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LAZY GIRL PECAN PIE BARS:
Ingredients
Makes 16 squares in a 9×9″ pan
For the Shortbread Crust:
- 1 ½ cups (190g) all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup (65g) granulated sugar
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup (115g) cold unsalted butter, cubed
Substitutions:
- Gluten-free? Use a 1:1 GF flour blend.
- Vegan? Swap butter for coconut oil (solid state).
For the Pecan Filling:
- ¾ cup (150g) brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup (120ml) light corn syrup (or honey/maple syrup for a less sweet option)
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tbsp (30g) melted butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 ½ cups (150g) pecans, roughly chopped (toast for extra flavor!)
Foolproof Instructions
1. Prep & Bake the Crust
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×9″ pan with parchment paper (overhang for easy removal).
- In a food processor, pulse flour, sugar, and salt. Add cold butter; pulse until crumbs form.
- Press evenly into the pan. Bake 15 mins until edges are golden.
Pro Tip: Use a measuring cup to press the crust flat for even baking.
2. Make the Filling
- Whisk brown sugar, corn syrup, eggs, melted butter, vanilla, and salt until smooth.
- Stir in pecans. Pour over the warm crust.
3. Bake & Cool
- Bake 25–30 mins until filling is set (center should jiggle slightly).
- Cool 1 hour in the pan, then chill 30 mins before slicing.
Pro Tip: For clean cuts, wipe your knife between slices!
Troubleshooting Rescue Plan
Soggy Bottom?
- Undercooked crust: Pre-bake it until golden before adding filling.
- Overmixed filling: Gently whisk just until combined to avoid air bubbles.
Cracked Filling?
- Overbaking: Pull bars out when the edges are set but center still jiggles.
Too Sweet?
- Reduce brown sugar to ½ cup or use maple syrup instead of corn syrup.
Creative Twists
Chocolate Lover’s
Add ½ cup chocolate chips to the filling.
Bourbon Kick
Stir 1 tbsp bourbon into the filling.
Salty-Sweet
Sprinkle flaky sea salt on top after baking.
Coconut Dream
Mix ¼ cup toasted coconut into the crust.
Serving Suggestions
- Warm with vanilla ice cream for an epic à la mode moment.
- Gift-Worthy: Stack bars in a cellophane bag with a ribbon.
- Brunch Upgrade: Pair with coffee or spiked eggnog.