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Southern Pecan Pie Bars (+Video)

Southern Pecan Pie Bars are a delicious twist on the classic pecan pie, with a buttery shortbread crust and a rich and nutty filling that is sure to please any dessert lover!

HOMEMADE PECAN BARS WITH A SHORTBREAD CRUST

Southern Pecan Pie Bars with a Shortbread Crust is a delicious dessert that combines the classic flavors of pecan pie with a buttery shortbread crust. The crust is made from a mixture of flour, sugar, and butter, which is baked until golden brown and crisp. The filling is made from a mixture of pecans, brown sugar, corn syrup and eggs which is poured over the shortbread crust and baked until set. The result is a sweet and nutty treat that is perfect for any occasion, whether it’s a holiday gathering or a casual dessert with friends and family!

three pecan pie bars stacked on a piece of parchment paper with a bite removed from the top bar.

TIPS FOR MAKING PECAN PIE BARS:

  • Want to mix some sweet and salty? Try adding a little bit of crushed, salted pretzels. It really makes a tasty combination.
  • Do not use a smaller baking pan. This recipe is tested in a 9×9-inch pan. If you use a smaller pan, the filling won’t set up properly and will be runny.
  • Also, if you want a deeper flavor, try using a dark corn syrup or dark brown sugar. It adds a deeper, molasses flavor to the bars.
  • Allow these to cool COMPLETELY before slicing or else the filling won’t be set up an thick like you want. The filling will need additional time to set up as it cools. I recommend popping them in the refrigerator for a few hours.
  • If you like to eat pecan pie warm, then just put a slice on a plate and microwave for a few seconds.
  • Don’t want to take up precious holiday oven space, try making my Crock Pot Pecan Pie.
a closeup of a stack of three pecan pie pars showing them from the side so you can see the layers.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)

  • salted butter
  • sugar
  • vanilla extract
  • all-purpose flour
  • chopped pecans
  • eggs
  • light brown sugar
  • light corn syrup
chopped pecans, salted butter, brown sugar, vanilla extract, flour, corn syrup, eggs.

HOW TO MAKE PECAN PIE BARS:

Preheat oven to 300F degrees. Line the bottom of an 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper. In a small bowl, mix butter, sugar, vanilla, and flour until you have a thick, sticky dough.

butter, sugar, vanilla and flour in a large clear bowl.

Press into the bottom of prepared baking dish in a single thin layer.

crust pressed into the bottom of a square metal pan.

Bake at 300F degrees for 10-15 minutes.

partially baked pie crust in the bottom of a metal square baking dish.

In a large bowl, mix eggs, brown sugar, corn syrup, and flour until combined. Fold in chopped pecans.

pecan pie filling mixture made with eggs, brown sugar, chopped pecans, corn syrup in a clear bowl.

When shortbread layer is done, remove from the oven and pour on pecan mixture.

Raise the oven temperature to 350 degrees, and bake again for 25-30 minutes or until top is golden and crispy. Take out, allow to cool completely. These are easier to cut if you place it in the fridge and cool them. It also helps them to finish setting up.

fully baked pecan pie bars shown on parchment paper.

Then cut into squares. And serve!

five slices of pecan pie bars shown scattered around on white parchment paper with a glass of milk in the background.

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Originally published: February 2018
Updated and republished: March 2023

Southern Pecan Pie Bars with a shortbread crust recipe from The Country Cook.

Southern Pecan Pie Bars (+Video)

Southern Pecan Pie Bars are a delicious twist on the classic pecan pie, with a buttery shortbread crust and a rich and nutty filling that is sure to please any dessert lover!
5 from 26 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 9

Ingredients

For the shortbread crust:

For the filling:

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 300f degrees. Line the bottom of an 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper. In a small bowl, mix butter, sugar, vanilla, and flour until you have a thick, sticky dough.
  • Press into the bottom of prepared baking dish in a single thin layer and bake at 300f degrees for 10-15 minutes.
  • In a large bowl, mix eggs, brown sugar, corn syrup, and flour until combined. Fold in chopped pecans.
  • When shortbread layer is done, remove from the oven and pour over your pecan mixture. Raise the oven temperature to 350F degrees, and bake again for 25-30 minutes or until top is golden and lightly crispy.
  • Take out and allow to cool COMPLETELY. These slice up easier if you put them into the refrigerator and cool. It also helps the filling to finish setting up.
  • Then cut into squares and serve!

Video

YouTube video

Notes

  • You don’t want to use a smaller size pan or the filling won’t turn out and set up properly. 
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Calories: 650kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 44g | Sodium: 311mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 47g

Nutritional Disclaimer

“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

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Recipe Rating




34 Comments

  1. These sound yummy! Do these have to be refrigerated or can I store them in air tight container. How long do they stay fresh after making them?

  2. I doubled the recipe for a 9×13 pan. The crust was not done after 15 minutes. I put the filling in and praying the crust will finish cooking. Any suggestions? I will bake 45 minutes and cover with foil

  3. 5 stars
    I made this recipe for a family gathering and it turned out amazing! I pressed the crust into a 9 inch pie plate baked it then topped it with the filling and baked it for an hour or so like you would with a pecan pie. I covered It with tinfoil towards the end so it wouldn’t burn and it came out looking and tasting just like pecan pie but minus all the hassle of a homemade pecan pie. Thanks so much for the recipe! It was delicious!!!

  4. 5 stars
    Just made these. So easy and so delicious. I used a heaping
    1/4 cup of flour in the filling and baked it 45 mins… the last 15 mins I turned the oven to convection and that sped up the consistency of the filling So that it was perfect. Popped the whole pan in frig for an hour, then cut in perfect squares. My husband declared it a keeper.

  5. hi!
    Have you ever used a 9×13 baking pan? I don’t have an 8×8 and I am TERRIBLE at converting measurements. I am also making these for thanksgiving!

    1. Hi Lauren, just double the recipe, then make in a 9×13 pan. You may have to add some time onto the recipe so make sure to cover it so the pecans don’t burn while baking for a slightly longer time. I haven’t tested it so I can’t really tell you exactly how much time to add – I’m sorry!

  6. These look great. Quick question, I am cooking and baking the day before thanksgiving but have a bunch to get done. Is it possible for me to atleast bake the crust 2 days before? I expect leftover desserts so I don’t want to bake the filling too far in advance. Thanks!

    1. FYI I baked the crust the night before I baked the filling and it worked just fine. My family has never had pecan pie on thanksgiving so I thought these would something cool to try. Everyone loved these! I may have had 2 in one sitting. They are very rich but so good. Thanks for the recipe!

  7. You said we can add pretzel pieces for sweet n salty– where would you put them in the crust or filling?

  8. Help!!!

    Love pecan pie like crazy. Decided to try the bars, which are delicious. However, this is my second batch, and the crust still seems undercooked. This time, I baked for 13 minutes, instead of 10 like last. Also, I doubled batch. Wouldn’t matter on baking time, would it? And, I used dark karo and dark brown sugar. (Wouldn’t think that would make a difference, either?)
    I don’t bake much, but trying new recipes.

    Sincerely,

    Desperate from Odessa

    1. Hi Pamela,

      The dark syrup and brown sugar have more molasses in them and it makes the batter more “wet” which seeps into the crust and therefore makes the crust more moist. Therefore, it’ll take longer to bake and the for the crust to set up properly. Then you run the risk of burning the tops while waiting for the crust to set. :/

  9. 5 stars
    Fabulous recipe – These turned out perfectly and were so easy for me to bring to a holiday pot luck without having to deal with a pan that needed to be brought home. This recipe is my new “go to” pecan pie recipe.

  10. I liked the idea of this recipe but something was off. It was waaay too runny, even though I cooked it longer than recommended and I even tried to chill if afterwards to compensate. I would say more egg and even some butter. All pecan pies have melted butter in them. Any thoughts?

    Thank!

    1. I had to cook mine longer. I ended up cooking for total of 45 minutes. I covered it with aluminum foil after 30 minutes and just checked it every 5 minutes until top didnt move

  11. do you think it is possible to put all the ingredients and directions into a normal copy or print format – scrolling through the pics and not being able to come back to is rather peculiar way of keeping a recipe unless I am missing something? Can you just print it?

    1. Hi Trudy! At the bottom of every recipe post, there is a printable recipe copy. You’ll see a smaller thumbnail photo and just beneath that, you’ll see a button that says “print”. Just click on that and you’ll get a one page printable recipe that you can view and print. Hope that helps!

  12. These look so good! I love pecans. My dad gets them when he drives through Georgia and shares with us. Aldi’s is a great place to get pecans. I bought a lot there this past Christmas.

  13. 5 stars
    Those look delicious , but what has happened to cause pecans to become a luxury item? A little 6 oz bag of pecans is $5.99 at my local store so not even a measuring cup full.

    1. Yikes! That is expensive! A couple of suggestions. If you have an Aldi grocery store – buy your pecans there. Much cheaper. Also, think about maybe buying in bulk. It is also a cheaper alternative. Nuts can be stored in the freezer for up to 2 years. Hope that helps!

      1. I went to Aldi yesterday and found the 6 oz cellophane bag was %.99 for whole pecans and $5.69 for chopped. I don’t know if that is regional thing or what. I am in SE Ohio.I will save the recipe and hope for a better price somewhere down the line.

  14. 5 stars
    OMG…I don´t think it get´s better than this! these southern pecan pie bars look amazing, I could easily wolf down a bunch of those, and that shortbread crust recipe is a keeper for so many other dessert recipes…great stuff 🙂

    1. I’m going to make these this weekend! They look delicious. I was wondering if these would still be good if I froze them after making them ahead if time?