Pecan Pie Bars
"On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to meeee".......Christmas is officially just 12 DAYS AWAY!!!!!!! OK, now that I got that out of my system...
I’m one of those people that takes mental notes of gift ideas throughout the year, and then once fall hits (OK who am I kidding...once *summer* hits) I’m like a little kid waiting for the holidays to roll around. I’m also one of those people that will watch the movie "Elf" in the middle of summer and thoroughly enjoy it. I can’t help it! I hope you are all as enthused as I am...although, highly unlikely.
So, now on to one of the top 3 desserts of all time (at the moment). It's super simple and perfect to serve for the holidays so add this to your baking list. It sure beats the boring smorgasbord of Christmas cookies that everyone expects as a dessert at holiday parties (I didn't mean it cookies...really, I didn't... you are not boring, you are perfect and delicious). What I mean is that these pecan pie bars are the cure for the average Christmas dessert. Stay with me now...
These bars taste very similar to pecan pie but spares you the physical pain of dealing with pastry dough (chilling, rolling, etc.) However, if you don't like pecan pie there's a good chance you may want to mosey on over to another dessert idea ;o) Happy baking!
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| Click on this picture and enlarge it to see the perfection! Yum! |
INGREDIENTS:
Recipe Source: adapted from justataste.com and epicurious.com
For crust:
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
For topping:
1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup honey
2 tablespoons heavy cream
2 cups chopped pecans
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
For topping:
1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup honey
2 tablespoons heavy cream
2 cups chopped pecans
PREPARATION:
Preheat the oven to 350ºF and line a 9x13-inch pan with foil, leaving enough for a 2-inch overhang on all sides.
First, make the crust by creaming together the butter and brown sugar until fluffy in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add in the flour and salt and mix until crumbly.
Press the crust into the foil-lined pan and bake for 20 minutes until golden brown.
While the crust bakes, prepare the filling by combining the butter, brown sugar, honey and heavy cream in a saucepan and stirring it over medium heat. Simmer the mixture for 1 minute, then stir in the chopped pecans.
Remove the crust from the oven and immediately pour the pecan filling over the hot crust spreading it to cover the entire surface.
Return the pan to the oven and bake an additional 20 minutes.
Remove the pan and allow the bars to fully cool in the pan.
Use the foil overhang to lift out the bars and transfer them to a cutting board. Peel off the foil, slice into bars and serve. They are best slightly warmed!
Enjoy! First, make the crust by creaming together the butter and brown sugar until fluffy in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add in the flour and salt and mix until crumbly.
Press the crust into the foil-lined pan and bake for 20 minutes until golden brown.
While the crust bakes, prepare the filling by combining the butter, brown sugar, honey and heavy cream in a saucepan and stirring it over medium heat. Simmer the mixture for 1 minute, then stir in the chopped pecans.
Remove the crust from the oven and immediately pour the pecan filling over the hot crust spreading it to cover the entire surface.
Return the pan to the oven and bake an additional 20 minutes.
Remove the pan and allow the bars to fully cool in the pan.
Use the foil overhang to lift out the bars and transfer them to a cutting board. Peel off the foil, slice into bars and serve. They are best slightly warmed!
Recipe Source: adapted from justataste.com and epicurious.com
They look scrumptious!
ReplyDeleteI love pecan pie so much, it is hands down my favorite dessert of all time. I love that this recipe subs honey for corn syrup. That is always my beef with pecan pie and I usually use agave in place of it, but never thought to use honey. Yum!
ReplyDeleteThanks Maggie - it's so good with the honey and so much healthier than corn syrup!
ReplyDeleteThose look great! So ooey gooey which is always a good thing!
ReplyDeleteOh, yeah...these are amazing! I love pecan pie, but as the only nut eater in the house, I never get a chance to make it. These I could store in the freezer and bring out a couple bars when I'm in the mood (who am I kidding? I think I'd always be in the mood for these!).
ReplyDeleteI can see why these are your favorite! They look amazing and sound delicious!
ReplyDeleteMan that's a lot of nuts! Looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteI've never had pecan pie - I know it's pure stupidity but it's the truth. These bars looks amazing!
ReplyDelete