Butterscotch Refrigerator Cookies

Butterscotch Refrigerator Cookies are soft and chewy and almost taste like a an old-fashioned Pecan Sandie!  These icebox cookies are perfect for potlucks and have a wonderful butterscotch flavor that isn’t too overpowering.

Butterscotch Icebox Cookies are soft and chewy and almost taste like a Pecan Sandie!

Old-Fashioned Butterscotch Icebox Cookies

I’m so grateful that a friend shared this dessert recipe that came from her grandmother and has been in their family for a long time.  Keeping with the tradition of vintage recipes there weren’t a lot of details.  I’m glad to report that these butterscotch icebox cookies are very easy to make.

Brown sugar is the key ingredient that brings the butterscotch flavor since these cookies are made without butterscotch baking chips.  We also love our Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies and Butterscotch Cookie Bars which are both made with butterscotch baking chips.

My family loves these cookies without nuts, but they also taste great with chopped walnuts or pecans.  If you’re craving old-fashioned pecan sandies you should definitely use the pecans!

How to Shape Refrigerator Cookies

The dough mixes up very quickly.  Then I split the dough in half for easier handling.

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roll of refrigerator cookie dough

Use about a foot of plastic wrap and make a log long ways down the center.  Roll the plastic wrap around the dough.  Roll on the counter to the shape that you prefer.  Wrap the ends as tightly as possible around the dough before placing in the refrigerator to prevent drying out.

Once you take the roll of cookie dough out of the refrigerator it’s time to slice and bake. So simple and delicious!

We have a debate about nuts in our house.  The extra flavor and meatiness nuts add to baked goods has been growing on me, but most of my roommates are opposed to nuts. 

I tested this recipe by mixing the nuts in the dough and by sprinkling them on top of the sliced cookies just before placing them in the oven.  The taste is the same, but the cookies look more attractive with the chopped nuts sprinkled on top.

Close up butterscotch icebox cookies on a cooling rack with nut pieces on top

My friend who shared the recipe also recommends slicing some cookies very thin, almost like chips.  I look forward to trying that next time!

Ingredients Needed for Pecan Sandies

  • Butter
  • Brown sugar
  • Eggs
  • Milk
  • Flour
  • Cream of tarter
  • Baking soda
  • Salt
  • Chopped pecans OR walnuts

How to Make Pecan Sandies Cookies

  1.  Using a mixer cream butter and sugar well.  Add eggs and milk, mix well.
  2. Slowly add dry ingredients and mix well.  Mix nuts into dough OR sprinkle chopped nuts on individual cookies just before baking for a more decorative look.  If mixing nuts in, then be sure to mix well.
  3. Layout plastic wrap and make rolls out of the dough.  Let stand in plastic-wrapped rolls overnight in the refrigerator.
  4. Slice and bake in oven at 375°F. for 7 to 10 minutes depending on the thickness of the slice.

More Old Fashioned Dessert Recipes:

Here are a few other old fashioned desserts that our family enjoys:

Here are several icebox cookie recipes to try. We hope you enjoy these recipes as much as we do!

Printable Butterscotch Refrigerator Cookies Recipe

Close up stacks of Butterscotch Refrigerator Cookies

Butterscotch Refrigerator Cookies

Servings 45 cookies
Author: Jennifer
Butterscotch Refrigerator Cookies are soft and chewy and almost taste like a Pecan Sandie!  These cookies are perfect for potlucks and have a wonderful butterscotch flavor that isn’t too overpowering.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 3 minutes
Cook Time 7 minutes
Refrigerator Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup butter
  • 2 cups brown sugar
  • 2 well beaten eggs
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 4 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans optional

Instructions
 

  • Cream butter and sugar well.  Add eggs and milk, mix well.
  • Slowly add dry ingredients and mix well.  Mix nuts into dough OR sprinkle chopped nuts on individual cookies just before baking for a more decorative look.
  • Mix; let stand in rolls overnight in the refrigerator.  Slice and bake in oven at 375 degrees F. for 7 to 10 minutes depending on thickness of the slice.  

Nutrition

Calories: 130kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 2gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 92mgPotassium: 49mgFiber: 1gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 137IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 15mgIron: 1mg

Nutritional Disclaimer

“Plowing Through Life” is not a dietitian or nutrition professional. Any nutritional information shared is an estimate and can vary greatly depending on specific products are used. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator of your choice.

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Collage of old fashioned Butterscotch Refrigerator Cookies that taste like Pecan Sandies with text

2 Comments

  1. Amy Hoying says:

    5 stars
    I made these and sliced them thinner so they had a nice crunch. I gave a bag of them to a friend, and she absolutely loved them! She said it was perfect with a cup of coffee, and she loved how the nuts were flavorful and highlighted with the sweet crunch of the cookie.

    1. Thanks so much for sharing!

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