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Cozy Maple Bourbon Pecan Pie Bars

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These easy pecan pie bars feature a buttery shortbread crust, a rich maple bourbon filling, and a crunchy pecan topping. They deliver all the classic pecan pie flavor without the fuss of a pastry crust, ready in under an hour.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups (190g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup (170g) unsalted butter, cold and cut into small cubes
  • ¾ cup (180ml) pure maple syrup
  • ½ cup (100g) packed light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • ¼ cup (60ml) bourbon
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups (200g) pecan halves

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on two sides.
  2. Make the crust: In a food processor, combine the flour, granulated sugar, and salt. Pulse to mix. Add the cold, cubed butter and pulse until the mixture looks like coarse meal with pea-sized butter pieces. Do not over-process.
  3. Press the crust mixture firmly and evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 18-20 minutes, until the edges are just starting to turn golden. Let cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
  4. Make the filling: In a medium bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, brown sugar, eggs, bourbon, melted butter, vanilla extract, and salt until smooth and well combined.
  5. Sprinkle the pecan halves evenly over the warm pre-baked crust. Pour the maple bourbon filling over the pecans. Gently tilt the pan to spread the filling evenly if needed.
  6. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the filling is set around the edges but still has a slight jiggle in the center. It should be bubbly and a deep golden brown.
  7. Let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack for at least 2 hours. The filling needs this time to firm up.
  8. Use the parchment overhang to lift the entire block out onto a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, cut into 16 squares. Wipe the knife with a damp paper towel between slices for clean cuts. Serve at room temperature or slightly warm.

Notes

For the maple syrup, use Grade A Dark Amber for the most robust flavor. If you don’t have bourbon, substitute with strong brewed coffee or apple cider. Toast pecans lightly in a dry pan for 3-4 minutes before using to enhance their flavor. The bars are even better the next day. For clean cuts, chill the bars in the fridge for 30 minutes before slicing.

Nutrition

Keywords: pecan pie bars, maple bourbon, easy dessert, Thanksgiving, fall baking, shortbread crust, comfort food

Find it online: https://recipebelle.com/cozy-maple-bourbon-pecan-pie-bars-best-easy-recipe/