Description
Brown Butter Pecan Pie Bars deliver nutty richness with a buttery base. Each slice feels perfect for sharing or savoring slowly.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 cups pecans (chopped)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1.5 cups unsalted butter
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 0.5 cup brown sugar
- 0.5 cup pure maple syrup
Finishing Ingredients:
- 2 large eggs (beaten)
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- Flaky sea salt (optional)
Instructions
- Heat your oven to precisely 350°F and prepare a 9×13-inch pan by lining it with parchment paper or applying cooking spray.
- Transform 2 sticks of butter into brown butter over medium heat, watching carefully until it turns golden and smells nutty. Allow 5 minutes of cooling time.
- Combine 2 cups flour, ½ cup sugar, 1 tsp vanilla, and ½ tsp salt with your browned butter. Press the mixture firmly into the prepared pan’s bottom.
- Bake the crust exactly 15 minutes until edges turn light golden brown.
- In a medium saucepan, melt ½ cup butter with ½ cup brown sugar, ½ cup maple syrup, and 2 tbsp heavy cream. Stir continuously while bringing to a gentle simmer.
- Crack 2 large eggs into a separate bowl. Slowly drizzle hot liquid into eggs while whisking constantly to prevent scrambling.
- Pour tempered egg mixture back into the saucepan and fold in 3 cups chopped pecans until evenly distributed.
- Transfer pecan filling over your warm crust, ensuring complete and even coverage.
- Sprinkle flaky sea salt across the top if desired.
- Bake 30-35 minutes until filling appears mostly set with a slight jiggle in the center.
- Remove from oven and let bars cool completely before slicing into squares.
Notes
- Brown the butter carefully to develop a rich, nutty flavor without burning, watching the color change from yellow to golden brown.
- Tempering eggs prevents scrambling by gradually raising their temperature with the hot filling mixture, creating a smooth, creamy texture.
- Use fresh, high-quality pecans for the best flavor, and toast them lightly before adding to enhance their nuttiness.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular flour with almond flour or a gluten-free all-purpose blend in the crust.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45-50 minutes
- Category: Dessert Bars
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 371 kcal
- Sugar: 21 g
- Sodium: 110 mg
- Fat: 31 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg