Irresistible Pecan Pie Bars: Your New Favorite Holiday Dessert with a Buttery Shortbread Crust
Prepare to fall in love with these utterly delicious, ooey-gooey Pecan Pie Bars! Featuring a rich, maple brown sugar pecan filling nestled atop a delicate, buttery shortbread crust, they are truly a holiday season essential. Forget the fuss of a traditional pie; these bars offer all the classic flavors with a convenient, sliceable format that’s perfect for sharing. Plus, our recipe proudly uses real maple syrup, ensuring an authentic, deep flavor without any corn syrup.
Why You’ll Adore These Pecan Pie Bars!
There’s something truly magical about a classic pecan pie, but these bars take that beloved dessert to a whole new level of convenience and delight. Each square delivers that iconic sweet, nutty flavor in a perfectly portioned bite. The star of the show is undoubtedly the luscious maple brown sugar pecan pie filling. It’s wonderfully sweet, sticky, and loaded with crunchy pecans, providing a delightful contrast to the tender, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread crust.
Unlike many traditional pecan pie recipes, ours skips the corn syrup entirely, opting for the natural sweetness and complex flavor of real maple syrup. This not only enhances the taste profile but also gives you a homemade treat you can feel even better about. Serve them warm with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream, a dollop of fresh whipped cream, or simply enjoy them on their own for an impressively delicious and unforgettable pecan treat! These maple pecan pie bars are an absolute must-have for your holiday dessert table, bringing joy and a touch of homemade warmth to any gathering.
Essential Ingredients for Your Pecan Pie Bars
Creating these sensational pecan pie bars requires a handful of common pantry staples, transformed into something extraordinary. The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity and the quality of its components. Here’s a quick overview of what you’ll need to gather:
Ingredients Needed
- All-purpose Flour: The foundation for our buttery shortbread crust and a touch in the filling for perfect consistency.
- Unsalted Butter: Crucial for achieving that rich, tender texture in the shortbread and the luxurious mouthfeel of the filling.
- Brown Sugar: Adds a deep, molasses-rich sweetness and helps create that signature gooey texture in the pecan filling.
- Eggs: Act as a binder, giving structure and richness to the filling.
- Real Maple Syrup: This is where the magic happens! We use authentic maple syrup as a delicious alternative to corn syrup, providing unparalleled depth of flavor.
- Heavy Whipping Cream: Contributes to the creamy, luscious texture of the pecan filling.
- Chopped Pecans: The star nut! Provides crunch and that unmistakable pecan flavor.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances all the sweet flavors, adding a warm, aromatic note.
- Salt: A pinch of salt balances the sweetness and brings out the best in every ingredient.
How to Make Pecan Pie Bars: A Simple Guide
Crafting these delectable pecan pie bars is a straightforward process, broken down into two main parts: the shortbread crust and the maple pecan filling. Follow these easy steps for a guaranteed crowd-pleaser!
Part 1: The Perfect Shortbread Crust
We begin with the shortbread crust, which is incredibly simple to prepare and forms the ideal buttery base for our pecan filling. This is the very same reliable crust I use for my Apple Crisp Bars recipe, known for its amazing flavor and ease of preparation.
Step 1: Prepare the Crust Mixture. In a mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, melted unsalted butter, brown sugar, a pinch of salt, and vanilla extract. Mix these ingredients thoroughly until they are well combined and form a crumbly, yet cohesive, dough-like consistency. The dough should be soft enough to press easily but not overly sticky.
Step 2: Press and Partially Bake the Crust. Line an 8×8 inch baking dish with parchment paper, leaving a generous overhang on the sides. This overhang will serve as “handles” later, making it incredibly easy to lift the entire batch of bars out of the pan for clean cutting. Use your hands to firmly and evenly press the shortbread crust batter into the bottom of the prepared pan. Ensure it’s packed tightly to create a solid foundation. Bake this crust in the preheated oven until it turns a beautiful golden color and the edges just begin to brown, indicating it’s perfectly set and ready for the filling.
Joy’s Smart Tip!
Always leave ample parchment paper overhang on the sides of your baking pan. This seemingly small detail makes a huge difference! It allows you to effortlessly lift the entire slab of cooled pecan bars out of the pan, making cutting into neat squares much simpler and preventing any sticky situations.
Part 2: The Maple Pecan Filling & Final Bake
While your shortbread crust is baking to golden perfection, you can prepare the irresistible maple pecan filling. This ensures a seamless transition and keeps your baking process efficient.
Step 3: Mix the Pecan Bar Filling. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients first: beaten eggs, pure maple syrup, heavy whipping cream, vanilla extract, and salt. Once these are combined, gently stir in the brown sugar and then the all-purpose flour. The flour helps to slightly thicken the filling, preventing it from being too runny. Finally, fold in the star ingredient – the chopped pecan pieces. Make sure they are evenly distributed throughout the luscious mixture.
Step 4: Combine and Bake. Once the shortbread crust is finished with its initial bake, carefully pour the prepared maple pecan bar filling evenly over the warm crust. Return the baking dish to the oven for another 30-35 minutes. The bars will continue to bake until the filling is set and a beautiful golden-brown color develops on top.
How to Know When Your Pecan Bars Are Done
Determining the perfect doneness for your pecan bars is key to achieving that ideal gooey-but-set texture. Look for several indicators: the edges of the bars should be nicely browned, and the center should appear firm. A helpful trick is to gently jiggle the pan from side to side; if the middle no longer wobbles or “jiggles” significantly, your pecan bars are likely done. For my oven, approximately 35 minutes after adding the filling was just right.
Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and allow the pecan pie bars to cool completely at room temperature. This cooling period is crucial for the filling to fully set. After they’ve cooled, place the entire pan in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes (or ideally, a couple of hours) before attempting to cut them into squares. This chilling process makes for clean, crisp cuts and helps the bars hold their shape beautifully.
Expert Tips For Pecan Pie Bar Success
To ensure your pecan pie bars turn out absolutely perfect every time, keep these helpful tips in mind:
Tips For Success
- Opt for Pre-Chopped Pecan Pieces: Save yourself valuable time and effort in the kitchen by purchasing pre-chopped pecan pieces. You can usually find them in the baking aisle of your grocery store. They’re consistently sized and ready to go!
- Always Line Your Baking Pan: This is a game-changer! Lining your baking dish with parchment paper, especially with an overhang, makes removing the cooled bars incredibly easy. No sticking, no broken bars – just perfect, clean lifts for effortless cutting.
- Invest in Real Maple Syrup: The difference is undeniable. These ooey-gooey pecan bars truly shine when made with real maple syrup instead of corn syrup. The genuine maple flavor adds a layer of rich complexity that imitation syrups simply can’t replicate, resulting in an extra delicious and authentic taste.
- Chill Thoroughly Before Cutting: Patience is a virtue, especially when it comes to cutting dessert bars. If you’re planning to serve these for a party or want beautifully presented squares, allow the cooled bars to chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or even several hours. This firming-up period ensures much cleaner, prettier cuts without the filling sticking to your knife.
Storing Your Pecan Pie Bars
To maintain the freshness and deliciousness of your homemade pecan pie bars, proper storage is key. Once the bars have cooled completely to room temperature, transfer them to an airtight container. They will store beautifully in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. For longer storage, you can also freeze these bars. Wrap individual bars or the entire slab tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, and store in a freezer-safe bag for up to 2-3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator or at room temperature before serving.
More Delightful Holiday Desserts
If you’re planning your holiday feast and looking for more delicious treats, be sure to explore some of our other favorite festive recipes. These pair wonderfully with our pecan pie bars or stand alone as show-stopping desserts:
- Cranberry Apple Crisp
- Pecan Cream Pie
- Pumpkin Cream Pie
- Pecan Pie Balls
- No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars
- Christmas Crack
- Ritz Cracker Toffee
- Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Bars
- Peanut Clusters
- Dark Chocolate Pecan Cookie Bars
- Cranberry Eggnog Bread
These pecan pie bars have truly become one of my most cherished recipes for the holiday season, and I’m confident they’ll become a favorite in your home too!
Make these exceptional pecan pie bars for the holidays this year, and I promise, you absolutely won’t be disappointed! They are guaranteed to bring smiles and satisfy every sweet tooth.
Pecan Pie Bars Recipe
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Ingredients
For the Shortbread Crust
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For the Pecan Pie Bar Filling
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1 cup real maple syrup
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups chopped pecans
Instructions
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Mix together all ingredients for the crust: flour, butter, brown sugar, salt, and vanilla, until combined.
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Line an 8 X 8 baking dish with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides.
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Use your hands to press the shortbread crust batter evenly into the bottom of the pan.
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Bake the crust at 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) for 22 – 25 minutes, or until the edges are golden and beginning to brown.
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In a large bowl, whisk together the pecan pie bar filling ingredients: eggs, maple syrup, brown sugar, heavy whipping cream, flour, vanilla, and salt.
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Once that is mixed, gently stir in the chopped pecan pieces.
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When the shortbread crust is done baking, pour the pecan pie bar filling evenly over the top.
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Turn the oven up to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and bake for 30 – 35 minutes, until the filling is set and hardly jiggles in the center. The edges should be browned.
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Remove the pecan pie bars from oven and allow to cool completely at room temperature.
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Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (or longer for cleaner cuts), then lift out using the parchment paper overhang and cut into slices.
Video
Nutrition
Carbohydrates: 33g,
Protein: 3g,
Fat: 17g,
Saturated Fat: 5g,
Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g,
Monounsaturated Fat: 7g,
Trans Fat: 0.2g,
Cholesterol: 38mg,
Sodium: 123mg,
Potassium: 137mg,
Fiber: 2g,
Sugar: 23g,
Vitamin A: 242IU,
Vitamin C: 0.2mg,
Calcium: 48mg,
Iron: 1mg
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