Easy Shortbread Pecan Bars Recipe
Easy Shortbread Pecan Bars feature a buttery shortbread crust topped with a rich mixture of honey, brown sugar, cream, and toasted pecan nuts. Perfect as a healthy snack or dessert, these bars combine a delightful crunch with sweet, nutty flavors that kids and adults alike will enjoy. Ideal for school lunches, holiday treats, or anytime snacking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 60 minutes
- Yield: 20 bars 1x
- Category: Desserts, appetizer, snack
- Method: Oven Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Shortbread Crust
- 2 cups of flour
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1/2 cup of powdered sugar (castor or fine sugar)
- 1 cup of chilled butter
Topping
- 3/4 cup of brown sugar
- 3/4 cup of honey
- 2 cups of pecan nuts
- 6 Tablespoons of heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking both the crust and topping.
- Prepare Shortbread Dough: In a food processor, pulse together the flour, salt, powdered sugar, and chilled butter until the mixture forms clumps resembling coarse crumbs.
- Form Crust: Grease a 9 x 13 inch pan thoroughly. Press the dough firmly and evenly into the bottom of the pan to form the shortbread crust layer.
- Bake Crust: Place the crust in the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes until lightly golden. Remove the pan and set aside.
- Make Topping: In a small saucepan, combine the brown sugar, honey, pecan nuts, and heavy cream. Heat gently until the sugar dissolves completely, which takes about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
- Add Topping and Bake: Pour the pecan topping evenly over the baked crust. Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 20 minutes.
- Cool and Cut: After baking, allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before cutting into squares for serving.
Notes
- Use chilled butter for a tender and flaky shortbread crust.
- You can substitute some of the pecans with walnuts for variation in nutty flavor and texture.
- Ensure the topping mixture is warm but not boiling to prevent curdling the cream.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate for longer freshness.
- These bars make a great addition to holiday dessert trays or lunchboxes.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar (approx. 1.5 x 2 inch piece)
- Calories: 210 kcal
- Sugar: 16 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
Keywords: shortbread, pecan bars, dessert bars, honey pecan bars, nut bars, snack bars, easy dessert, holiday treats
Find it online: https://dishedbydana.com/easy-shortbread-pecan-bars-recipe/
