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Easy pecan pie bars are the less messy version of pecan pie. A rich, buttery shortbread crust is topped with a classic pecan pie filling. This is basically a pecan pie that you can eat with your hands!
Pecan pie bars should have their own tagline and a dramatic movie announcer to say it. “Pecan Pie Bars: The Easy, Mess-Free Alternative to Pecan Pie” – can you just hear it in your head now? Lol
Okay but honestly, these pecan pie bars are the perfect solution for anyone who loves pecan pie but hates the hassle of making it. The buttery shortbread crust is easy to make and the chewy pecan filling is simply irresistible. These bars are definitely a great way to enjoy pecan pie without all the fuss! When you’re getting ready for a houseful of guests, the last thing you want is fuss.
Did you know? Pecan pie bars have been around for centuries and are believed to have originated in the Southern United States. The first recorded recipe for pecan pie bars was in a cookbook published in 1864, but it is likely that the dish was being made long before then. They became popular because people wanted an easier alternative to pecan pie – brilliant!
What You’ll Need
Exact measurements are in the recipe card at the end of the post.
Crust:
- All-purpose flour
- Confectioner’s sugar
- Salted butter
Filling:
- Eggs
- Brown sugar
- Dark corn syrup – this works well in this recipe because it provides a deep, rich flavor to the pecan pie filling. It also helps to bind the ingredients together and gives the filling a lovely, thick texture.
- All-purpose flour
- Vanilla
- Salt
- Pecans – the star of the show in these pecan pie bars! They provide a delicious, nutty flavor and a lovely chewy texture. Be sure to chop the pecans roughly so that they retain some of their texture and don’t turn into pecan powder!
How to make pecan pie bars
Full directions in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Preheat oven. Set oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit then line a 9 inch square pan with parchment paper and spray it well with cooking spray.
Make the crust. Combine all the ingredients for the crust in a food processor until it’s crumbly then press it into the prepared pan. Bake for 15ish minutes.
Prepare the filling. While the crust is baking, prepare the filling by combining all the ingredients for the filling in a bowl.
Bake. Pour the filling on top of the baked crust and return the pan to the oven to bake further.
Cool. Let the bars cool a bit before slicing into bars.
Substitutions and variations
There are plenty of substitutions and variations you can make with this recipe. If you’re not a fan of pecans, you could try using a different type of nut. Walnuts or almonds would work well. Hazelnuts would be my choice.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you could try adding some chocolate chips or shredded coconut to the pecan filling. Or, for a fun twist, try using a different type of pie crust. A graham cracker crust would be delicious but it might be slightly soggy and fall apart – you could experiment!
Serving and storage instructions
These pecan pie bars are best served at room temperature. Cut them into small squares and enjoy! They can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
If you’re looking for something to serve with these pecan pie bars, why not try a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream? You could also drizzle them with a bit of caramel or chocolate sauce to be extra decadent!
Frequently asked questions
- Can I use margarine in the crust instead of butter? To get the really tasty shortbread crust you really must use butter – it does make a difference.
- Do these bars need to be refrigerated? No, they may be stored at room temperature. You just want to chill them prior to cutting so that you will be able to cut neat bars.
- How can I be sure that the bars are fully cooked? The center should be almost set, not runny (a slight jiggle is fine), the edges will be completely set.
- Do I really need to bake the crust before adding the filling? Yes, the blind baking will help the crust not to be soggy, which would happen if we added the filling to an unbaked crust.
- I don’t have corn syrup – can I just add more sugar instead? You really won’t get the look or taste of pecan pie without the corn syrup.
Other desserts for your table:
Pecan Pie Bars
Equipment
Ingredients
Crust:
- 1 cup (125 g) flour
- ⅓ cup (40 g) confectioner’s sugar
- ½ cup (114 g) salted butter, cold, cut into ½ inch pieces
Filling:
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup (110 g) brown sugar
- ¾ cup (256 g) dark corn syrup
- ¼ cup (31 g) flour
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups (218 g) roughly chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 °F (177 °C)
- Line a square 9 inch pan baking pan with parchment paper. (I lay a large rectangle the width of the pan with the edges hanging over, and another going the opposite direction, again with the edges hanging over.)
- Make the crust: Combine the flour, confectioner’s sugar, and butter with a food processor (or pastry cutter) until it is crumbly. Press the crust gently and evenly into the baking pan.
- Bake the crust for 15-18 minutes or until just turning golden.
- While the crust is baking, prepare the filling. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, brown sugar, corn syrup, flour, vanilla, and salt. When this is fully combined, stir in the chopped pecans.
- When you remove the crust from the oven, pour the filling evenly on top of the crust.
- Return the pan to the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes or until the filling is set.
- It is best to allow the pecan bars to cool completely, and chill in the fridge for at least an hour before cutting them.
Most gorgeous, photogenic bars ever!! I always have to taste BOTH a pumpkin and a pecan dessert at Thanksgiving, because it is too hard to choose just one. I love that these are corn syrup free (every pie recipe I see is packed with the stuff), and I admire your self control-6 hours is a long time to wait, but these must be worth it!
These look wonderful. I don’t normally celebrate Thanksgiving but this year we’re going to see some American friends and I’ve been asked to bring dessert. This may just be the recipe!
These look awesome, Julie. I would have been hovering over them for 6 hours too!
Mmmmm, my family would be so in love with these! Pies are the one thing I don’t love baking so this is a great solution :)
We have serious business to discuss!!! Jason is a fellow Southerner?! Well, butter my butt & call me a biscuit! Hooray! If it’s possible for me to like him even more, it juuuuust happened :)
ps I licked my screen when I saw these pecan pie bars.
Haha, you might hate me for this but, I’m not sure if you really consider him a Southerner after I tell you this. His brother & SIL live in Baton Rouge and his parents live in Atlanta. His brother & SIL are definitely Southerners but I’m not sure if you consider Atlanta southern. I only do because I’ve been in the Northeast my whole life and Atlanta always had really nice people (as in a lot nicer than up here0 so I leaned towards the “oh it’s cause they’re from the South” thing.
I love how clean the slices are! I can’t totally picturing you hovering over the pan waiting to slice lol
Julie you are a goddess – I LOVE anything pecan and these look divine!
Pie crust and I are enemies, so this is perfect. And it’s so pretty!!!
So easy, much easier than pie! ;)
I have such a soft spot for pecan pie but I never really make it – totally love this version!