Description
Handheld bars with buttery shortbread crust and rich maple-pecan filling, topped with glossy toasted pecans. Perfect for Thanksgiving desserts or cozy fall treats with a balance of sweet, buttery, and crunchy flavors.
Ingredients
Base
75 g (5 tbsp) unsalted butter, melted
⅓ cup packed brown sugar
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup (120 g) all-purpose flour
Filling
1½ cups pecans, roughly chopped or whole
75 g (5 tbsp) unsalted butter
½ cup packed brown sugar
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
⅓ cup pure maple syrup (not imitation)
2 large eggs (~55 g each)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional Topping
⅓ cup pecans
2 teaspoons maple syrup
1 pinch salt
¼ teaspoon flaky sea salt, for sprinkling
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch pan with parchment overhang.
- Mix melted butter, brown sugar, and salt until smooth. Stir in flour until dough forms. Press evenly into pan.
- Bake 12–15 minutes until lightly golden. Cool slightly.
- Melt butter, brown sugar, and salt in saucepan over medium, stirring until smooth (2–3 min). Whisk in maple syrup. Cool 10 minutes.
- Whisk eggs with vanilla in a bowl. Slowly add cooled maple mixture while whisking. Stir in pecans.
- Pour filling over crust, spreading evenly. Bake 25–30 minutes until set; edges bubble and center jiggles slightly.
- (Optional) Toss pecans with maple syrup and salt. Scatter over bars and sprinkle flaky sea salt before cooling.
- Cool completely 1–2 hours or chill 30 min. Lift from pan and cut into squares or rectangles.
Notes
Use pure maple syrup for authentic flavor.
Toast pecans before assembling for deeper nuttiness.
Cooling ensures clean slices without messy filling.
Run knife under hot water and dry before cutting for neat edges.
Bars freeze well for make-ahead convenience.
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 45
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 230
- Sugar: 13g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
Keywords: maple pecan bars, pecan pie squares, thanksgiving dessert bars, shortbread pecan bars, autumn baking recipe