.
Elaine
I can almost guarantee that everyone will love these cookies. They are so yummy! Thanks for your comment Jo!
SHANIKA
These Butterscotch cookies look so amazing! I love how easy they are to make and they are definitely a healthy option to a sweet indulge!
Elaine
Thank you so much Shanika! I appreciate it.