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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.
Hey Julie,
Do you think I can follow this recipe and make a pie instead? Also, I like to add chocolate chips to my pecan pie, should I lower the sugar amount?
Thanks!
Looks amazingly yummy! This is perfect for all the non pumpkin lovers. Can’t wait to make it.
I hope you make it! Enjoy!
Julie, these were an absolute hit!! I made four pies for Thanksgiving and these were disappearing so fast, I had to fake “we ran out!” so some would be left for me to snack on.. Even my husband, who seriously hates pecans, said that although he hates pecans he would absolutely eat this again.. I’m so impressed :)
We are traveling for the holidays & think these would be great to take. I also want to introduce my 4 yr old daughter to pecan pie, but she is allergic to ALL dairy. The marg we use subs well for butter, but can I just omit the cream? Or could I use soy 1/2 & 1/2?
It shouldn’t be an issue if you omit the cream. If the mixture seems too thick without it (not easily pourable), I’d use the soy 1/2 & 1/2 but I’m pretty sure you’ll be fine without it. Good luck!
I am so lovin the recipes making a pie as a bar – love that idea!
I’ve actually been looking for a pecan pie bar recipe to make for dessert so thank you or sharing this! They look out of this world!
Oh lala – I’m blown away. This recipe is too good to be true! Should have this, for sure.
These look so good Julie!! I am a huge fan of pecan pie but my hubby hates it – these would be the perfect way for me to get my fix since the rest would be easier to share and I would have a whole pie in my fridge taunting me haha
OK, you’ve convinced me- I just need to convert to crust to gluten-free, but I’ll 100% be bringing these to Thanksgiving this year :)
It’ll be my redemption for my pecan pie bar failure of Thanksgiving 2010. Seriously, the failure’s documented here- http://www.girlcooksworld.com/2011/12/gluten-free-chocolate-mint-chocolate-chip-cookies.html!
instead of honey, may i substitute corn syrup?
Yes.