Description
Maple Pecan Pie Bars bring pure autumn comfort straight to your kitchen table. Buttery graham cracker crust layered with rich maple filling and toasted pecans creates a delightful dessert that captures seasonal warmth in each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 large eggs
Base:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold and cut into cubes
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- ¾ cup pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Arrange your oven rack in the middle position and heat to 350°F (175°C). Prepare an 8×8 inch pan by lining it with parchment paper, ensuring extra paper hangs over the sides for easy removal.
- Combine flour, brown sugar, and salt in a medium mixing bowl, creating a dry foundation for your crust.
- Incorporate cold butter cubes into the flour mixture. Use your fingertips or a pastry blender to work the butter until the texture resembles coarse, uneven crumbs.
- Transfer the crumbly mixture into the prepared pan. Press firmly and evenly across the bottom, creating a compact crust layer.
- Slide the crust into the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes, watching for a light golden color to develop.
- While the crust bakes, whisk maple syrup, eggs, vanilla extract, and cinnamon in a separate bowl until thoroughly blended.
- Fold chopped pecans into the liquid mixture, distributing them evenly throughout the filling.
- Remove the partially baked crust from the oven and carefully pour the pecan-maple mixture over the surface, ensuring complete and uniform coverage.
- Return the pan to the oven and continue baking for 25-30 minutes, looking for a set filling and golden-brown edges.
- Remove from the oven and place on a wire rack. Allow the bars to cool completely at room temperature.
- Lift the bars out of the pan using the parchment paper overhang and slice into neat squares for serving.
Notes
- Toast the pecans before chopping to enhance their nutty flavor and bring out deeper, richer notes in your bars.
- Make sure the butter is very cold when creating the crust to ensure a flaky, tender texture that crumbles perfectly.
- If avoiding gluten, swap the regular flour for a high-quality gluten-free flour blend that measures cup-for-cup with standard wheat flour.
- For a lower sugar version, reduce the maple syrup by one-quarter and add a touch of stevia or monk fruit sweetener to maintain the classic sweetness profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40-45 minutes
- Category: Dessert Bars
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 338 kcal
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 93 mg
- Fat: 21 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 46 mg