These Pecan Pie Bars are the BEST! They have everything you love about pecan pie in one easy to make bar, no corn syrup necessary. Buttery shortbread crust is topped with caramel pecan topping to make your new favorite Thanksgiving dessert.

pecan pie bars on a sheet of brown parchment paper with a knife and small flowers

How can we make pecan pie more portable? Make pecan pie bars!

Perhaps you’ve noticed a lack of pie recipes on my blog. That’s because I am notoriously terrible at baking pies.

For starters I don’t generally like eating them. They’re also just terribly tricky with their easily burnt crusts and soggy bottoms.

a pecan pie bar on brown parchment paper

These bars are almost foolproof, freeze and thaw beautifully, and are seriously delicious. They also fit much more easily into my lifestyle (not that it mattered in this case) because, unlike classic pecan pie, they don’t contain corn syrup.

I recommend baking your bars in a foil lined baking pan (affiliate link to one I love) so you can lift them out and cut them easily. The filling can get pretty sticky while the crust is effortlessly flaky. Make these to serve a crowd at Thanksgiving, for your family football party, or for a fall wedding!

How to make pecan pie bars

Shortbread crust

Prepare your shortbread crust by combining butter and brown sugar, then adding flour and salt. Press this dough into your baking pan and bake 20 minutes at 350ºF.

Caramel pecan filling

While the crust is baking, prepare your filling by combining butter, brown sugar, honey, and heavy cream in a 2 quart saucepan. Bring to a boil and let simmer for one minute before removing from the heat and stirring in the pecans

Putting it all together

As soon as the crust comes out of the oven, pour the pecan filling over the top and spread out evenly. Return to the oven for another 18-20 minutes.

It’s better to under bake than over bake or the bars will become very difficult to bite. You’ll know they’re done when they’ve darkened and the edges are bubbly.

Let cool before using the foil to remove them from the pan and cutting into squares or bars.

pecan pie bars before and after the final bake

Do pecan pie bars need to be refrigerated?

Pecan pie bars do not need to be refrigerated. Store them in an airtight container for up to three days.

Can I freeze pecan pie bars?

Pecan pie bars freeze beautifully. I recommend cutting them into squares and transferring to a freezer safe zip top bag, removing as much air as possible.

They will keep in the freezer for up to three months. You can check this post on vegetarian freezer meals for more freezer meal options.

Pecan pie bars can be customized! Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Use dairy-free butter to make them dairy free
Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend to make them gluten-free
Experiment with flavors by adding a pinch of cayenne pepper to the filling, cardamom to the shortbread, or sprinkling flaky sea salt on top after baking

a stack of pecan pie bars against a dark background

More fall dessert recipes

If you make this recipe, be sure to rate it, leave a comment, or tag #theliveinkitchen on Instagram!

Recipe

Pecan Pie Bars

Take the work out of pecan pie with this easy bar adaptation that tops a buttery shortbread crust with caramel pecan topping (no corn syrup!).

4.29 from 32 votes

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Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 45

Total Time: 55

Servings:

Calories: 349kcal

Author: Lindsay Moe

Ingredients

Crust

▢ 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
▢ ⅔ cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
▢ 2 ⅔ cups all-purpose flour
▢ ½ teaspoon salt

Topping

▢ 1 stick unsalted butter, (½ cup)
▢ 1 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
▢ ⅓ cup honey
▢ 2 tablespoons heavy cream
▢ 2 cups chopped pecans

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line a 9×13 pan with aluminum foil, leaving a 2 inch overhang on all sides.
To make the crust, cream together butter and brown sugar in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until fluffy. Add the flour and salt and mix until crumbly.
Press the crust evenly into the foil lined pan and bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
While the crust bakes, prepare the filling. In a medium sized saucepan, combine the butter, brown sugar, honey, and heavy cream over medium heat. Stir until the mixture comes to a bubble, then simmer for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and stir in the chopped pecans.
Remove the crust from the oven and immediately pour the filling over the top, spreading it out to cover the entire surface.
Return the pan to the oven and bake an additional 18-20 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool fully in the pan. The bars will firm up a bit as they cool, do not over bake.
Use the foil to lift the bars from the pan and place on a cutting board. Remove the foil, cut into bars, and serve.

Notes

Slightly adapted from Just a Taste

Nutrition

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Pecan Pie Bars