A great bar for the holidays
I’ve been dreaming of pecan bars for the past several weeks. I originally thought of making mini pecan pies, but soon that idea morphed into a bar. The next idea was a chocolate pecan fudge, but then I realized I didn’t have enough powdered sugar. I’m glad I didn’t though because if I had I wouldn’t have been able to have these delicious bars.
You start by making the crust, which is a chocolate shortbread. The technique is very similar to pie crust in that you incorporate the margarine into the flour. Once incorporated, press into a 9 inch square pan. Allow to bake for 10 minutes.
While the crust is cooling, you’ll prepare the pecan topping. This is a really simple topping, but be sure to catch right when the sugar/maple syrup mixture comes to a boil. Quickly turn your eye to low for the sugar mixture to simmer. I added chocolate extract with the pecans, but if you don’t have that on hand, simply use more vanilla extract.
Do you dream up recipes weeks in advance or are you a spur of the moment baker?
- For the crust:
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- ¼ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup margarine
- For the pecan topping:
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup sugar
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 4 tbsp margarine
- 2 tbsp almond milk
- 2 cups pecan halves, broken in thirds
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp chocolate extract, or more vanilla
- Chocolate chips
- For the crust:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Combine flour, brown sugar, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt, in medium bowl. Cut margarine up in tablespoon segments. Use hands to incorporate margarine and flour.
- Once combined, press into greased 9 inch square pan.
- Bake for 10 minutes.
- Allow to cool.
- For the pecan topping:
- Combine brown sugar, sugar, maple syrup, margarine and almond milk in pan and bring to a boil.
- Once boiling, reduce heat and simmer sugar mixture for 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and mix in pecans, vanilla extract and chocolate extract.
- Pour on top of crust and press pecans lightly. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top and press in to pecan mixture.
- Place in refrigerator and chill overnight, or until firm.
I love anything having to do with shortbread so these look delicious. 🙂
Thank you, Tina! These bars were great with the pecan and shortbread combo.
These look so wonderful! I love all of the components that you use here, it looks like sweet perfection.
Thanks Renee! I really was a little surprised how delicious these bars were, but now I can’t wait until I make them again.
These look so wonderful and delicious! Love that the ingredients are all simple and natural. Will have to try and make an attempt at these.
Stopping by from “Best of the Weekend” linky. Following you via Bloglovin, Twitter, and Facebook.
Have a great day 🙂
Thank you, Bismah! Let me know how they turn out.
Yum, I always start to crave pecan bars around the holidays! I’ve enjoyed browsing your blog, and I am nominating you for the Liebster Award. Happy Baking & Blogging! ~ Katie @ Pearls + Girls
Thank you, Katie!
Lately I have been all over pecan anything…I love that you used chocolate shortbread in your bars. They sound amazing!!!
Me too! The combo is delicious 🙂
I love it. I bet it tastes good too!
Thanks Aras!
Wow those look delicious!! I will have to add them to my Christmas cookie list 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing them with us at Best of the Weekend!!
Thank you, Lisa! They would make a great Christmas cookie. Let me know if you try them 🙂
I plan on making these this coming weekend for Christmas! Just wondering – did you use real maple syrup?
I’m so glad to hear you’ll be making these! Yes, I used real maple syrup – grade A. Let me know how they turn out 🙂