pecan pie bars

Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Baking Time: 35 minutes
Cooling Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
Yield: 16 bars
Intensity: Moderate

Ingredients:

For the Crust:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed

For the Pecan Filling:

• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups pecans, chopped

Instructions:

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish or line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
2. Make the Crust:
   • In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, powdered sugar, and salt.
   • Add the cold, cubed butter to the flour mixture. Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to cut the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs and starts to hold together.
   • Press the crust mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Bake the crust in the preheated oven for 15 minutes until lightly golden.
3. Prepare the Pecan Filling:
   • In another mixing bowl, whisk together the light corn syrup, granulated sugar, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract until well combined.
   • Stir in the chopped pecans until evenly distributed in the mixture.
4. Assemble and Bake:
   • Once the crust has baked for 15 minutes, remove it from the oven and pour the pecan filling evenly over the hot crust.
   • Return the baking dish to the oven and bake for an additional 20-25 minutes or until the filling is set and the edges are golden brown.
5. Cool and Slice:
   • Remove the pecan pie bars from the oven and let them cool completely in the baking dish on a wire rack.
   • Once cooled, use the parchment overhang to lift the bars out of the dish. Place them on a cutting board and slice into bars or squares.
6. Serve:
   • Serve the pecan pie bars at room temperature or slightly warmed. Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator.

Optional:

• For added richness, you can drizzle melted chocolate over the cooled pecan pie bars before slicing.
• Serve with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra special treat.