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Pecan Pie Bars

Pecan Pie Bars
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These Pecan Pie Bars transform the classic pecan pie into a portable, easy-to-make dessert featuring a buttery crust, gooey caramel filling, and toasted pecans for a perfect balance of sweetness and crunch. Ideal for holidays, gatherings, or anytime indulgence, they bake quickly and are easy to share.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Crust

  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

For the Filling

  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs (room temperature)
  • ½ cup corn syrup or pure maple syrup
  • ¼ cup melted unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ cups chopped pecans

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Crust: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×9 inch baking pan. In a mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, salt, and cold butter. Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to mix until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press the mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the pan to form the crust. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until the edges start to turn golden brown.
  2. Make the Pecan Filling: While the crust bakes, whisk together the brown sugar, eggs, corn syrup (or maple syrup), melted butter, vanilla extract, and salt in a bowl until smooth and well combined. Gently fold in the chopped pecans, ensuring the mixture is glossy and pourable for easy spreading.
  3. Assemble and Bake: Pour the pecan filling over the pre-baked crust and spread it out evenly. Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 25-30 minutes, or until the filling is set but still slightly gooey in the center and the pecans are toasted. Watch carefully to prevent overbaking.
  4. Cool and Slice: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan. This cooling step solidifies the filling so you can slice neat squares without sticking or crumbling. Once cooled, cut into bars and serve.

Notes

  • Use room temperature eggs to help ingredients blend evenly for a smooth filling.
  • Chop pecans evenly to ensure consistent crunch in every bite.
  • Don’t overbake; remove bars when the center is just set but still slightly jiggly for ultimate gooeyness.
  • Press crust firmly to prevent sogginess and hold the filling well.
  • Cool completely before cutting to help you slice neat bars without mess.

Nutrition

Keywords: pecan bars, pecan pie bars, pecan dessert, caramel pecan bars, holiday dessert, easy pecan bars, gluten-free pecan bars

Find it online: https://lillysplate.com/pecan-pie-bars/