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Butterscotch Crunch Squares

Butterscotch Crunch Squares, a delicious ice cream dessert made with layers of buttery crumbles, butterscotch topping and ice cream.

Spoonful of dessert above crystal serving dish.

I made dessert last week, not something I do very often.  I'm just not the best baker in the world.  But I couldn't pass on these Butterscotch Crunch Squares made with ice cream.  Ice cream is Meathead's favorite, he pretty much has a bowl nightly, since childhood.  He loved these ice cream crunch squares and ate two for lunch the day I made them.  Sometimes, I think he's still a kid.

Overhead of ice cream dessert in serving dishes and spoons.

This recipe is from my mom's oldest and dearest friend, Ann.  I just love family recipes and am so glad she sent me this one, which she made for her kids when they were little.  She also sent me her mother's oatmeal cookie recipe, which I will be making soon.

Butterscotch Crunch Squares in serving dish

My mom and Ann are in their 80's and when they were babies, their mothers, who were best friends, pushed them together in their buggies.  They have been lifelong friends and although living in different states, their friendship has endured. They talk all the time and wished they lived closer.  I have often said that I hope I have girlfriends like they do when I'm older.  So many of my mom's friends are like second mom's to me and I admire them all.  They were, and are, my role models.  And when my mom and Ann lost their husbands, our fathers, their girlfriends were a vital part of their support system.  Mom and Ann are truly blessed.

Photo of Mom and Ann

They may be in their 80's but, man, they don't slow down.  My mom is in an interfaith book club with Muslim women, she actively campaigned for President Obama, she plays bingo with paralyzed veterans ~ just to mention a few things.  Ann is also an active volunteer in her community, involved with Meals on Wheels, her church resale shop and many other things.  Mom and Ann are voracious readers, always sending books back and forth.  They are great friends and their grandchildren are so lucky to have these women in their lives.

Butterscotch Crunch Squares ingredients photo.

Okay, back to this ice cream dessert.  I used caramel sauce instead of butterscotch topping because that's what I had.  I'm not changing the name to Caramel Crunch Squares because IT'S ANN'S RECIPE!!  And either butterscotch or caramel sauce works, and next time I'll be using butterscotch topping.

Cutting the butter into the dry ingredients with a pastry blender.

Crumbling the baked dough with a fork.

These ice cream dessert starts with a simple crust that's baked and then "crumbled" while still warm.  Then the crumbles, caramel and ice cream are layered and into the freezer it goes ~ done.  My kind of baking, easy and forgiving.  All you do then is cut into bars and serve.  I love the crunchy layer the best.

Crumbles in baking dish ready for layering.

Drizzling caramel over the crumbles.

Spreading the layer of vanilla ice cream.

Thank you Ann for sharing this recipe with me.  And thank you Jill for answering my questions and being such a fan of the hungry bluebird.  My family and friends are why I started this blog.  I'm so happy that Ann's ice cream dessert is part of my recipe collection.  And, believe me, no one is happier about that than Meathead.  Peace and love, Kelly

Butterscotch Crunch Squares in pan with slice cut out.

I also snagged Ann's mother's recipe for oatmeal cookies, they are the best old-fashioned oatmeal cookies!

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Close up of spoonful of crunch square dessert above serving dish.

Butterscotch Crunch Squares

A delicious ice cream dessert made with layers of buttery crumbles, butterscotch topping and ice cream.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Cool time and freeze time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 487kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour, sifted sifted
  • ¼ cup quick-cooking rolled oats I used regular rolled oats
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup butter or margarine I used salted Kerrygold butter, cut into pieces
  • ½ cup chopped nuts I used pecans
  • 1 jar butterscotch/caramel ice cream topping 10-12 ounces
  • 1 quart vanilla ice cream

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400º. Combine flour, oats and brown sugar in bowl. Cut in butter with pastry cutter, two knives or your clean fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in chopped nuts. Pat mixture into 9" X 13" pan and bake for 15 minutes. Stir with fork while still warm to crumble, then let cool completely.
  • Soften ice cream on counter until you can just stir it. Spread half the crumbles in an 8" X 8" pan. Drizzle half the butterscotch topping over crumbles. Carefully spoon and spread vanilla ice cream over topping. Drizzle with remaining topping and then with rest of crumbles. Gently press down and freeze a couple hours until firm. Cut into squares and serve.

Recipe Notes

  • Original recipe calls for butterscotch sauce. Can use caramel sauce, too.

Nutrition

Calories: 487kcal Carbohydrates: 49g Protein: 7g Fat: 30g Saturated Fat: 16g Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g Monounsaturated Fat: 7g Trans Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 83mg Sodium: 188mg Potassium: 306mg Fiber: 2g Sugar: 32g Vitamin A: 854IU Vitamin C: 1mg Calcium: 171mg Iron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe? Please comment, rate it and share! And mention me on Instagram @thehungrybluebird or tag #thehungrybluebird so I can see!

 

Recipe Rating




Meathead

Friday 30th of September 2016

Any dish that combines the words: Butterscotch & Crunch & Squares can't be nothin' but pure bliss.

Kathy McCormick Brennan

Friday 23rd of September 2016

Hi Kelly - your blog is quite fabulous...the writing, the recipes and the photos. I know I made the butterscotch crunch squares ages ago, but yours look far superior. And I loved what you wrote about Jinnie and Ann. They are the best-----and the picture is priceless! Love, Kathy

Gayle Liddell

Sunday 18th of September 2016

Hi, Kelly, what a nice tribute you wrote about our mothers and their enduring (and endearing) friendship through the years! I have fond memories of eating the leftover butterscotch crunch squares straight from the pan, with sister, Jill, beside me. Glad you and your hubbie enjoyed them. Your photographs of the recipe are beautiful! I wish you much success with your blog (and your sharing of more fabulous recipes) in the future. Best to your mom and family! Love, Gayle

Kelly

Monday 19th of September 2016

Thanks so much Gayle! I'm honored your mom thought to share that with me. I wish our moms saw each more often. They are both amazing!