Description
Buttery shortbread crust topped with a gooey, caramel-like pecan filling, these handheld pecan pie bars bring all the cozy flavor of classic pecan pie in easy-to-serve squares. Trust me, you’re going to love this.
Ingredients
- All-Purpose Flour: 2 cups
- Brown Sugar: 1/2 cup, packed
- Unsalted Butter: 1 cup, cold and cubed
- Granulated Sugar: 1 1/2 cups
- Corn Syrup: 1 1/2 cups
- Eggs: 4 large
- Vanilla Extract: 1 teaspoon
- Salt: 1/2 teaspoon
- Pecans: 2 1/2 cups, coarsely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat Your Equipment: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C), line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang for easy lifting.
- Combine Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk flour with brown sugar, cut in cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, then press evenly into the prepared pan.
- Prepare Your Cooking Vessel: Bake crust for 18 to 20 minutes until lightly golden, set aside while you make the filling.
- Assemble the Dish: In a large bowl, whisk granulated sugar with corn syrup, eggs, vanilla, and salt until smooth, fold in chopped pecans.
- Cook to Perfection: Pour the filling over the warm crust, bake 25 to 30 minutes until the center is set with a slight jiggle.
- Finishing Touches: Cool completely in the pan on a rack, then chill 20 to 30 minutes for the cleanest slices.
- Serve and Enjoy: Lift out by the parchment, slice into 24 bars, serve plain or with lightly sweetened whipped cream.
Notes
- Slice Neatly: Wipe the knife between cuts and chill briefly for sharp edges.
- Boost Flavor: Lightly toast pecans before mixing to deepen their nutty aroma.
- Avoid Soggy Crust: Always par-bake the crust before adding the filling.
- Storage: Store airtight at room temperature up to 3 days, refrigerate up to 1 week, or freeze up to 2 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 85 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg
Keywords: pecan pie bars, dessert bars, southern dessert, holiday dessert, easy cookie bars, make-ahead dessert, gooey pecan bars