Description
Gooey salted maple pecan pie bars with a buttery cinnamon shortbread crust and rich maple-pecan filling. Perfect make-ahead Thanksgiving dessert that slices easily and serves a crowd.
Ingredients
Crust:
1 cup salted butter (melted)
2 cups + 3 tbsp all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
1/2 cup light brown sugar (packed)
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
Filling:
1/2 cup salted butter
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
1/2 cup light brown sugar (packed)
3 tbsp heavy cream (room temperature)
2 large eggs (room temperature)
3 1/4 cups pecan halves
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp salt
Whipped cream (optional):
1/2 cup cold heavy cream
3 tbsp powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
For serving:
Flaky sea salt
Ice cream (optional)
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13 pan with parchment paper and lightly grease. Mix melted butter, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt to form crumbs. Press into pan, prick with fork, and bake 18–20 minutes.
2. Beat eggs in a bowl. In a saucepan, heat butter, maple syrup, brown sugar, and heavy cream until boiling, then simmer 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
3. Slowly whisk part of the hot mixture into eggs to temper, then whisk back into saucepan.
4. Stir in pecans, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt. Pour filling over crust.
5. Bake 28–34 minutes, until mostly set with slight jiggle. Cool fully before slicing.
6. For whipped cream, beat cold cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla until stiff peaks form. Serve bars topped with flaky salt, whipped cream, or ice cream.
Notes
Use real maple syrup for best flavor.
Bars must cool completely before cutting.
Whipped cream is best prepared just before serving.
Recipe can be halved and baked in an 8×8, 9×9, or 9-inch round pan.
Corn syrup or brown rice syrup can replace maple syrup if needed.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Thanksgiving Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 639
- Sugar: 29 g
- Sodium: 278 mg
- Fat: 48 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 25 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 49 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 107 mg