Pecan Pie Bars

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These pecan pie bars are comforting and delicious. Just like classic lemon bars! This holiday dessert has a chewy texture with the perfect combination of salty and sweet. Prep this easy recipe in 20 minutes then bake!

PIN PECAN PIE BAR RECIPE

The holidays provide an opportunity for generations to gather in the kitchen and spend quality time together. Love is the secret ingredient that makes special recipes like these pecan pie bars so memorable and delicious!

Pecan Pie Bars on a plate

INGREDIENTS

This traditional holiday recipe comes together quickly with basic pantry items and a few easy-to-find ingredients from your local market.

  • All-purpose flour
  • Butter
  • Sugar
  • Pecan halves or pieces
  • Egg
  • NESTLÉ® LA LECHERA® Sweetened Condensed Milk
  • Vanilla extract
  • Lemon juice
  • Salt
  • Nestle Toll House Butterscotch Morsels
  • Shredded coconut
Two squares of pecan pie bars on a plate.

MAKE THE CRUST

The base for these pecan pie bars is a buttery shortbread crust. To make the dough you can use a fork, pastry cutter, food processor, or stand mixer.

RECIPE PREP: Coarsely chop the pecans. Lightly coat interior sides of a 9×13 pan with cooking spray. Position an oversized piece of parchment paper over the baking dish like a sling. Preheat oven to 350°F.

RECIPE STEPS

  • STEP 1: Add flour and sugar to a mixing bowl. Mix briefly until well blended. Cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Shortbread crust for pecan pie bars
  • STEP 2: Add pecan pieces to the bowl. Stir briefly to combine.
Mixture for pecan pie bars recipe
  • STEP 3: Transfer the crust mixture to the baking pan. Firmly press the crumbs into an even layer at the bottom of the pan. Make sure to include the corners and edges.
Shortbread crust for pecan bars

STEP 4: Bake the shortbread crust for 15 to 20 minutes, or until edges are lightly golden. Remove from the oven, but keep the oven turned on! We’ll bake this easy dessert after adding the filling.

ASSEMBLE THE FILLING

This easy pecan pie bars recipe comes together quickly!

RECIPE STEPS

  • STEP 1: In a medium bowl, add NESTLÉ® LA LECHERA® Sweetened Condensed Milk, lemon juice, vanilla, salt and one egg.
Mixture for pecan pie bars filling
  • STEP 2: Mix wet ingredients until smooth.
Filling for pecan pie bars
  • STEP 3: Stir in pecans and Nestle Toll House Butterscotch Morsels.
  • STEP 4: Pour mixture over the shortbread crust.
Pecan pie bars filling ready to be poured into crust.

bAKE PECAN PIE BARS

  1. Bake at 350°F for 20 to 25 minutes, or until filling is set.
  2. Remove pan from oven and cool completely.
  3. Cover with parchment paper. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
Freshly baked pecan pie bars.

SLICE THE BARS

  1. Using the over-sized sheet of parchment paper as handles, carefully lift up the solid slab from the pan.
  2. Place the large bar, with parchment paper, on a cutting board.
  3. With a sharp knife, cut the piece into 36 squares.
Pecan pie bars lifted straight from the pan.

HOW TO SERVE THIS HOLIDAY DESSERT

Being Latina you know the importance of hospitality. As children, you learn by example to be gracious, generous and inviting.

We kids grew up seeing our Grandma lovingly share homemade food with extended family, friends and neighbors. Even unexpected guests would be invited to join us at the table.

  • Garnish pecan pie bars with shredded coconut.
  • Get festive with holiday plates and napkins.
  • Be a great hostess: offer guests a warm mug of Mexican Hot Chocolate along with squares of this traditional dessert.
Holiday tablescape with pecan pie bars and hot chocolate.

FAVORITE HOLIDAY TRADITIONS

I fondly remember how Grandma always had Mexican Hot Chocolate in her pantry. She’d buy it at a little store in her neighborhood. Now the new generations carry on this beloved tradition.

Nothing says “happy holidays” more genuinely than bite-sized pieces of tender pecan pie bars along with cozy comforting mugs of hot chocolate!

Pecan pie bars served with hot chocolate.

MORE HOLIDAY DESSERTS TO MAKE ASAP

If you enjoyed these tasty pecan pie bars, then you’ll also love these easy holiday desserts! Each is a time-tested favorite passed down through the generations.

RATE THIS RECIPE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Family and friends say this is the best pecan pie bars recipe! They love the addition of shredded coconut as an optional garnish. I

If you agree this is a must-make holiday recipe, give it a 5-star rating in the comments. And share it with a friend!

Gold Line: Sprinkles of Inspiration | confettiandbliss.com
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Two squares of pecan pie bars on a plate.

Pecan Pie Bars


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5 from 15 reviews

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Description

These delicious pecan pie bars have a tender shortbread crust and a gooey scrumptious filling. Quick and easy to assemble, it’s the perfect holiday dessert! 


Ingredients

Scale

CRUST

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1/3 cup chopped pecans

FILLING

  • 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 11/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 11/2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • Pinch of salt
  • 11/4 cups butterscotch morsels
  • 1 cup pecans, coarsely chopped

OPTIONAL GARNISH

  • Shredded coconut, sweetened or unsweetened

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. With cooking spray, lightly coat the sides of a 9X13 baking dish. Drape an over-sized piece of parchment paper over the long sides of the pan.
  2. In a mixing bowl, combine flour and sugar. Cut in the butter until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add 1/3 cup of chopped pecans to the bowl. Stir until mixed. Press the shortbread mixture firmly onto the bottom of the baking dish (not the sides). Bake at 350° F for 15 minutes, or until the edges are ever-so-slightly golden brown. Don’t overbake! We want a light tender crust.
  3. In a large bowl, add the wet ingredients and a pinch of salt. Beat until smooth. Stir in the butterscotch morsels and 1 cup of chopped pecans. Pour the mixture over the crust and spread it out evenly.
  4. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from oven. Cool. Cover the pan with wax paper and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Using the over-sized parchment paper as handles, remove the large bar from the pan. Place it on a cutting board. With a sharp knife, slice the rectangle into 36 pecan pie bars.
  5. Before serving, sprinkle a festive amount of shredded coconut over the pecan pie bars.

Notes

MAKE AHEAD RECIPE: Bake the shortbread crust up to 3 days in advance. Keep it tightly covered in the fridge. Combine the caramel syrup in advance and refrigerate. When ready to assemble, layer chocolate chips and pecans inside the crust. Rewarm caramel syrup on stovetop or in the microwave until it’s pourable. 

NO BUTTERSCOTCH MORSELS IN THE PANTRY? Use chocolate chips instead! 

  • Prep Time: 20
  • Cook Time: 35
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Bake
  • Cuisine: Mexican, American
Gold Line: Sprinkles of Inspiration | confettiandbliss.com

PECAN PIE BARS > JOIN THE CONVERSATION

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44 Comments

  1. I love turning things into bars – so much fun to eat that way! These look fabulous and perfect for neighbor treat plates this holiday season!

  2. Wow these look so tasty. I will have to give them a try. I’m a HUGE fan of pecans here and think these look amazing!

  3. Oooh! What a great treat! I love the added coconut! I made pecan bars at Thanksgiving and fell in love all over again. Will be trying yours, for sure!






  4. I’ve never tried this before because pecan is a bit expensive here. But oh, this looks so good. I need to taste it!

  5. Everything about this recipe looks so yummy. I can’t wait to give it a try. I know my family would love these bars.






  6. The food that we prepare in our kitchens and especially the dishes prepared during festivals always have waves of nostalgia associated with them. This is because usually many of the recipes have been traditional and handed down from generation to generation. The Pecan Pie Bars look really amazing and convenient to cook as well.






  7. I’ve made this crust before in a layered pudding dessert. This looks delicious. I plan on finding some Abuelita Mexican Hot Chocolate.






  8. My favorite pie created into a bar- what a wonderful and delicious recipe! I can’t wait to try these.






  9. O…M….G! These Pecan Pie Bars made with NESTLÉ® LA LECHERA® Sweetened Condensed Milk look amazing. When I was a kid my grandmother used to give us a small cup of NESTLÉ® LA LECHERA® Sweetened Condensed Milk and mix it with Quick Chocolate powder for a super duper chocolate sugar bomb! It was amazing.
    These pecan Pie bars look amazing but what I love is how easy they are to make. I may have to try these out for Christmas!

  10. This looks like a fabulous recipe, especially for the holidays. I have several parties coming up soon and I need to take a sweet treat. I may have to take this.

  11. These pecan pie bars look delicious. I am going to have to try to make them for sure, they are going to be a hit here with my fam!

  12. Please excuse me while I drool over myself. These look SO good. I just love pecan pie, so I know I’d love it in bar form.






  13. Who doesn’t love a good pecan bar. I have several vintage aprons and love the tradition of wearing them as your grandmother did

  14. Mmmm…You had me at pecans and then I see you added butterscotch morsels! I’m in heaven! I must try this recipe this weekend!!! A delicious combination that I’ve never tried together before.

  15. We love pecan over here, but we haven’t had those pecan pie bars before. They look so good. Can’t wait to try them.

  16. Such a lovely festive presentation, i can’t take my off it. The recipe sounds so easy to make. What a delicious treat for Christmas!






  17. I am OBSESSED with pecan pie bars! I have never put shredded coconut on top though! Definitely going to try that out sometime soon!






  18. Everyone is cooking yummy things like crazy as of late and this looks just perfect to make and share with loved ones. I need them!