Pecan Bar Recipe
Easy pecan bars with homemade date paste, baked on a homemade 4-ingredient shortbread crust.
Servings: 24 bars
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Filling
- 1 ½ cup chopped pitted dates
- ¾ cup water
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ cup packed light brown sugar
- 4 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 cups chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13 baking dish with parchment paper with enough overhang to easily lift out. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, melt the butter. Add the flour, sugar, and salt and mix until just combined and crumbly. Transfer the dough into the prepared baking dish by crumbling it into a somewhat even layer. Then, use your hands to press the mixture evenly into the bottom of the pan. Bake for 20 minutes, until lightly golden.
- In the meantime, prepare the filling. In a small saucepan, bring dates and water to a boil over high heat. Add the baking soda and stir occasionally, until the liquid has evaporated and the dates have melted and thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat. Transfer the date paste to a large bowl and set aside to cool for 10 minutes.
- Add the brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, and salt on top of the date paste in the bowl. Whisk until fully combined, then use a rubber spatula to fold in the chopped pecans.
- Remove the crust from the oven and pour the pecan mixture on top. Return to the oven and bake for 30 minutes, or until the center is set.
- Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan, about 2 hours. Cut into 24 bars.
Notes
My Top Tip: Cook off the water in the dates. Follow the texture as well as the timing. If the mixture still has liquid around the edges after 5 minutes, keep cooking and stirring until it becomes a thick paste.
Storage: Store the pecan bars in an airtight container in the fridge for 4–5 days.
Freezing: Wrap each pecan bar square in plastic wrap, then cover in foil and place in a freezer-safe, zippered bag. They'll last in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge before serving.
Nutrition
Serving: 1piece | Calories: 296kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 158mg | Potassium: 156mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 298IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 1mg
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