Pecan Pie Bars

Pecan Pie Bars Recipe

Lucy Loves is turning into a blog mainly featuring tray bakes. And I don’t even care. A tray bake is everyone’s friend when it come to feeding a crowd or just satisfying hungry family members. These Pecan Pie Bars are making an appearance this week to coincide with all things Thanksgiving. We celebrated with our American friends yesterday, and if I’m honest with you, I’m horribly hungover and am 90% cornbread as we speak.

I am borderline nuts dependent. They make a great snack, they’re full of protein and good fats and when they’re slathered in sugar and golden syrup and baked, they are, frankly, mouthwatering. These Pecan Pie Bars are just an easier version of the classic pecan pie. And bigger. This makes a good 25 squares to be served with cream or custard as a pud for a crowd or as the most sweet, nutty tea time boost. The base is a simple shortbread and the topping is a sticky mix of brown sugar, golden syrup and vanilla with just a hint of salt. A big celebratory thank you to Cookies and Cups for the inspiration for this recipe and for the pecan pie based weight gain.

I know Thanksgiving isn’t our party, but hey, I’ll mug in on anything which allows me to eat and drink to excess.

Nuts, sugar, syrup and butter, wow. These Pecan Pie Bars were only ever going to be delicious. And simple; use a stand mixer for the base and topping or just go with a big bowl and some brute force.

Before you start, line a 33cm x 23cm rectangular baking tray, roughly, with some baking paper and pre heat your oven to 150 degrees fan assisted. Next start with the base. Cream the soft butter and sugar together until lighter in colour and texture.

Mix in the flour, briefly, until you have a soft dough.

Press this into the lined tin, creating an even layer. It’s only a thin layer so keep pressing it into the sides until you have a level base.

Bake this base until it’s only just cooked and taking on some colour, for around 15 minutes.

While this is happening, make the pecan topping. Either in a bowl with a whisk or back in your stand mixer, add the soft brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, salt and golden syrup. Whisk until smooth-ish.

Briefly whisk in the flour then fold in the chopped pecans.

Take your part baked shortbread base and pour on the pecan syrup mix. It’s quite runny so will flow to the edges but give it a bit of a hand so the nuts are evenly distributed.

Bake your Pecan Pie Bars for another 30 minutes or until the topping is golden, firm but with a tiny touch of wobble in the middle *like me*.

Wait the agonisingly long time it takes for the bake to cool. Then cut into generous squares. Serve with cream, custard or just unadorned with a lovely cup of tea.

These are soft, sweet, nutty and above all comforting. And for that, I’m thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving to all those celebrating. Lots of love.

Lucy x

Pecan Pie Bars Recipe

Makes a lot, around 25 to 30 squares

You will need a stand mixer or bowl and hand whisk and a lined 33cm x 23cm lined baking tin

Base

170g butter, soft

75g caster sugar

210g plain flour

Pecan topping

140g soft brown sugar

4 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 teaspoon flaky sea salt

375g golden syrup

45g plain flour

190g pecans, roughly chopped

Cream or custard to serve, or just serve with a tea or coffee

Take your baking dish and line with baking paper and pre heat your oven to 150 degrees fan assisted.

Either beat the soft butter in a bowl or in your stand mixer with the caster sugar until lighter in colour and texture. Mix in the flour until you have a soft dough. Press this into your lined tin in an even layer using your hands. Place this into the oven for 15 minutes and bake until just turning golden and set.

While this cooks, crack on with the topping. In the bowl of your stand mixer or a bowl with a hand whisk, add the soft brown sugar, eggs, salt, golden syrup and vanilla and whisk until smooth. Mix in the flour then fold in your roughly chopped pecans.

Take the shortbread base out of the oven when the 15 minutes is up and pour on the pecan mixture, making sure if covers the base and the pecans are evenly spread out. Put this back in the oven for around 30 minutes. The finished Pecan Pie Bars will be golden and just set in the middle.

Leave to cool in the tin before removing and cutting into generous squares. Serve at room temperature with some cream or custard or just enjoy with a big mug of tea.

These will keep well wrapped for 3 to 4 days in a tin.