Unlike a traditional pecan pie, these Pecan Pie Bars don’t require the finesse of perfecting a pie crust. Instead, these pecan squares have all the wonderful flavors of classic pecan pie contained in a hassle-free buttery shortbread crust. These nutty Pecan Pie Bars with their buttery crust will be perfect as a sweet snack to take to a bake sale, as a potluck dessert, or even as a delightful alternative to making Christmas cookies for a cookie exchange! If you’re a fan of pecan pie like I am then check out my Classic Southern Pecan Pie, Chocolate Pecan Pie, Pecan Pie Brownies, and Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bars!
Why We Love This Pecan Pie Bar Recipe
The best pecan pie bars look and taste like they came from a professional bakery but they’re made with minimal effort thanks to simple ingredients and an easy recipe. Dessert bars are a crowd-pleaser and the ideal size for serving at gatherings, making them a practical and delicious choice for any occasion. These pecan bars will stay fresh and delicious for days which makes them a great recipe for making ahead of time, reducing the stress when planning for events or holidays.
What You’ll Need
Scroll down to the recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
Salted Butter – Adds a rich, buttery flavor to both the filling and the crust. Light Brown Sugar – Adds sweetness and a hint of molasses flavor to both the crust and filling. All-Purpose Flour – The base of the crust, gives it structure and a tender texture. Salt – Enhances the flavors of the crust and filling. Pure Maple Syrup – Provides natural sweetness and a unique flavor to the filling. Heavy Cream – Adds creaminess and richness to the filling. Pure Vanilla Extract – Enhances the overall flavor of the bars. Eggs – Bind the filling together and provide structure. Pecans – The key ingredient that provides that signature nutty flavor and crunchy texture. Flaky Sea Salt (Optional) – Sprinkling on top of the bars can enhance the flavor and add a gourmet touch.
How to Make Pecan Pie Bars
Tips for Success
The higher the quality of ingredients that you use, the better the flavor you’ll achieve, especially when it comes to key ingredients like butter, fresh pecans, and pure maple syrup. Inconsistent measurements can affect the texture and flavor of the bars, so make sure you use measuring cups and spoons for accuracy, especially for ingredients like flour and sugar. Par-baking is a crucial step to achieve a firm and crisp crust, so make sure that the crust is lightly golden before adding the filling. Spread the filling so that it distributes evenly over the crust to ensure each bar has a good ratio of crust to filling. Oven temperatures can vary, so start checking the bars a few minutes before the suggested baking time. Overbaking can lead to dry bars, so watch for that slight jiggle! Allowing the bars to cool completely in the pan before cutting will reward you with neatly cut bars and the perfect texture. For the sharpest cuts, you can refrigerate the bars before cutting them. Using a sharp knife to cut the bars and cleaning the knife between the cuts will give you neater and more professional-looking squares.
Substitutions and Variations
Unsalted butter with a pinch of salt can be used as a substitute for salted butter. You can use an equal amount of corn syrup, light corn syrup, dark corn syrup, agave syrup, or honey instead of maple syrup. The honey flavor is much stronger so you might consider using half honey and half maple syrup or corn syrup. Make some chocolate pecan pie bars by sprinkling 1 cup of semisweet chocolate chips over the shortbread crust just before adding the pecan pie filling. Feel free to tweak the recipe to your taste – you can add a little bit of spice like cinnamon or nutmeg to the filling, or top your bars with chocolate chips or caramel drizzle for something extra!
More of My Best Pecan Recipes
Chocolate Pecan Crumb Cake Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies Banana Pecan Waffles Southern Pecan Pralines Butter Pecan Ice Cream Pie Toffee Pecan Shortbread Cookies White Chocolate Cranberry Pecan Fudge
Look for the edges to be set while the center is still a tiny bit wobbly. Overbaking can lead to dry bars, so watch for that slight jiggle!
Pecan Pie Brownies
Butter Pecan Ice Cream Pie
Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bars
Let me know what you thought with a comment and rating below. You can also take a picture and tag me on Instagram @houseofnasheats or share it on the Pinterest pin so I can see.
