Butterscotch Oatmeal Cookie Bars for Peter
An Excerpt from Potluck Desserts: Joyful Recipes to Share with Pride
The countdown is on—just two weeks until Potluck Desserts: Joyful Recipes to Share with Pride is officially out in the world!
It’s wild to think that in just 14 days, this book will be in the hands of family, friends, and total strangers. I’ll probably have a lot more to say once the dust settles—reflections on the process, the people who helped make it happen, and what it feels like to put something this personal into the world.
I want to do something different for this issue of Taste This. You’ve heard me talk about Potluck Desserts for a while now, but aside from a few photos and broad strokes, you haven’t really seen what it’s all about. So today, I’m sharing an excerpt from the book: a story and a recipe. One of the very first recipes I developed, and the narrative behind it, helped shape the heart of the entire book.
Excerpted from Potluck Desserts: Joyful Recipes to Share with Pride
Available June 3, 2025 | Publisher: Countryman Press
A Tale of Peter
It’s pretty unsettling to think about how queer history has been pushed to the side-lines, barely a whisper in the grand story of written records. The little we have about our lives, fights, and victories over time drives home how our stories have been brushed aside. Seeing our rich history of resilience and strength dismissed as inappropriate and not worthy is heartbreaking.
But in this gloomy picture, there’s a glimmer of hope— a light showing us how to take back our story. So many people are working tirelessly to rewrite our narrative, show how our community intersects with so many others, and finally, give us the recognition we’ve always deserved.
Before my time in Massachusetts and working with MassEquality, my understanding of my community was painfully narrow. My knowledge was clouded by twisted facts and distorted views spread by the media and conservative religious beliefs. However, my internship at MassEquality changed everything.
I had the honor of meeting incredible individuals, some in their twilight years, who had dedicated their lives to fighting for acceptance, equality, and the right to love freely. These were the voices of Stonewall, the allies of Harvey Milk, the heroes of AIDS clinics, and the survivors of the Lavender Scare. Their stories, told with raw emotion and unshakable conviction, reshaped my view of equality and filled me with deep gratitude.
One person who stands out is Peter, a man in his late 80s living on Cape Cod. Peter survived the Stonewall riots and was the last of his chosen family lost to AIDS. His strength, resilience, and unwavering dedication to our community left a lasting impression on me. Our talks on his porch recounting our community’s history over coffee and butterscotch oatmeal cookies, a recipe he cherished from his late partner, showed me our history’s depth and breadth.
These butterscotch oatmeal cookie bars aren’t just for Peter; they’re a symbol of the enduring legacy of queer history. Whether written down or spoken from one person to another, our history is real, it’s profound, and it will last.
Butterscotch Oatmeal Cookie Bars
This recipe came from my friend Peter’s late partner. It isn’t his exact recipe; still, after enjoying plenty of them that summer in 2006, I’ve come quite close, with the help of my food memory. These bars are robust with oats, yet they are delicately balanced. Their rich molasses flavor is complemented by the butterscotch being a key player, which is subtle enough to take the cookies from good to absolutely irresistible without overshadowing the other flavors. I did my best to capture those flavors here, and I think Peter would approve.
Ingredients
1½ cups (187 g) all-purpose flour
3 cups (270 g) old-fashioned oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter, softened
½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
1 cup (220 g) light brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tablespoons molasses
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
One 11-ounce bag butterscotch chips
Preheat your oven to 350° F and spray a 9½- by- 13½- inch sheet pan with baking spray and line with parchment paper, leaving an overhang over the longest edges. Spray the parchment with baking spray. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, oats, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger until evenly combined. Set aside.
In a separate medium bowl with an electric hand mixer, cream the butter and sugars together until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Stop the mixer and add the eggs, molasses, and vanilla and mix until combined, about 1 minute.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix on medium- low speed until just combined, with a few visible flour streaks. With a wooden spoon, fold in the butterscotch chips until evenly combined.
Pour the dough into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the cookie is golden brown and puffed up. Cool completely on a wire rack before portioning.
Just 2 Weeks Away: Pre-Order Potluck Desserts
Potluck Desserts: Joyful Recipes to Share with Pride is a celebration of community, chosen family, and the joy of showing up with something sweet. It’s filled with recipes and stories made for the Queer, Trans, and Ally community—and for anyone who believes food brings people together.
With just two weeks to go, now’s the time to pre-order. Early orders help get this book onto shelves and into the hands of those who need it most.
Just ordered my copy!!! What a glorious book and recipe!! <3 I'm doing a newsletter this weekend about what to bring on a picnic and these bars are....PERFECT.
Oh my goodness—I cannot wait to have this book in my hands! Congratulations!