Our Pecan Pie Bar turns the Thanksgiving classic dessert into the perfect finger food for your Thanksgiving dinner. Pecan Pie filling on top of a flaky, sugar cookie type crust. The vanilla and brown sugar give this pecan pie bar a hint of a butterscotch taste.

pecan pie bar on a piece of wax paper with a blue background
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The Best Pecan Pie Bars

These Pecan Pie Bars taste just like the pie, but in a laid-back sorta way. Making the bars are a lot easier than making a pie. Just less fuss and less frustration.

Pie crusts and I have a love/hate relationship. They just never look the way I want them to look! One day I will master the pie crust.. Until then. Pie bars all the way!

Hi! Serene from House of Yumm again. Is everybody feeling the Fall love?

See more great Fall recipes from Serene! Pumpkin Pie Fries, Apple Cookies with Butterscotch Frosting and Pecan Pie Granola!

Pecan Pie Bars – a no-fuss pecan pie solution!

I love a good pecan pie, but it’s a good thing I only make it once or twice a year. I love it, but it can be a lot of work. Not only that, but it’s one of those desserts that crushes my willpower. No joke. I will grab a fork and just dig in. These Pecan Pie Bars had the same effect. Zero willpower. But I’m ok with that.

pecan Pie Bars with sugar cookie crust

Ingredients

  • Flour
  • Sugar
  • Salt
  • Butter
  • Milk
  • Eggs
  • Chopped pecans
  • Light brown sugar
  • Corn Syrup
  • Vanilla extract
pecan pie bars stacked on top of each other

How to make Pecan Pie Bars

CRUST: The crust on these remind me of a sugar cookie bar, but slightly flaky..like a pie crust should be.

It’s the best of both worlds. When you make the dough it will seem a little dry, and you’re going to think to yourself, “She’s nuts! This needs more moisture, this just can’t work.”

This is the point where you just have to trust me. I myself had those same thoughts. Just mix the dough together the best you can, I don’t have a pastry blender, so cut the butter into the flour mixture with a butter knife.

Then add the milk. Mix it together. Then just had to dig in with your hands to press it together to get the moisture as dispersed as possible.

Press the dough into a well-greased pan. Press it down nice and firm. Then bake it by itself first. The crust should be baked to a light brown color.

Trust me. Have faith in the pie crust/sugar cookie mixture. It will work.

Pecan Pie Topping: It’s pretty much just a traditional pecan pie filling poured over the top of the bars. (My favorite pieces are the corners.)

In a medium size bowl lightly beat the eggs. Add in the light brown sugar, light corn syrup, melted butter, vanilla extract, and chopped pecans. Stir to combine.

The sugar basically caramelized. It is spectacular. It’s possible I ate all of the corner pieces myself and didn’t offer to share those with others. But it’s ok because they didn’t know what they were missing.

How to Store

These bars can be stored in a sealed container at room temperature or in the fridge for 3-4 days.

Pecan Pie Bars pinterest image

More Fall Desserts

Gingersnap Cookies | Pumpkin Butter Cake | M&M Blondies | Copycat Apple Pie Lara Bars | Sweet Potato Pie with Marshmallow Meringue  | Easy Monkey Bread | Chocolate Chess Pie | Pecan Pie

4.47 from 79 votes
Pecan pie bars stacked up on top of each other

Pecan Pie Bars

Serves — 15
This Pecan Pie Bar is the perfect laid-back version of it’s cousin the pie. Pecan Pie filling on top of a flaky, sugar cookie type crust.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup butter cold
  • 4 tablespoons milk
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 cups chopped pecans
  • ¾ cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 cup light corn syrup
  • 4 tablespoons butter melted
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 13×9 inch baking pan. Set aside.
  • In small mixing bowl stir together the flour, sugar and salt. Using either a pastry blender, fork, or butter knife cut in the 3/4 cup butter (slice the butter into tablespoon size slices, add it to the flour mixture, and mash it up until the mixture resembles crumbs)
  • Pour in the milk and mix with fork, then with hands to ensure the moisture is evenly distributed in the flour mixture.
  • Press the dough into the greased baking pan. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes, the top of the crust will be a light brown color.
  • While the crust is baking, prepare the pecan pie topping. In a medium size bowl lightly beat the eggs. Add in the light brown sugar, light corn syrup, melted butter, vanilla extract, and chopped pecans. Stir to combine. Spread this over the hot crust after it’s baked for the 20 minutes.
  • Bake again for another 20 minutes, or until the pecan pie filling has set (when you wiggle the pan the filling will no longer jiggle). Remove from oven and allow to cool. Cut into bars.

Jenn’s Notes

*I found it easier to slice into bars when the bars were cold. Just place in refrigerator for about 20 minutes or until cold and slice.
*I also loved eating them when they were cold! These can be stored in a sealed container at room temperature or in the fridge for 3-4 days.

Nutrition Info

Calories: 421kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 76mg | Sodium: 182mg | Potassium: 116mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 35g | Vitamin A: 455IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 1.4mg

I hope you enjoyed the recipe! You can follow along with me and never miss a recipe at House of Yumm. 

Pecan Pie Bars

Originally published on October 30, 2015

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4.47 from 79 votes (69 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    These are the best! I have never been very good with making pies but this is so easy and fun to make! I started using this receipe last year and my family asks for it on every occasion. I have to make two each time. One for my boyfriend and one for someone else! Thank you…we love this receipe!!

  2. 5 stars
    I made these for my husbands office and the girls loved them. At the last minute I added semi chocolate chips to the top and let them melt. It was awesome!

  3. Hi Jenn , my daughter had just told me instead of baking the usual pecan pie she said she wanted me too bake pecan bars . Well I’m so happy I came across your recipe . My question is that I only have dark sugar will that work as well ? Thanks for the recipe .

  4. Making your recipe now! Just read your info, and I live in Shelby Township MI not far from you :-). Merry Christmas!

  5. Hi Jennifer,

    I live in Kalamazoo, Michigan. I just got done making the Pecan Pie Bars. I, as you, have a love/hate relationship w/ pies due to having to mess around making crusts, so I get ya there! lol. As you said…”Your going to think I’m crazy..” (about the dryness of the crust) BUT* I trusted you and went on with the recipe. It turned out wonderful… in fact, I prefer it over the traditional Pecan Pie. I have a large family and tomorrow is Thanksgiving. I decided to double the recipe and I made it on my big jelly roll pan… turned out perfect. Thanks for sharing the recipe!~ I’m now a stalker of yours! lol. Have your holidays are wonderful.. Peace!