Description
Maple Pecan Pie Bars bring Southern comfort straight to your kitchen table with their buttery crust and rich, caramel-like filling. Nutty pecans and sweet maple syrup create a delightful treat that feels like a warm hug from Grandma’s recipe box.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups pecan halves
- 1 cup pure maple syrup
- 3 large eggs
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
Crust Ingredients:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
Supporting Ingredients:
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, creating overhanging edges for easy bar removal.
- Cream 1 cup softened butter with ½ cup granulated sugar until smooth and uniform in a mixing bowl.
- Incorporate 2 cups all-purpose flour and ¼ teaspoon salt into the butter mixture until a cohesive dough forms.
- Press the shortbread dough evenly across the bottom of the prepared pan, ensuring a consistent layer.
- Bake the crust at 350°F for 15-18 minutes until the edges turn a delicate golden brown.
- While the crust bakes, whisk 3 large eggs in a separate bowl until well beaten.
- Add 1 cup pure maple syrup, ½ cup packed brown sugar, 2 tablespoons melted butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and ¼ teaspoon salt to the eggs.
- Thoroughly mix the filling until all ingredients are fully incorporated.
- Fold 2 cups pecan halves into the maple mixture, distributing them evenly.
- Pour the maple pecan filling over the warm shortbread crust, ensuring complete coverage.
- Return the pan to the oven and bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes until the filling sets with a slight jiggle in the center.
- Remove from the oven and let the bars cool completely in the pan for approximately 2 hours.
- Lift the bars out using the parchment paper edges and slice into square portions.
- Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Notes
- Toast pecans lightly before adding to the filling to enhance their nutty flavor and add extra crunch.
- Use pure maple syrup for the best authentic taste, avoiding artificial maple-flavored syrups.
- When pressing the shortbread crust into the pan, use the back of a measuring cup to create an even, compact layer.
- For gluten-free versions, swap all-purpose flour with a cup-for-cup gluten-free flour blend and ensure your ingredients are certified gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40-48 minutes
- Category: Dessert Bars
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 379 kcal
- Sugar: 26 g
- Sodium: 92 mg
- Fat: 29 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 21 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg