Old-Fashioned Southern Pecan Pie Bars
Learn how to make easy pecan pie bars with this traditional Southern recipe!
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Updated November 18, 2020 - Comments (9)
If you are looking for an easy pecan pie recipe for your next holiday gathering, look no further than this easy Southern recipe for Old-Fashioned Southern Pecan Pie Bars. This twist on the traditional Thanksgiving dessert makes it easy to serve pie to a crowd. Even novice pie bakers will be able to make this easy pie recipe.
Like most pecan pie recipes, these bars feature a gooey layer of pecans mixed with corn syrup and other sweet ingredients. However, these pie bars go one step further because the filling also contains plenty of chopped chocolate. If you love pecan pie, then you are sure to love these bars, but even those who don't usually go for the pie will want to gobble up this chocolate-laden treat. The flaky crust alone will make you want to go back for a second pecan pie bar. Top these bars with plenty of whipped cream for a true holiday treat.
Notes
You may use all light corn syrup instead of using the molasses if you prefer a lighter flavor. Using the liquor and Mexican vanilla is entirely optional. If you don’t have one or another, simply omit the liquor or use regular vanilla.
Brushing the crust with egg yolk keeps the bottom crust more crisp when baked with the wet filling. It is a good technique to adopt for any pie-type dessert when the filling is very wet, like this one or pumpkin or other custard kinds of pies.
Makes24 2-inch square bars
Ingredients
- Homemade double pie crust
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- 3 refrigerated pie crusts (1.5 packages)
- 6 ounces (about 2 cups) whole pecans
- 6 ounces semisweet chocolate
- 3 tablespoons flour, divided
- 3/4 cup butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 5 eggs, plus 1 egg yolk
- 3/4 cup light corn syrup
- 1/4 cup molasses (see note)
- 1 1/2 tablespoon Kahlua (optional)
- 2 teaspoons Mexican or regular vanilla
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. You will need two 7 x 10-inch pans (often called brownie pans). If you do not have those, you may use two 8 x 8-inch baking pans; the bars will be a bit thicker and may require a few extra minutes to bake.
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Prepare the pie crust if making your own, or unroll the refrigerated crust. Roll to fit the two pans. If using the pre-made crusts, you will overlap one and one half to get the size you need, then trim to fit. Fit them into the pans and crimp the edges.
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Lightly spray a piece of foil to fit each pan with overlap and lay them, oiled side down, into the pans, pressing against the dough and up the sides. Fill the foil liner with beans, rice, or pie weights and bake for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and reset the temperature to 350 degrees F. Carefully pull out the foil with the weights and set aside. Return the pans to the oven for an additional 10 minutes until the crust looks dry and is just beginning to brown. Place on a cooling rack. Lightly beat one egg yolk and brush over the surfaces of the crusts. (see note). When the crusts are cooled, spread the chocolate pieces around the bottom of each pan.
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While the crusts are baking, place the whole pecans on a baking sheet and toast in the oven for 10 minutes. Reserve 20 pecans, which will remain whole for the garnish; chop the rest. Toss the chopped nuts with one tablespoon of flour.
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With an electric mixer, cream the butter and brown sugar on medium speed for 3 minutes until it is light and fluffy. With the mixer running on medium high add the 5 whole eggs one at a time and then beat in the remaining flour, syrup, molasses, Kahlua, vanilla, and salt. Scrape down the sides and bottom once or twice while mixing. The mixture may look slightly curdled, which is okay. Fold in the chopped nuts by hand.
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Pour into the two baking pans over the chocolate. Arrange the whole nuts on top so that they will be approximately in the center of the finished bars.
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Bake for 1 hour until the center of each pan is set and tests done when a toothpick is inserted. Cool on wire racks. Cut into bars to serve.
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EmilyS
Aug 07, 2015
I would agree that these don't necessarily taste like traditional pecan pie but if you love pecan pie and melty, gooey chocolate, these are the perfect dessert treats.
nashmeow
Aug 05, 2015
I love pecan pie and I love chocolate, but never thought to combine them. Well, I'm sure glad that Judith did! I felt the balance between the chocolate and the pecan was a good one, with perhaps a little more chocolate than I was expecting. I'm perfectly fine with that! The crust was delicious as well - I give this recipe five stars, would happily make it and serve it at my next gathering.
Zimm102090
Aug 05, 2015
I still don't know how I feel about these. They were really chocolatey and far too sticky for me. I got to them around when they cooled off and they were difficult to eat the whole bottom layer kind of congealed together to the point where I had to eat the top part of it first and then kind of roll up the bottom layer to eat it (and it wasn't pleasant). There was a bit of a strange licorice taste to that layer that I wasn't a huge fan of. I didn't dislike these bars, but I wouldn't eat them again.
jamieegee
Aug 05, 2015
I look forward to the sticky, slightly crispy caramelization of pecan pie, and I felt these bars were lacking in that area. They were more chocolate forward in my opinon, which certainly wasn't a bad thing, however, not like the pecan pie I'd normally prefer.
amatlin
Aug 05, 2015
Holy-Me-Oh-My I think I like these bars even more than regular pecan pie! I didn't know that was possible, but it is!
Emily Michelle
Aug 05, 2015
As someone who doesn't like pecan pie, these bars were really good! They were sticky and gooey, which I love.
shelfconsciouskati e
Aug 05, 2015
I was sure I would like having my beloved pecan pie being compromised by chocolate, but I really enjoyed these bars! There were just gooey and nutty enough for me. I had to stop myself from going back for a second piece.
Julia L
Aug 05, 2015
These tasted more like brownies then pecan pie. I liked that they were sticky and gooey, but the pie layer was really tin and didn't stand out much. I love all sweets, so this was delicious, but I wouldn't ask for it again.
caitlinmm
Aug 05, 2015
These were good, but the chocolate flavor kind of overwhelmed the thin layer of pecan pie filling. I like my pecan pie nice and gooey, even if it's in bar form.
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