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Best Brown Sugar Bourbon Pecan Pie Bars Recipe

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These brown sugar bourbon pecan pie bars feature a buttery shortbread crust, a gooey brown sugar filling, and a warm kick of bourbon. They’re the perfect no-fuss dessert for fall gatherings, born out of a friendsgiving emergency and now a crowd-pleasing favorite.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1 ½ cups dark brown sugar, packed
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • ¼ cup bourbon (e.g., Bulleit or Maker’s Mark)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups pecan halves or chopped pecans

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving about 2 inches of overhang on the long sides.
  2. Make the shortbread crust: In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 ½ cups flour, ¼ cup granulated sugar, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Add the cold cubed butter and cut it in using a pastry cutter or your fingertips until the mixture looks like coarse meal with some pea-sized butter pieces still visible.
  3. Press the crust into the pan: Dump the crust mixture into the prepared pan and press it firmly into an even layer. Bake for 15-18 minutes, until the edges are just starting to turn golden. Set aside to cool slightly.
  4. Whisk the wet ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter and packed dark brown sugar until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, whisking well after each. Then whisk in the bourbon and vanilla extract.
  5. Add the dry ingredients: Whisk in the 2 tablespoons of flour and ¼ teaspoon salt until just combined. Do not overmix.
  6. Fold in the pecans: Gently fold in the pecan halves and pieces until evenly distributed.
  7. Pour over the crust: Pour the filling over the pre-baked crust and spread it evenly.
  8. Bake until set: Bake for 28-32 minutes, until the edges are set and the center is just slightly jiggly. A toothpick inserted near the center should come out with a few moist crumbs.
  9. Cool completely: Let the bars cool in the pan on a wire rack for at least 2 hours. For clean slices, refrigerate for another hour before cutting.

Notes

For best results, use dark brown sugar for deeper flavor. If using light brown sugar, add a tablespoon of molasses. Toast pecans at 350°F for 5-7 minutes before adding for extra nuttiness. Let bars cool completely before slicing to avoid a crumbly mess. Bars are even better the next day.

Nutrition

Keywords: brown sugar bourbon pecan pie bars, pecan pie bars, bourbon pecan bars, fall dessert, Thanksgiving dessert, easy pecan bars

Find it online: https://cookyep.com/best-brown-sugar-bourbon-pecan-pie-bars-recipe/