Decadent Butter Pecan Bars Recipes

CAROLINA BUTTER PECAN CAKE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan.
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a small, heavy skillet over medium heat. Add pecans and cook until toasted, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
• Combine white sugar and 1 cup butter in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in 2 teaspoons vanilla extract and butter extract.
• Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Add to creamed butter mixture alternately with milk, beating just until combined. Fold in pecans. Pour batter into the prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Beat confectioners' sugar, cream cheese, 2/3 cup butter, 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract, and almond extract in a large bowl until smooth. Beat in enough milk to give frosting a spreadable consistency.
• Divide hot cake in half and chop 1 half into a large bowl. Stir in 1/4 of the frosting. Repeat with remaining half, stirring in an additional 1/4 of the frosting. Spread mixture back into the baking pan; press flat with your fingers. Spread remaining frosting over the pressed cake mixture.
• Refrigerate until firm, 3 to 4 hours. Cut into bars.

BUTTER PECAN SQUARES

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, 1 egg, butter, and pecans. Mix well.
• Press into a greased 9x13 pan.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the cream cheese, 2 remaining eggs, and the powdered sugar until well combined. Pour over the crust.
• Bake for 45-50 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the center is set. It should be gooey, but not runny.
• Cool completely before cutting, 1-2 hours. Store in the refrigerator.

BUTTER PECAN BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8x8 inch square baking pan.
• In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour and pecans until just blended. Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared pan.
• Bake for 35 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven, or until edges begin to pull away from the sides of the pan. Allow bars to cool in the pan before cutting.

DECADENT PECAN SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the crust, beat the butter and granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, until light, approximately 3 minutes. Add the eggs and the vanilla and mix well. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix the dry ingredients into the batter with the mixer on low speed until just combined. Press the dough evenly into an ungreased 18 by 12 by 1-inch baking sheet, making an edge around the outside. It will be very sticky; sprinkle the dough and your hands lightly with flour. Bake for 15 minutes, until the crust is set but not browned. Allow to cool.
• For the topping, combine the butter, honey, brown sugar, and zests in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan. Cook over low heat until the butter is melted, using a wooden spoon to stir. Raise the heat and boil for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat. Stir in the heavy cream and pecans. Pour over the crust, trying not to get the filling between the crust and the pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the filling is set. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold. Cut into bars. You can also heat up some chocolate in a double boiler and dip in just the ends and set them on wax paper to cool. If I am making them for someone, I alternately dip them in dark chocolate and white chocolate for a pretty presentation.

PECAN BARS

Steps:

• To toast the pecans: Preheat oven to 350°. Place pecans in a single layer In a 9" x 9" baking pan. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 5 - 10 minutes until golden brown and fragrant. Shake every few minutes and watch closely. Allow to cool.
• Meanwhile, melt 4 tablespoons butter. Set aside and allow to cool for the filling.
• For the crust: Line an 8-inch square pan with foil (two large sheets going opposite direction), then coat lightly with oil spray.
• Process flour, 1/3 cup brown sugar, pecans, salt and baking powder in a food processor until it resembles coarse cornmeal, about 5 pulses. Sprinkle the 6 tablespoons chilled butter cubes over the top. Pulse until the mixture is pale yellow and resembles coarse oatmeal, about 8 pulses.
• Place the crust mixture in the prepared pan. Press firmly into an even crust with your fingers. Bake until it begins to brown, 20 - 24 minutes.
• For the filling: As soon as the crust finishes baking, stir together the 1/2 cup brown sugar, corn syrup, melted butter, bourbon/rum or rum extract, vanilla extract and salt just until combined. Whisk in the egg until incoporated, then pour over the hot crust. Sprinkle the 1 3/4 cups chopped pecans over the top.
• Return to oven and bake until top is golden brown and top begins to crack, about 22 to 25 minutes.
• Cool completely on a wire rack, about 1 hours, before removing from the pan using the foil as lifters. Cut as desired.

DECADENT BUTTER PECAN BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8 X 8 inch pan. In a medium sized bowl, cream together the softened butter and the white & lt. brown sugars. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour and pecans until just blended. Spread mixture evenly into the prepared pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees 40-45 minutes. Edges should start to pull away from sides of the pan. Allow the pan to cool before cutting the bars (or cut into squares).
• These freeze well, so make up a few batches and keep them in the freezer so you can have some at a moment's notice! Bon Apetit' Y'all!