Best Pecan Pie Bars Recipe (2024)

These are the best Pecan Pie Bars. This easy dessert recipe features a shortbread crust topped with a sweet pecan pie filling. These bars are perfect for Thanksgiving and Christmas and throughout the year.

Best Pecan Pie Bars Recipe (1)

These Best Pecan Pie Bars are nutty, buttery, rich, and delicious! They taste like pecan pie – but are made into an easy-to-eat bar! They are easier to make anytime and they feed more people than a single pie. These characteristics make these pecan pie bars perfect for parties, gatherings, and any time you want to share them with several people. And since this scrumptious dessert is cut into bars, people may help themselves to more than one!

Table of Contents

  • The Best Pecan Pie Bars Recipe
  • How to Make The Best Pecan Pie Bars
  • Do You Have to Refrigerate These Bars?
  • Can You Freeze Pecan Pie Bars?
  • More Dessert Bars We Love
  • Southern Pecan Pie Bars
  • More Favorite Pecan Recipes:

The Best Pecan Pie Bars Recipe

My family’s Pecan Pie Recipe is one of the more popular recipes on my website and later in my cookbook. It has been for years! It has been a favorite of my family for generations and I can’t remember a family Thanksgiving or Christmas celebration that it wasn’t included. Then, back in 2011, I shared my recipe for these easy, amazing Pecan Pie Bars. And they have been a favorite recipe as well. These delicious bars aren’t just for the holidays. They are great throughout the year!

If you are looking for something that is perfect to serve a large crowd, easy as can be to make and even easier to eat, and that still brings out that nostalgic, traditional pecan pie flavor, this is a recipe you should definitely try!

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How to Make The Best Pecan Pie Bars

Ingredients

  • Butter – softened butter is used for the crust and melted butter for the filling.
  • Flour – all-purpose flour is used for the shortbread crust.
  • Sugar – sugar is used for the crust and for the filling.
  • Eggs – make sure the eggs are at room temperature for better mixing into the filling.
  • Maple Syrup – you can also use light or dark corn syrup if you prefer.
  • Vanilla Extract – I love the flavor from my homemade vanilla extract or you can use store-bought pure vanilla extract.
  • Pecans – use your preference of pecan halves or roughly chopped pecans.

Optional Ingredients

  • Salt Topping – Sprinkle sea salt flakes or coarse sea salt over the top of the bars once they have cooled slightly.

Step-by-Step Instructions

For the Pecan Pie Bar Crust:

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  1. Prep. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a 9×13 baking pan with foil or parchment paper.
  2. Mix. Mix together sugar, softened butter, and all-purpose flour with an electric mixer until just well combined.
  3. Bake. Press the shortbread crust mixture into the baking pan and bake until the edges turn light golden brown, about 20 minutes.

For the Pecan Pie Bar Filling:

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  1. Mix. Add eggs, brown sugar, maple syrup (or corn syrup), vanilla extract, melted butter, and salt to a large mixing bowl. Beat together until smooth. Stir in the pecans. Pour the filling onto the pre-baked crust.
  2. Bake. Bake the pecan pie bars until golden brown and the center has set, for about 30 minutes.
  3. Serve. Once done, remove the baking dish from the oven and allow the pecan pie bars to cool completely.
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Do You Have to Refrigerate These Bars?

I recommend that these bars be refrigerated to keep them firm and for longer-lasting bars and since they contain eggs. If you prefer to serve them a bit softer, remove them from the refrigerator for a few moments before serving.

If you prefer to serve them warm, reheat them in a 300º F oven for about 5 minutes! So delicious with a cup of coffee for dessert or even breakfast. (shhh!)

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Can You Freeze Pecan Pie Bars?

Yes, absolutely! One of the best things about these delicious bars is that they are so easy to make ahead to serve later, including freezing them for up to 3 months!

To freeze them, allow them to cool completely after baking.

Freeze as Individual Bars:

You can go ahead and cut these into individual bars and place them into an airtight, freezer-safe container. Separate each of the pieces with parchment paper. Then, store in the freezer for up to 3 months. To serve, allow to thaw in the refrigerator overnight or reheat in a 300ºF oven for about 15 minutes until warmed throughout.

Freeze the Full Recipe:

Cover well with parchment paper and then wrap in a freezer-safe dish with foil. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. To serve, allow to thaw in the refrigerator overnight or reheat in a 300º F oven for about 20 – 30 minutes until warmed throughout.

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More Dessert Bars We Love

S’mores Bars

Peanut Butter Bars

Park Avenue Bars

Fudge Brownies

Lemon Bars

Best Pecan Pie Bars Recipe (13)

Here’s my Southern Pecan Pie Bars recipe. I hope you love them!

Best Pecan Pie Bars Recipe (14)

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Southern Pecan Pie Bars

Robyn Stone

4.88 from 31 votes

These are the best Pecan Pie Bars. This easy dessert recipe features a shortbread crust topped with a sweet pecan pie filling. These bars are perfect for Thanksgiving and Christmas and throughout the year.

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour

Servings: 24 bars

Ingredients

Pecan Pie Bar Crust:

  • 1/3 cup (66 g) sugar
  • 3/4 cup (170 g) butter, softened
  • 1 3/4 cups (210 g) all-purpose flour

For the Pecan Pie Bar Filling:

  • 3 large (150 g) eggs, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup (107 g) brown sugar, or cane sugar
  • 1 cup (312 g) maple syrup, or corn syrup
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons (7 g) vanilla extract
  • 4 tablespoons (57 g) butter, melted
  • 1 teaspoon (3 g) kosher salt
  • 2 cups (228 g) pecans, Optional: use halves or roughly chopped
  • sea salt flakes, Optional

Instructions

For the Pecan Pie Bar Crust:

  • Preheat oven to 350º F. Line 9×13 baking dish with foil or parchment paper. Mix together the sugar, butter and flour call for in the crust portion with an electric mixer.

  • Press into the bottom of the 9×13 baking dish and bake until the edges turn light golden brown, about 20 minutes.

For the Pecan Pie Bar Filling:

  • Add the eggs, sugar, maple syrup, vanilla extract, melted butter, and salt to a large mixing bowl. Whisk together until smooth. Stir in the pecans. Pour the filling onto the cooked crust.

  • Bake the pecan pie bars until golden brown and the center has set, about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before cutting and serving. Optional: Sprinkle with sea salt flakes while barely warm.

  • Store in the refrigerator or freezer.

Notes

Freezer Instructions: Allow the Pecan Pie Bars to cool completely. Store in the freezer in a freezer-safe container, covered well with foil or store in an air-tight freezer container if storing in individual pieces. Store for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 232kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 44mg | Sodium: 169mg | Potassium: 91mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 274IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Enjoy!
Robyn xo

More Favorite Pecan Recipes:

Pecan Chewies

Cinnamon Pecans

Toasted Pecans

Categorized as:All Recipes, Bars, Christmas Recipes, Cooking, Dessert Recipes, Freezer Friendly Recipes, Game Day Recipes, Halloween Recipes, Holiday and Occasion Recipes, Make-ahead Recipes, Pies / Tarts / Cobblers, Recipes, Simple Recipes, Southern Favorites, Thanksgiving Recipes

Welcome to Add A Pinch

About Robyn

Robyn Stone is a cookbook author, wife, mom, and passionate home cook. Her tested and trusted recipes give readers the confidence to cook recipes the whole family will love. Robyn has been featured on Food Network, People, Southern Living, and more.

Read more about Robyn

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Best Pecan Pie Bars Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why are my pecan bars runny? ›

Why Are My Pecan Pie Bars Runny? If your bars are runny, it's likely because they weren't baked long enough or the oven temperature wasn't hot enough. You need to ensure that the bars are in the oven long enough (at the right temperature) to allow the filling to set up properly.

Is light or dark Karo syrup better for pecan pie? ›

Light and dark corn syrup can be used interchangeably in almost every instance, with slight flavor variances. In a pecan pie, for example, light corn syrup will contribute sweetness and a hint of vanilla, but that's about it. Dark corn syrup, in addition to sweetness, will add color and a more robust, toasty flavor.

How do you keep pecan pie from being runny? ›

To avoid this, always start your pecan pie at a high enough temperature, such as 425 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. You can lower the temperature to around 350 degrees Fahrenheit after the first half-hour, or 30 minutes. It is done when you notice the pecan filling is bubbling and the pie is browned.

Does pecan pie firm up as it cools? ›

Once you hit the sweet spot where it looks done, take your slightly jiggly pecan pie out of the oven and place it on a wire cooling rack. The filling continues to cook and will fully set as the pie cools, so giving a pie plenty of time at room temperature before serving is important.

How do you keep pecan pie crust from sticking to a pie plate? ›

Non-stick spray, butter, or shortening in the pie dish, on the other hand, will prevent sticking — but since most pie and tart crusts are pretty heavy on the butter already, you shouldn't need a lot of, if any, grease to get the job done. Using too much, or the wrong kind, can change the texture of your pie dough.

Can you overcook a pecan pie? ›

Yes, you can overcook a pecan pie.

A pecan pie is likely overcooked or has been in the oven too long if the top turns black or the filling starts to crack. Overbaking your pie can make it sticky or crunchy, causing the filling to become tough, hard, and difficult to eat.

Should a pecan pie jiggle when you take it out of the oven? ›

jiggle in the center when it's ready to take out of the. oven. If it's still liquid-like in the middle, it's too soon.

Why isn t my pecan pie setting? ›

Here's the thing to remember: If you're filling hasn't set, it means the bottom of the pie crust isn't fully cooked, either. You can prevent the outer crust from further darkening (or even burning) by covering it with aluminum foil or -- more attractively -- with what's known as a pie ring or shield.

What can I use instead of molasses in pecan pie? ›

Swaps and Substitutions
  1. Out of molasses? You can substitute honey or maple syrup. ...
  2. Use dark corn syrup instead of light.
  3. You can also replace the corn syrup with maple syrup, honey, agave, or golden syrup. However, you'll want to add a couple of tablespoons of flour to the filling to maintain that thicker texture.

Why is my pecan pie crust soggy? ›

Wet pie fillings + raw dough are a tricky combination. If the bottom crust doesn't set before the filling soaks in, it's going to be gummy. A metal pie pan placed on a preheated surface will set the bottom crust quickest; once cooked, the liquids from the filling above won't soak in, and as a result: no soggy bottom.

Should you poke holes in pie crust for pecan pie? ›

And on that note…by pricking the crust all over with a fork, not only do you prevent it from puffing up into unsightly deformities, you also allow tiny holes for some of the filling to seep underneath which — hear me out! — transforms the crust into this buttery toffee-like deliciousness. Third, the toasted pecans.

Can I leave pecan pie out overnight to cool? ›

How Long Can Pecan Pie Be Left at Room Temperature? Pecan pies can stay on the counter for up to two hours before they need to be refrigerated, according to the FDA. After two hours at room temperature, your food is at risk for harmful bacteria growth.

Can you rebake a pecan pie that is undercooked? ›

If your pecan pie turns out runny after baking, put it back in the oven and bake for another 10-15 minutes. Cover the top with aluminum foil if it's already browned to prevent over-browning. You can also refrigerate it which will help set the filling.

Why is my pecan pie gooey? ›

This pie is essentially a custard pie that means a runny center is a result of under baking. Most recipes suggest baking your pie for at least 60 to 70 minutes at 350 degrees to get the perfect pecan pie. However, depending on the oven, a pie can take more than 75 minutes.

Why are my candied pecans soft? ›

Why are my candied pecans soft and sticky? If your pecans are soft, it's most likely because they weren't baked long enough and are still retaining moisture. The sugar needs to bake long enough to caramelize and form a brittle coating on the nuts.

How to fix a runny pie after baking? ›

But if you bake your pie and it's STILL runny try letting it cool down (if you haven't yet) and it will likely thicken as it cools, put it back in the oven again to activate the thickener or drain off some of the liquid off and then put it back in the oven.

What happens if you overcook pecan pie? ›

Yes, you can overcook a pecan pie.

A pecan pie is likely overcooked or has been in the oven too long if the top turns black or the filling starts to crack. Overbaking your pie can make it sticky or crunchy, causing the filling to become tough, hard, and difficult to eat.

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