Best Ever Pecan Bars are so good! A fabulous recipe with a caramelized pecan pie set atop a shortbread crust is the absolute perfect nut bar.
Pecan pie is an American invention. Its history can be traced back thousands of years, to Native Americans who used the nut’s meat as a filling for their medicine pouches and in recipes like wampum belts. The colonists began using pecans as a food source, though they didn’t begin to bake with them until the mid-1800s.
Try some of our other Holiday recipes
Pecan Bars
Best Ever Pecan Pie Bars are so good..A fabulous recipe with a caramelized pecan pie set atop a shortbread crust is the absolute perfect nut bar.
Print
Pin
Servings: 9
Calories: 560kcal
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 sticks butter 10 tbsp
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 1 large egg
- 3/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/8 tsp kosher salt
Pecan Topping
- 1 stick butter 8 tbsp
- 1/4 cup light corn syrup
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar packed
- 2 tbsp heavy cream
- 1/2 lb pecans chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F
Crust
- For the crust, beat the butter and granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, until light, approximately 3 minutes.
- Add the eggs and the vanilla and mix well. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix the dry ingredients into the batter with the mixer on low speed until just combined.
- Press the dough evenly into an ungreased 8 by 8 by 2-inch baking sheet, making an edge around the edge like you would a pie crust . It will be very sticky; sprinkle the dough and your hands lightly with flour. Bake for 15 minutes, until the crust is set but not browned. Allow to cool.
Topping
- For the topping, combine the butter, corn syrup, and brown sugar in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan.
- Cook over low heat until the butter is melted, using a wooden spoon to stir. Raise the heat and boil for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat. Stir in the heavy cream and pecans.
- Pour over the crust, trying not to get the filling between the crust and the pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the filling is set.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold. Cut into bars and serve.
Nutrition
Calories: 560kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 43g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Cholesterol: 86mg | Sodium: 268mg | Potassium: 150mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 799IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 56mg | Iron: 2mg
