Butterscotch Bars

The recipe for these Butterscotch Bars is courtesy of Cooking Light Magazine online. Simply stated, these indulgent dessert bars were a sweet success. While the outside of the bars is golden and crispy, the inside oozes buttery, butterscotch perfection. I would also add that these were simple to make and weren't ingredient-heavy (making them even more simple). To add pizazz, these bars could be drizzled with some reserved, melted butterscotch chips and/or served with a scoop of simple vanilla ice cream.

Ingredients
YIELDS: 36 servings (one bar)
1 cup brown sugar, packed
5 tbsp. butter, melted
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 large egg, lightly beaten
9 oz. all-purpose flour (about 2 cups)
2 1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
Cooking spray
3/4 cup fat free sweetened condensed milk
1 1/4 cups butterscotch morsels (about 8 oz.)
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Making the Butterscotch Bars
Preheat oven to 350 degrees . Combine sugar and butter in large bowl . Stir in vanilla and egg . Weigh or lightly spoon flour into measuring cup(s); level with a knife . Combine flour, oats, 1/2 tsp. salt and baking soda in a bowl . Add oat mixture to sugar mixture . Stir with a fork until combined (mixture will be crumbly) . Place three cups of oat mixture in the bottom of a 9"x13" baking pan coated with cooking spray; press into bottom of pan; set aside . Place sweetened condensed milk, butterscotch morsels and 1/8 tsp. of salt in a microwave-safe bowl . Microwave on HIGH one minute or until butterscotch morsels are melted, stirring every 20 seconds . (IF USING WALNUTS, add to butterscotch mixture now and stir in) . Scrape mixture into baking pan, spreading evenly over crust . Sprinkle evenly with remaining oat mixture, gently pressing into butterscotch mixture . Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until the topping is golden brown . Place pan on cooling rack, run knife around outside edge . Cool COMPLETELY before serving