Creamy-sweet pecan pie bars are rich and decadent in a handheld bite.
A delicious as a down-home pecan pie, these bars deliver the same sweet and salty, melt-in-your-mouth goodness!
Perfect Pecan Pie Bars
- Just like pumpkin pie and cheesecake, pecan pie is a dessert favorite, now made easier by turning it into delicious mini-bites!
- A simple shortbread crust is a base for the creamy filling studded with crunchy pecans. This is a definite upgrade for potlucks or parties over ordinary cookies!
- Make these elegantly delicate bars in just 3 easy steps!
Ingredients
THE CRUST: A lightly sweetened butter crust is pressed into a casserole dish so there is no rolling and no shaping. So easy.
THE FILLING: Brown sugar, corn syrup, eggs, butter, and vanilla are whisked together for the filling and then the pecans are folded in.
When using nuts in any recipe, toast them in a dry pan until they are lightly browned and fragrant. This process burns off some of the oils, intensifying the flavors and making nuts extra crunchy. Dark or light corn syrup is a personal choice; dark gives the bars a richer flavor, while light corn syrup imparts gives a lighter flavor.
Kitchen Tip Pecan pie bars are sticky. Line your pan with non-stick foil or parchment paper before baking. This makes them easy to remove and cut (and makes cleanup a cinch).
How to Make Pecan Pie Bars
Pecan pie bars are super easy to make:
- Combine crust ingredients until mixture is crumbly (per the recipe below) & press into prepared pan, bake until set.
- Mix filling ingredients in a bowl and fold in pecans. Pour into the baked crust.
- Cool completely and then cut into bars.
How to Store
The best way to store pecan bars is in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. They will last up to 1 week. Remove from the fridge about 15 minutes before serving.
Can You Freeze Pecan Pie Bars?
Yes! Freeze them on a baking sheet and then transfer them to a zippered bag with the date labeled on the outside where they will stay fresh for up to 4 months.
More Dessert Bars We Love
- Chocolate Mint Nanaimo Bars – a minty treat
- Magic Cookie Bars
- Easy Lemon Bars Recipe– dessert favorite
- No Bake Peanut Butter Bars
- Apple Cheese Danish Bars – perfect with coffee or tea
- Nanaimo Bars
- Smores Bars – sweet delight
Did you make these Pecan Pie Bars? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!
Pecan Pie Bars
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup butter softened
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Filling
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup corn syrup (Karo)
- 1 egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tablespoon melted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x9 pan with foil. Grease well.
- Combine crust ingredients with a mixer on medium until crumbly. Press into prepared pan. Bake 15-20 minutes or just until browned.
- Mix all filling ingredients except pecans in a bowl until smooth. Fold in pecans and pour over the base.
- Bake 25-30 minutes or until edges are firm. Cool completely.
- Lift foil out of the pan, remove bars and cut into squares.
Video
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
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Can I please check, is the cup american? I think I can convert that, don’t want to throw the ratio’s off.
Karo isn’t an ingredient easily available in the UK, what’s the best alternative? Would golden syrup work?
Yes, a cup is a US measurement. The Karo can be replaced with corn syrup, honey, or maple syrup!
Can I use white granulated sugar instead of brown sugar or half of each in the filling?
I have never tried baking them this way so I can’t say for sure. Keep in mind they might have a slightly different consistency and taste if baked this way. Please let us know how they turn out of you decide to try them!
Easy to make and oh so yummy. My new favorite that has become a hit in my family.
So glad your family is enjoying this recipe, Ann!
Absolutely delicious and such an easy recipe to put together! Made these to take as a wrapped and ribboned thank you gift. …. glad I didn’t wrap all of them. ;)
Thanks for the comment, Chey! I’m glad there were a couple extra for you to enjoy, too :)
I have made these bars, and they are absolutely delicious. But I did cheat, I used refrigerated sugar cookie dough for the crust. It saved a some time and they were still delicious.
Are you using light or dark Karo syrup?
Either should work just fine Diana!
I’ve really never baked a dessert from scratch, always kind of intimidated by it. When I saw this recipe I couldn’t believe it could possibly be so simple. It was delicious!!! So much better than I anticipated. I will definitely be making this again!
Delicious treat, Holly! Easy to make and came out just as you described
So happy to hear that, Jackie!
We’re having Christmas early, and my family loved that these bars weren’t super sweet and heavy after our meal. I’m a rookie sweets baker, and this recipe was easy for me to follow. Two thumbs up.
Glad to hear you liked the recipe!
Pecan pie is my favorite dessert. This recipe might have moved to the top of the list. My husband (a fairly new baker) made it for me and said it was relatively easy. All I know is that it is soooooo good.
Could eat it every day! Nice and chewy.
Can I Use agave nectar in place of corn syrup?
I have only tried the recipe as written Robbie. Maybe another reader has tried it.
I want to try these pecan pie bars. I only have an 8×8 pan. Would I just cook it longer and how much longer or would the recipe need to be adjusted?
I’ve never tried it so can’t say for sure, but I’d guess it may take about 10 minutes longer to set. Let us know how it works for you if you try it in an 8×8 pan Mary!
Mary- Did you make it in your 8×8? I also have that size pan. Did it take an additional 10 minutes?