Pecan Pie Bars

These delicious Pecan Pie Bars are an easier alternative to the traditional pecan pie while still offering plenty of flavor. Since these easy-to-make bars are made in a 13- x 9-inch casserole dish, it's great to bake when you're serving a large crowd because the recipe makes 28 squares. (The pan also makes them very easy to transport.)

Learn how to make Pecan Pie Bars, and find variations that your hungry family will love.

Ingredients for Pecan Pie Bars

To make these Pecan Pie Bars, you will need:

• All-purpose flour, powdered sugar, and butter: These three ingredients make a quick shortbread-like crust.
• Brown sugar, honey, butter, and whipping cream: For a sticky-sweet filling that's beloved in the classic pecan pie.
• Pecans: Chopped pecans are necessary, of course.

For a more decadent dessert, serve the bars warm with vanilla ice cream on top, or we wouldn't argue against a drizzle of dark chocolate.

How To Make Pecan Pie Bars

These pecan pie bars are easier to make than traditional pecan pies. They use common and widely available ingredients, and they don't require the fuss of blind baking a crust. Plus, they're also easier to transport for a holiday potluck, gathering, or as a sweet homemade gift.

The full recipe is further below, but here's a brief recap before you start:

• Step 1. Prepare the crust: Sift together flour and powdered sugar. Cut in softened butter until the mixture has the texture of course meal. Pat the mixture on the bottom and up the sides of a lightly greased baking dish. Bake at 350°F until the edges are lightly browned, and then cool.
• Step 2. Make the pie filling: Bring to a boil brown sugar, honey, butter, and whipping cream in a saucepan. Stir in the pecans, and pour the filling into the prepared crust.
• Step 3. Bake bars: Bake at 350°F until the pecan pie bars are golden brown and bubbling. Let them cool completely before cutting them into two-inch bars. The recipe yields 28 bars, so it's ideal for a crowd or to package up as holiday gifts.

How Do You Know When Pecan Pie Bars Are Done?

When these pecan pie bars are done baking, the edges will be golden brown and bubbling. (The bake time is about 25 to 30 minutes.) The filling should be fully set at the edges, but may still jiggle a bit at the center.

How To Store Pecan Pie Bars

While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends refrigerating egg-rich homemade pecan pie, these pecan pie bars contain no eggs. These may be kept in an air-tight container outside of the fridge up to 3 days, or refrigerated for longer-lasting bars, up to 5 days.

Tips for the Best Pecan Pie Bars

For the best recipe possible, keep these tips in mind:

• Cool completely: Let the bars cool entirely before you slice and serve. The sugary filling will be soft and runny until the bars have a chance to cool.
• Try variations: Embrace the spirit of Kentucky Bourbon Pie and add chocolate chips and a splash of bourbon.
• Cut smaller: These bars are quite rich, and if you're serving a crowd, they make 28 squares, but you could cut them even smaller for one-bite desserts.
• Finish strong: As is, these bars are delicious. But you could top with a dollop of whipped cream or a drizzle of salted caramel sauce to put these over the top.

Southern Living Community Tips

This recipe is a favorite among the Southern Living community, prized for its simplicity and crowd-pleasing factor.

"This is my first go-to cookie recipe—I have never given these out to anyone that has not asked for the recipe," writes Diane Katzmark. "Very easy to make and always a welcome gift."

Editorial contributions by Alesandra Dubin.