Mixed Nut Bars

SECRET INGREDIENT: butterscotch chips

Here’s a way to take that can of mixed nuts in your cupboard to new heights of flavor. Mix them with melted butterscotch chips and bake them on a sweet pastry crust.

IngredientsNumber of servings: Makes 3.5 dozen

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter or margarine
• 1 can (11 1/2 ounces) mixed nuts
• 1 cup butterscotch chips
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter or margarine

How to make it  40 minutes

• 1

  Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• 2

  For the crust, combine the flour, brown sugar, and salt in a medium bowl. Cut in the butter or margarine until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• 3

  Press into a greased 9 x 13-inch baking pan and bake for 10 minutes.
• 4

  For topping, sprinkle the baked crust with the nuts. Melt the butterscotch chips in a small microwavable bowl on medium power for 3 minutes, stopping to stir every minute. Add the corn syrup and butter or margarine and mix well. Pour over the nuts.
• 5

  Bake for 10 minutes longer. Cool.

Use your favorite salted nuts, such as cashews, peanuts, almonds, and walnuts. If you can, avoid mixes that include very large nuts such as Brazil nuts. These are harder to cut into bars once baked into this dessert.