These delightful pecan pie bars offer all the classic flavor of pecan pie without the fuss of a traditional crust, making them a perfect dessert for any occasion. You get all the rich, buttery, nutty goodness in a convenient bar form that’s much easier to slice and serve.
Enjoy this easy-to-make pecan delight that’s sure to become a family favorite. Whether you’re bringing a treat to a potluck, hosting a casual get-together, or simply craving a comforting dessert, these bars hit all the right notes with minimal effort. Discover the details and get ready to bake!
Table of Contents
- What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
- Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
- Time Needed From Start To Finish
- How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
- Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
- Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
- How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
Easy Pecan Pie Bars
- Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes to 2 hours 55 minutes
- Yield: 12-16 bars 1x
Description
These delightful pecan pie bars offer all the classic flavor of pecan pie without the fuss of a traditional crust, making them a perfect dessert for any occasion. You get all the rich, buttery, nutty goodness in a convenient bar form that’s much easier to slice and serve. Enjoy this easy-to-make pecan delight that’s sure to become a family favorite. Whether you’re bringing a treat to a potluck, hosting a casual get-together, or simply craving a comforting dessert, these bars hit all the right notes with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 350 F (175 C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan, or line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides.
2. In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes). Gradually add the all-purpose flour, mixing on low speed until the mixture forms a crumbly dough.
3. Transfer the crumbly dough mixture to your prepared 9×13-inch baking pan. Use your fingers or the back of a spoon to firmly and evenly press the dough into the bottom of the pan. Bake this crust for 15-18 minutes, or until it’s lightly golden brown around the edges.
4. While the crust is baking, whisk together the eggs, light corn syrup, light brown sugar, vanilla extract, and salt in a medium bowl until well combined and smooth. Stir in the pecan halves, ensuring they are evenly coated with the sweet mixture.
5. Once the crust is lightly golden, carefully remove it from the oven. Pour the pecan filling evenly over the hot crust. Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 25-30 minutes. The bars are done when the filling is set and lightly golden brown, and the center no longer looks liquid or jiggly when gently shaken.
6. Remove the pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool completely. This will take at least 1-2 hours. Once completely cool, use the parchment paper overhang to lift the entire slab of bars out of the pan onto a cutting board. Slice into squares or rectangles using a sharp knife.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Category: dessert
- Method: baking
- Cuisine: american
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
Keywords: pecan pie bars, pecan dessert, easy dessert, holiday dessert, potluck dessert, nutty bars, sweet treat, shortbread crust, comfort food, baking
What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
This recipe is a true lifesaver for anyone who loves the taste of pecan pie but dreads making a traditional pie crust. It’s designed for speed and simplicity, making it ideal for busy parents, novice bakers, or anyone looking for a delicious dessert without spending hours in the kitchen. The bar format means no rolling dough, no crimping edges, and no worrying about a soggy bottom crust. It’s a straightforward, mix-and-bake approach that yields consistently delicious results.
These pecan pie bars are perfect for a wide range of occasions. They’re sturdy enough to transport to a picnic or potluck, elegant enough for a holiday gathering (without the holiday stress!), and casual enough for a weeknight treat. Kids and adults alike will adore the sweet, chewy filling and the tender, buttery base. It’s a crowd-pleaser that satisfies that classic pecan pie craving in a much more approachable way.
Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
Gathering your ingredients for these pecan pie bars is simple, as most items are likely already in your pantry. We’re focusing on readily available components to ensure this recipe remains as stress-free as possible.
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups pecan halves
For the butter, using unsalted allows you to control the salt content precisely. If you only have salted butter, simply omit the 1/2 teaspoon of salt from the filling mixture. Granulated sugar provides the perfect sweetness for the shortbread-like base, while all-purpose flour ensures a tender crumb. For the filling, large eggs act as a binder, and light corn syrup provides that classic gooey texture and helps prevent crystallization. Light brown sugar adds a lovely molasses note and depth of flavor. Pure vanilla extract is crucial for enhancing all the sweet and nutty flavors, and salt balances the sweetness. Finally, pecan halves are the star of the show, providing texture and their signature rich taste. You can use chopped pecans if that’s what you have, but halves tend to look a bit more impressive in the finished bars.
Time Needed From Start To Finish
This recipe is wonderfully efficient, designed to get a delicious dessert on your table without a long wait.
- Preparation time: 15 minutes
- Baking time: 35-40 minutes
- Cooling time: 1-2 hours (essential for setting)
- Total time: Approximately 1 hour 50 minutes to 2 hours 55 minutes
While the active prep and bake time are under an hour, the cooling time is crucial for the bars to set properly and be easily sliced. Don’t rush this step, or you’ll end up with a delicious but messy dessert!
How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
Making these pecan pie bars is a straightforward process. Follow these steps for perfect results every time.
- Prepare Your Baking Pan: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan, or line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides. This parchment paper sling will make it incredibly easy to lift the cooled bars out of the pan for clean slicing.
- Make the Shortbread Crust: In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. This usually takes about 2-3 minutes with an electric mixer. Gradually add the all-purpose flour, mixing on low speed until the mixture forms a crumbly dough. It will look like coarse crumbs at first, then come together when pressed.
- Press the Crust into the Pan: Transfer the crumbly dough mixture to your prepared 9×13-inch baking pan. Use your fingers or the back of a spoon to firmly and evenly press the dough into the bottom of the pan. Make sure it’s a compact, level layer across the entire base. Bake this crust for 15-18 minutes, or until it’s lightly golden brown around the edges.
- Prepare the Pecan Filling: While the crust is baking, whisk together the eggs, light corn syrup, light brown sugar, vanilla extract, and salt in a medium bowl until well combined and smooth. Stir in the pecan halves, ensuring they are evenly coated with the sweet mixture.
- Assemble and Bake the Bars: Once the crust is lightly golden, carefully remove it from the oven. Pour the pecan filling evenly over the hot crust. Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 25-30 minutes. The bars are done when the filling is set and lightly golden brown, and the center no longer looks liquid or jiggly when gently shaken.
- Cool Completely Before Slicing: This step is crucial! Remove the pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool completely. This will take at least 1-2 hours, or even longer at room temperature. The filling needs this time to fully set and firm up. Once completely cool, use the parchment paper overhang to lift the entire slab of bars out of the pan onto a cutting board. Slice into squares or rectangles using a sharp knife.
Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
These pecan pie bars are fantastic on their own, but a few simple tweaks and serving suggestions can make them even more special or fit different tastes.
For a touch of decadence, consider adding a drizzle of melted chocolate over the cooled bars. Dark chocolate or milk chocolate both pair beautifully with pecans. A sprinkle of flaky sea salt on top of the chocolate or directly on the warm filling just after baking can also enhance the flavors by providing a lovely contrast. If you’re feeling extra fancy, a dollop of whipped cream or a small scoop of vanilla bean ice cream alongside a warm bar is absolutely divine.
To make them even more kid-friendly, you could chop the pecans more finely before adding them to the filling, especially if you have little ones who aren’t keen on large nuts. You could also mix in a handful of chocolate chips with the pecans for a chocolate-pecan twist.
These bars are perfect for parties and buffets because they’re easy to pick up and eat. Arrange them on a platter, perhaps with a dusting of powdered sugar for presentation. They also make a wonderful addition to a dessert potluck—just slice them in the pan, cover, and go! For a different flavor profile, try swapping out a quarter of the pecans for chopped walnuts or even a mix of nuts. While the classic pecan flavor is hard to beat, a mixed nut bar offers a slightly different experience.
Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
Even with a simple recipe like pecan pie bars, a few common mistakes can impact the final outcome. Knowing what to watch out for can help you achieve perfect results every time.
One frequent issue is not cooling the bars completely before slicing. This is the most critical step for neat, clean cuts. If you try to slice them while warm or even slightly warm, the filling will be gooey and sticky, making a huge mess and causing the bars to fall apart. Patience is key here; let them cool on a wire rack for at least 1-2 hours at room temperature, or even pop them in the fridge for 30 minutes once they’ve cooled down a bit, to speed up the setting process.
Another common slip-up is overbaking the crust. The shortbread crust should be lightly golden, not deeply browned. An overbaked crust can become tough or dry, detracting from the tender texture. Keep an eye on it during its initial bake time, and remember that it will bake a bit more once the filling is added.
Similarly, overbaking the filling can lead to a dry, crumbly texture rather than the desired gooey center. The filling is done when it’s set and lightly golden, and a gentle shake of the pan shows no liquid jiggle in the center. A slight wobble is okay, as it will continue to set as it cools. If it’s too firm in the oven, it will be hard when cool.
Finally, not pressing the crust firmly enough into the pan can result in a crumbly, loose base that doesn’t hold together well. Use the back of a spoon or your fingers to really compact the dough evenly across the bottom of the pan before baking. This creates a sturdy foundation for your delicious pecan filling.
How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
These pecan
FAQs
- Can I make these ahead? Yes—prep ahead, refrigerate, then serve when ready.
- How long do leftovers last? Store covered in the fridge for 3–4 days for best texture.
- Can I adjust sweetness? Yes—add more or less sweetener to taste.
- Can I change the fruit? Yes—swap strawberries for blueberries, raspberries, or sliced banana.
