Pecan Pie Bars Recipe

Pecan Pie Bars are one of the best pecan recipes you’ll try, and they are easier than pie. It’s a cross between a classic Pecan Pie and a cookie. Loaded with pecans in a homemade caramel sauce filling over a buttery shortbread crust, these pecan squares are a crowd-pleasing, easy dessert. Add these to your holiday cookie platter!

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Pecan Pie Squares Video

In this video, I’ll show you how easy it is to make Pecan Pie Bars. One bite of the gooey caramel pecan filling and you’ll have found a new favorite treat. Now go forth and bake!

Easy Pecan Pie Bars Recipe

The first time I tried this was at a wedding in Washington. My husband’s cousin’s wife, Tanya, made them for the dessert buffet, and after trying them, I just knew I had to recreate them. These pecan pie bars have an amazing texture—gooey, chewy, and crunchy — with a soft caramel filling that doesn’t stick to your teeth. The recipe also uses high-quality ingredients (no corn syrup) and makes a big batch, which is perfect for holiday parties!

I made a batch of these and sent some home with my sister. Her words exactly – “that’s the best pecan recipe I’ve ever tried!” She was smitten. These pecan bars have that effect on people.

We love dessert casseroles from Strawberry Pretzel Salad to Classic Tiramisu and of course Baklava. If you are looking for a crowd-pleasing party or potluck dessert that fits into a 9×13 casserole, this Pecan Pie Bars recipe is a must-try!

Ingredients for Pecan Pie Bars (without Corn Syrup!)

These have just the right balance of textures and flavors, and are so satisfying. The ingredients are simple, and because there’s no corn syrup, I think it tastes even better than traditional pecan pie.

• Crust – All-purpose flour creates the sturdy base, powdered sugar lightly sweetens and salt balances the sweetness. The mixture is coated with cold unsalted butter to create a rich, buttery crust.
• Light Brown Sugar – has molasses, which adds rich color and flavor to the caramel
• Honey – creates a soft caramel base
• Unsalted butter – adds richness to the caramel and buttery flavor
• Heavy whipping cream – make sure to use HEAVY cream, which has a higher fat content to help the filling thicken up properly
• Salt – we use a bit of fine sea salt to balance the sweetness
• Vanilla extract – use homemade vanilla extract or store-bought
• Pecans – coarsely chopped pecans add great crunch and texture to the filling. You can use pecan halves or coarsely chopped pecans. You can substitute pecans with walnuts or cashews, which have a similar crunchy and chewy texture.

How to Make a Shortbread Crust

• You can use either a food processor or a bowl and pastry cutter to make the crust. Combine flour, powdered sugar and salt. Cut in the butter until it resembles a coarse meal, with some pea-sized crumbs forming.
• Press the crumbs evenly into the bottom of a parchment-lined 13×9 baking pan, then bake at 350˚F until set and lightly golden at the edges. Transfer to a parchment-lined

How to Make Pecan Pie Bars

• Prep – preheat the oven to 350˚F and coarsley chop the nuts if they aren’t pre-chopped.
• Prepare the crust – see instructions above. While crust is baking, I make the filling.
• Make the Caramel – In a large saucepan, combine brown sugar, honey, butter, cream and salt. Bring to a boil then simmer 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and pecans.
• Spread pecan filling over your warm baked crust.
• Bake – return to the oven for another 20-25 minutes or until the top is bubbling and turns caramel color. Once the bars are fully cooled to room temperature, remove from the pan, cut and serve.

Can I Make This in a Pie Dish?

You will need to cut the recipe in half to fit a traditional pie pan, or use it to fill 2 pie pans. I also suggest lining the pie pans with parchment paper for easier serving and removal from the pan.

Make-Ahead

• Storing: Once these pecan bars are cooled completely to room temperature, transfer to an airtight container and store at room temperature for 3-4 days.
• Freezing: You can freeze for longer storage. Transfer to a freezer-safe zip bag, remove any excess air, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving. 

Pecan Pie Bars are such a decadent treat for the holidays and are a dessert everyone loves. Make them once, and they will probably make it to your holiday rotation. They are such a fun addition to a holiday cookie platter along with Gingerbread Cookies, Christmas Sugar Cookies, Angel Wing Cookies, Cranberry Cookies, and Date Snickers. So festive and delicious!

More Recipes with Pecans to try

If you love these Pecan Pie Bars, then you won’t want to miss these recipes with pecans:

• Candied Pecans
• Baked Apples
• Russian Tea Cakes with Pecans
• Carrot Cake Cupcakes
• Roasted Sweet Potato Salad
• Sweet Potato Casserole
• Carrot Cake
• Roasted Sweet Potato Salad