Description
Warm, gooey brown butter pecan pie bars bring Southern comfort straight to your dessert table with a buttery, caramel-like filling nestled in a crisp shortbread crust. Nutty pecans and rich brown butter create a delectable treat that will have friends and family asking for seconds.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks, 227 grams)
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup chopped pecans (toasted)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
Flavor Enhancers:
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare a 9×13-inch baking pan by generously coating it with butter or lining with parchment paper.
- Melt 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Swirl constantly until butter turns a rich golden-amber color and releases a nutty aroma, approximately 6-7 minutes.
- Transfer browned butter to a large mixing bowl. Whisk in 1 cup brown sugar and ½ cup granulated sugar until smooth.
- Crack 3 large eggs into the butter-sugar mixture one at a time, stirring thoroughly after each addition. Pour in 2 teaspoons vanilla extract and blend completely.
- In a separate bowl, combine 1 cup all-purpose flour with 1 cup toasted chopped pecans. Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture until just incorporated.
- Transfer batter into prepared pan, using a spatula to spread evenly across the surface. Ensure consistent thickness for uniform baking.
- Slide pan into preheated oven and bake for 27-32 minutes, rotating halfway through. Look for a golden-brown top and slightly firm center.
- Remove pan from oven and let bars cool completely at room temperature for approximately 90 minutes before slicing into squares.
Notes
- Brown the butter carefully, watching it closely to prevent burning and achieve a rich, nutty flavor without scorching.
- Toast the pecans briefly before adding them to the batter to enhance their natural nuttiness and add extra depth to your bars.
- For a gluten-free version, swap the all-purpose flour with a cup-for-cup gluten-free baking blend to make the recipe accessible to everyone.
- Cut the bars when completely cool to ensure clean, crisp edges that showcase the beautiful texture of these decadent treats.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert Bars
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 334 kcal
- Sugar: 26 g
- Sodium: 74 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg