Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie Bars are made with pecan pie filling without corn syrup atop a buttery shortbread crust. Chocolate chips, toasted pecans, a splash of bourbon, and a sprinkle of sea salt makes them fun. Toss in browned butter and you'll have the best pecan pie bars around!
[November, 2021: I've reworked the recipe and updated this post with all new pictures. Enjoy!]
Why this recipe works
- Chocolate chips, toasted pecans, and bourbon add loads of flavor
- Browning the melted butter adds a nuttiness that's enhanced by the toasted pecans
- A firmer filling than basic pecan pie gives structure to the bars so the filling doesn't ooze out
Pecan pie is a favorite treat at our house, especially the Black Bottom Maple Bourbon Pecan Pie I make for Thanksgiving.
I've converted cookies into cake, so why not pies into bars? It's like having a portion-controlled piece of pie in your hand. And you know how much I love portion control. Essentially, pie bars (aka slab pies) are just pies that have been flattened out. So it stands to reason that I can make pecan pie bars (aka Derby Pie Bars)...essentially pecan pie filling atop a shortbread crust.
But let's not forget about the chocolate and bourbon. Folks, I give you Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie Bars! They are a big hit with my family, and are really easy to make.
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What you need
You can say that Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Bars are a pecan pie in a cookie bar form, but that's not strictly the case. In this pecan pie bar recipe, there is more flour to give the filling a bit of structure, and no corn syrup (or maple or golden syrup). Otherwise, the filling will sort of ooze out, and that would make for some messy eating.
Because of the extra flour and lack of syrups, the filling batter will be lighter in color and not as gooey as pecan pie filling would be, but that's fine.
The rest of the filling ingredients are similar to what goes into a Black Bottom Maple Bourbon Pecan Pie...toasted pecans, chocolate, and a splash of bourbon for fun, all on flaky shortbread.
Yummm…
Speaking of the pecans, you can toast them whole or use coarsely chopped pecans. Bake them at 350°F for 8 to 10 minutes, then let them cool a bit. You can also use unsalted dry-roasted chopped pecans and skip the baking step entirely.
How to make pecan bars
This is an easy pecan bar recipe. Just make the shortbread crust and mix up the filling. No problem, mate!
Step 1: Make the shortbread dough
Whisk the flour, sugar, and salt together in a large bowl (photo 1).
Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or a hand mixer, toss in the butter and beat until the dough clumps together (photo 2).
Step 2: Bake the shortbread crust
Press the shortbread dough evenly across the bottom and ¼-inch up the sides. To get the dough really flat, cover it with plastic wrap and smooth the top with a pie pan roller (photo 3).
Bake the shortbread crust at 350°F for 15 minutes, until very pale golden. Remove the pan from the oven and set aside.
See those binder clips? That's a trick I've learned to keep the parchment paper away from the filling as it's baking. Just fold the parchment paper over to the outside of the pan, and clip in place. Just remember to let the clips cool before removing them from the pan. No more baked-in parchment paper to ruin the look of your treats!
Step 4: Brown the butter
We upped the ante of this pecan bar recipe by browning the melted butter. Why? Brown butter toasts the milk solids in the butter, giving it a wonderfully rich nutty flavor that really amps up the volume of what you’re making.
Immediately transfer the butter to a large bowl after the butter has browned and stir to cool. To speed the process, place the bowl in the freezer or in an ice bath (half water, half ice) for a few minutes. You want the butter to be just warm to the touch (about 90°F on a digital thermometer).
Step 5: Make the filling
Stir the sugars into the cooled butter until the mixture is smooth. Mix in the egg, egg yolk, bourbon (if using), vanilla, and salt (photo 4).
Add the flour and stir until the mixture is just combined. Finally, fold in the chocolate chips and toasted pecans (photo 5). The batter will be lighter in color and not as gooey as pecan pie filling would be, but that's fine.
Step 6: Bake the bars
Pour the pecan batter over the par-baked crust and spread with a small offset spatula. If you'd like, lightly sprinkle the top with sea salt before baking. Bake the bars at 350°F for 20 to 25 minutes, until top is firm and golden brown (photo 6).
Transfer the bars to a wire rack and allow them to cool completely in the pan.
Step 7: Portion the bars
Once cooled, transfer the slab from the pan to a cutting board using the parchment paper as a sling. Cut it into 2-inch squares or 1- x 2-inch rectangles (photo 7).
Questions asked and answered
Here are some questions you might have...
Unlike pecan pie which needs to be kept chilled, pecan pie bars can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the refrigerator for a week. You can also freeze the bars in an airtight bag for longer storage.
Browning butter is just cooking the butter past melting until it turns a dark brown color and smells nutty, about 8 minutes.
You have to be vigilant though…the butter can go from brown to burnt in a few seconds, so it needs to be watched carefully. and taken off the heat as soon as the color turns amber (black butter is not what we're after!).
Yes! You can brown butter in the microwave in short burst on full power for about 3½ to 6½ minutes until the butter is dark amber (this depends on your microwave's power). Use a microwave safe bowl and lid to keep the butter from spattering, and be careful removing the bowl - it will be hot!
Pro tip: Preheat the oven
Many ovens have some sort of signal when it reaches the temperature you set. However, many times that's not yet the case. To make sure the oven is fully at your desired temperature, let it continue to heat for 20 minutes before you start baking. That will ensure there are no hot spots in the oven.
If you have an oven thermometer, you can also find out if your oven's thermostat is accurate or if you have to adjust the temperature you set above or below what you need. They're inexpensive and really useful to protect against underbaked or over-baked items.
More than pecan pie in a cookie bar
Chocolate Bourbon Pecan bars are more than just pecan pie bars with a shortbread crust. The chocolate gives a rich counterpoint to balance the sweetness of the filling, Browned butter adds a nuttiness that's enhanced by the toasted pecans.
And the buttery shortbread crust lets you hold it in your hand. Perfect for portability and portion control!
Packed in a lunchbox, taken to a picnic, or served up at Thanksgiving dinner, Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pies are a welcome pecan pie substitute. No fussing with pie crust!
Pecan pie in the palm of your hand? Yes, please!
Slainté! L’chaim! Cheers!
Tammy
Related Recipes
Bar cookies, brownies, and pie bars (aka slab pies) are all recipes that make a lot with little effort (and no individual portioning). Here are a few ideas for these yummy treats!
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Recipe
Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie Bars (no corn syrup)
Equipment
- parchment paper
Ingredients
For the crust
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened and cubed
For the filling
- 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter, browned, see Recipe Notes
- ⅓ cup dark brown sugar
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 1 large egg yolk, at room temperature
- 1 to 2 Tablespoons bourbon, optional, see Recipe Notes
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 6 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 4½ ounces chocolate chips, (¾ cup)
- ¾ cup pecans, toasted and coarsely chopped, see Recipe Notes
- sea salt flakes, if desired
- powdered sugar, for dusting, optional
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350°F. Spray an 8-× 8-inch baking pan with baking spray, then line with parchment paper leaving a 2-inch overhang on two sides. If desired, use two medium binder clips to hold the parchment paper to the sides of the baking pan.
- Make the crust: In the bowl of a stand mixture or a large bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, and salt. Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or a hand mixer, toss in the butter and beat until the dough clumps together.
- Transfer the shortbread dough to the prepared baking pan and press it evenly across the bottom and ¼-inch up the sides. To get the dough really flat, cover it with plastic wrap and smooth the top with a pie pan roller.
- Bake the shortbread crust for 15 minutes, until very pale golden. Remove the pan from the oven and set aside.
- Make the filling: In a saucepan with a heavy bottom, melt the butter on medium-high heat. Continue cooking the butter until it turns dark amber and smells nutty, about 8 minutes. Or, you can brown butter in the microwave in short burst on full power for about 3½ to 6½ minutes until the butter is dark amber (this depends on your microwave's power). Use a microwave safe bowl and lid to keep the butter from spattering, and be careful removing the bowl - it will be hot!
- Immediately transfer the butter to a large bowl and stir to cool. To speed the process, place the bowl in the freezer or in an ice bath (half water, half ice) for a few minutes. You want the butter to be just warm to the touch (about 90°F on a digital thermometer).
- Stir in the sugars into the cooled butter until the mixture is smooth. Mix in the egg, egg yolk, bourbon (if using), vanilla, and salt. Add the flour and stir until the mixture is just combined. Finally, fold in the chocolate chips and toasted pecans. The batter will be lighter in color and not as gooey as pecan pie filling would be, but that's fine.
- Pour the pecan batter over the par-baked crust and spread with a small offset spatula. If you'd like, lightly sprinkle the top with sea salt before baking.
- Bake the bars for 20 to 25 minutes, until top is firm and golden brown. Transfer the bars to a wire rack and allow them to cool completely in the pan.
- Once cooled, transfer the slab from the pan to a cutting board using the parchment paper as a sling. Cut it into 2-inch squares or 1- x 2-inch rectangles.
- Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the refrigerator for a week. You can also freeze the bars in an airtight bag for longer storage.
