Ooey Gooey Mixed Nut Bars

Ooey Gooey Mixed Nut Bars are a salty and sweet cookie bar that will satisfy both cravings. These two-layer dessert bars have a crumbly cookie base with a soft, yet crunchy nut topping.

Ooey Gooey Mixed Nut Bar Recipe

Mixed nuts aren’t just a snack food item. These Ooey Gooey Nut Bars are a crowd-pleasing, old-fashioned dessert that goes perfect with a good cup of coffee.

I stumbled upon this gem called Mixed Nut Bars in old cookbook from the First Baptist Church of Shelbyville, Indiana. It’s a vintage recipe that I had never seen, so I added the ingredients to my grocery list.

The bottom layer is a simple crust while the butterscotch nut topping is over the top.  It’s ooey and gooey, salty and sweet, crunchy yet soft – an anomaly in more than one way.

I love the combination of salty and sweet which is exactly what flavors these Butterscotch Mixed Nut Bars have; salty flavor from the mixed nuts and sweetness from the butterscotch topping.  If you love the combo of salty and sweet as much as I do, be sure to try these Salted Nut Bars that taste like a PayDay Bar.

Salted Nut Bar Ingredients

Looking for a recipe using with mixed nuts? Here are the ingredients you need for these mixed nut dessert bars. Scroll to the bottom of the post for the full recipe.

• Butter, softened
• Brown Sugar
• Salt
• Flour
• Mixed Nuts, canned
• Butterscotch Chips
• White Corn Syrup
• Butter
• Water

What kind of nuts are in mixed nuts?

The cans of mixed nuts you find at the store usually contain cashews, almonds, hazelnuts (filberts), pistachios and pecans. Some mixes also include peanuts and Brazil nuts. They are usually salted but you can find lightly salted and unsalted versions as well.

How can I keep mixed nuts fresh?

All nuts are high in fat which means they can easily go rancid causing unfavorable off-flavors. To keep nuts fresh, store at room temperature in a sealed container.  Keep the nuts away from foods such as onions and garlic since the nuts could absorb these strong flavors.  To keep nuts fresher for a longer amount of time, store in the refrigerator or freezer.

What can I do with leftover mixed nuts?

Aside from eating nuts as a snack, there’s countless ways to use up a partial container. Here’s some of our favorites:

• Chop them up and add them to your favorite casserole for a special crunch!  Try Chicken Crunch Casserole which calls for almonds but mixed nuts could be used instead.
• Add them to chicken salad.
• Make a savory snack mix such as this Bacon Cheddar version.
• Add them to White Chocolate Crack Snack Mix for a salty and sweet version.
• Top your favorite casserole with chopped nuts.
• Make Candied Nuts, a copy cat mall nut recipe.

Favorite Holiday Cookies

These butterscotch mixed nut squares would be a perfect addition to any holiday cookie tray. Our Mom makes the world’s best Christmas cookies each and every year. Check out what Christmas cookies are our favorites:

French Buttercream Cookies

Iced Thumbprint Cookies

Dainty Logs (Chocolate Chip Shortbread)

Peanut Blossoms

Crock Pot Seven Layer Bars

Chocolate Nut Logs

Cinnamon Snaps

How to Make Mixed Nut Cookie Bar Recipe

Step by Step Instructions

1. Cream together softened butter and brown sugar.
2. Add flour and salt; combine until a crumbly dough forms.
3. Press into the bottom of a 13 x 9 inch baking dish or baking pan that has been generously sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
4. Bake mixture in a preheated 350 degree F oven for 10 minutes.
5. Remove from oven and top with chopped, mixed nuts. Set aside while preparing topping.
6. For ooey gooey topping, melt butterscotch chips, white corn syrup, water and butter in a double boiler. Stir until smooth.
7. Pour over mixed nuts.
8. Return to the oven for 25 minutes or until the entire butterscotch topping is bubbly (even in center).
9. Let cool before cutting.

The full recipe for mixed nut bar cookies is found at the bottom of this page. 

Recipe FAQs

• Try leaving the mixed nuts whole instead of chopped for another beautiful mixed nut cookie.
• Be sure to generously spray the bottom of sides of a 13 x 9 inch baking dish. The butterscotch topping is sticky, and this allows for easy removal from the pan.
• The dough for the bottom layer tends to be crumbly; press it evenly into the pan.
• Use a double boiler to melt the butterscotch topping or make your own double boiler with a small saucepan filled with water and a glass bowl nestled on top.
• Check out our Amazon Store for our pantry essentials and favorite kitchen gadgets.

How do you know if mixed nuts have gone bad?

You can tell if mixed nuts have gone bad if they have a rancid smell or taste. Additionally, if the color or texture of the nuts has changed, it’s a sign that they may have spoiled. Always check the expiration date on the package as well.

More Ooey Gooey Cookie Recipes:

Yellow Cake Mix Gooey Bars

Chocolate Chip Gooey Bars

Lemon Gooey Bars

Double Chocolate Gooey Bars

Leftover Candy Gooey Bars

Linking up to Meal Plan Monday.