Description
Simple bars featuring a shortbread crust, a gooey caramel filling, and toasted pecans.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
- 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides.
- For the crust, combine the flour, cold butter, brown sugar, and salt in a medium bowl. Use your fingers or a pastry blender to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Press the crust mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 15 minutes until lightly golden.
- While the crust bakes, prepare the filling. In a medium saucepan, combine the granulated sugar, corn syrup, and heavy cream. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly until the sugar dissolves and the mixture boils. Remove from heat.
- Whisk the eggs and vanilla extract together in a small bowl. Slowly whisk about half a cup of the hot sugar mixture into the eggs to temper them. Then, pour the tempered egg mixture back into the saucepan with the remaining sugar mixture, stirring until fully combined.
- Stir the chopped pecans into the caramel mixture.
- Pour the filling evenly over the hot, pre-baked crust.
- Return the pan to the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the filling is set around the edges but still slightly soft in the center.
- Let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before lifting them out using the parchment overhang. Cut into squares.
Notes
- For easier cutting, chill the cooled bars for at least one hour before slicing.
- You can toast the pecans lightly before adding them to the filling for deeper flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 45 min
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 30
- Sodium: 85
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Unsaturated Fat: 9
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 4
- Cholesterol: 45
Keywords: pecan pie bars, caramel bars, shortbread crust, pecan dessert, sweet bars