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Lazy Pecan Pie Bars

Lazy Pecan Pie Bars
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These Lazy Pecan Pie Bars offer all the rich, gooey goodness of classic pecan pie in an easy-to-make bar form. With a buttery crust and sticky pecan filling, they are perfect for quick homemade desserts or last-minute treats, loved by both kids and adults. Using simple pantry ingredients and requiring under an hour, they’re a delicious, shareable indulgence any time.

Ingredients

Scale

Crust

  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour blend for GF version)
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Filling

  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 cup light corn syrup (or pure maple syrup for variation)
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup chopped pecans (toasted if desired)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Crust: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×9-inch square baking pan. In a bowl, mix the softened butter, flour, brown sugar, and salt to form a soft dough. Press this mixture evenly into the bottom of the pan. Bake for about 15 minutes until golden and set to create a sturdy crust base.
  2. Make the Filling: While the crust bakes, whisk together brown sugar, corn syrup, eggs, melted butter, vanilla extract, and salt until smooth and glossy. Fold in the chopped pecans evenly into the filling mixture.
  3. Bake the Bars: Pour the filling over the baked crust and spread it evenly with a spatula. Return the pan to the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until the filling is set and caramelized on top but still slightly soft and gooey in the center.
  4. Cool and Slice: Remove from oven and let the bars cool completely at room temperature to allow the filling to firm up properly. Once cool, cut into squares or rectangles for serving.

Notes

  • Use softened butter and room temperature eggs for smoother mixing.
  • Press the crust evenly for uniform thickness and baking.
  • Do not overbake; a slight jiggle in the center ensures gooey filling.
  • Chill bars before cutting if filling feels too soft to make slicing cleaner.
  • For extra flavor and crunch, toast pecans lightly before adding.
  • Gluten-free version: substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend one-to-one.
  • Maple syrup can replace corn syrup for a natural sweetness twist.
  • Add melted chocolate or chocolate chips to crust before filling for chocolate pecan variation.
  • Swap or mix pecans with walnuts, almonds, or hazelnuts for different textures.
  • To make vegan, use plant-based butter and substitute eggs with flax eggs.
  • Store bars in airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days, refrigerate for up to a week.
  • Freeze wrapped tightly up to 3 months, thaw overnight in fridge before serving.

Nutrition

Keywords: pecan pie bars, dessert bars, pecan bars, easy dessert, holiday dessert, gluten free dessert, nut bars, gooey pecan pie, simple pecan pie bars, make ahead dessert

Find it online: https://linacorner.com/lazy-pecan-pie-bars/