Chocolate Pecan Shortbread Bars are moist and sweet, rich and so super easy to make. A FABULOUS new twist on the classic holiday dessert, pecan pie, these Chocolate Pecan Shortbread Bars are full of pecans, caramel and chocolate and will be your new go-to way to indulge in your favorite dessert.
Dessert is always the one thing everyone looks forward to. You know it, I know it .. ask any random person on the street and the answer will almost always be the same… dessert is where IT is at!! For example, why do you think there are thousands of different recipes for pecan pie? Because there are always different little ways you can tweak any recipe. You can add a little bit extra of this and leave out a little bit of that… it’s how amazing recipes grow and evolve and create even more amazing recipes. But pecan pie?? Why mess with pecan pie?… it’s not like you can’t reinvent the wheel, can you? Oh yes you CAN!! I give you… Chocolate Pecan Shortbread Bars!!
WHAT IS PECAN PIE?
Pecan pie is traditionally classified a ‘sugar pie’ and calling for the use of corn syrup and mixed with eggs, sugar, butter and pecans. It is most often served during the holidays but is a delicious dessert to serve up anytime of the year.
IS PECAN PIE SERVED WARM OR COLD?
Pecan pie is best when it is completely set. You may want to serve it up right out of the oven but a pecan pie and these Chocolate Pecan Shortbread Bars are best served up cold.
HOW DO YOU MAKE CHOCOLATE PECAN SHORTBREAD BARS?
Easy! To make Chocolate Pecan Shortbread Bars, preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a 9 x 13 baking pan with parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt and sugar together to make your crust. If you have a food processor, pour in the flour mixture and add in the milk and butter chunks. Pulse until it resembles course sand. If you do not want to use a food processor, add the milk and butter to your flour mixture and kneed all ingredients together with your hands until it all incorporates into a sand like consistency. Then transfer the Chocolate Pecan Shortbread Bars crust to the baking pan and press it down firmly so that it makes an even crust. Bake for 20 minutes and while the Chocolate Pecan Shortbread Bars crust is baking, using a hand mixer combine the flour, brown sugar, melted butter, vanilla and salt together in that same large mixing bowl you used before. Add in the eggs, one by one and then the corn syrup. Mix well
Using a spatula, stir in the chocolate morsels and pecans. Let this filling stand for 15 minutes while your crust is cooking. Once crust has cooked, remove and pour the filling on top of the crust
Return to the oven for another 45 minutes and remove the Chocolate Pecan Shortbread Bars from oven when done and let cool completely before removing from pan. Once cool, pull up on parchment paper and remove. Cut into bars and garnish with caramel and extra pecans. Store in air tight container in the refrigerator.
Now the Universe has Chocolate Pecan Shortbread Bars! …. and the Universe is Happy!
What can I say? These Chocolate Pecan Shortbread Bars are FABULOUS (insert sprinkles and sunshine HERE). These are moist and sweet, rich and so super easy to make. Whereas the usual fare for the holidays is a traditional pie you will surprise and de-light your guests with this new spin on everybody’s is favorite treat. I promise, everyone is going to love these!! And YOU will save your self a bit of time in the kitchen and you will LOVE that!
ENJOY! ~ HEATHER
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Chocolate Pecan Shortbread Bars
Ingredients
- For the Shortbread
- 1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3/4 cold butter cut into chunks
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3 tbl milk
- For the Topping
- 3 tbl butter , melted
- 2/3 cup dark brown sugar , packed
- 1 tbl vanilla extract
- 2 tbl flour
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup dark corn syrup
- 2/3 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate morsels
- 2 cup pecan , chopped
- *Caramel ice cream topping and extra pecans for garnish .. optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a 9 x 13 baking pan with parchment paper
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt and sugar together.
- If you have a food processor, pour in the flour mixture and add in the milk and butter chunks. Pulse until it resembles course sand.
- If you do not want to use a food processor, add the milk and butter to your flour mixture and kneed all ingredients together with your hands until it all incorporates into a sand like consistency
- Transfer it to the baking pan and press it down firmly so that it makes an even crust
- Bake for 20 minutes
- While the crust is baking, using a hand mixer combine the flour, brown sugar, melted butter, vanilla and salt together in that same large mixing bowl you used before.
- Add in the eggs, one by one and then the corn syrup. Mix well
- Using a spatula, stir in the chocolate morsels and pecans
- Let this filling stand for 15 minutes while your crust is cooking.
- Once crust has cooked, remove and pour the filling on top of the crust
- Return to the oven for another 45 minutes
- Remove from oven when done and let cool completely before removing from pan
- Once cool, pull up on parchment paper and remove. Cut into bars and garnish with caramel and extra pecans
- Store in air tight container in the refrigerator. Heat up for 10 seconds in the microwave for extra yumminess!
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