Pecan Pie Bar Cookies

Thanksgiving Holiday Treat

Oct 28, 2009
V. Wayne Hughes

Fresh From the Oven Pecan Pie Bar Cookies - V. Wayne Hughes

Pecan pie, a traditional Southern dessert in easy to nibble on cookie form. Baked twice helps them taste nice.

Pecan Pie Bar Cookies can be served room temperature, warmed in the microwave, or chilled from the refrigerator. Add Pecan Pie Bar Cookies to the usual Holiday cookie and candy assortment. Chewy shortbread like crust and the smooth sweet filling packed with nuts set them apart from other cookies. Or, warm them slightly in the microwave and serve them with vanilla ice cream.

Pecan Pie Bar Cookies

List of Ingredients

3 Cups Flour
2 Cups Sugar
4 Eggs
1 Cup Butter (Unsalted)
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1 1/2 Cups Corn Syrup (Light)
2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract
3 Tablespoons Butter (Melted)
2 1/2 Cups Chopped Pecans

Pecan Pie Bar Cookie Recipe

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Set rack in the center of the oven.
Lightly grease a 10 x 15 jellyroll pan with canola oil. Using a 9 x 12 will yield thicker Pecan Pie Bar Cookies (increase cooking time to 30 minutes).
Stir flour, 1/2 cup sugar and salt in a large mixing bowl. Using a large fork cut in 1 cup of cold unsalted butter until the mixture looks crumbly. Spread the mixture evenly in the prepared jellyroll pan and pack firmly in.
Bake the shortbread like crust for twenty minutes in the preheated oven. The crust will take on a pale tan color with a dry surface.
Prepare the topping while the crust is baking. Mix the eggs, light corn syrup, 1 1/2 cups sugar, vanilla extract, and melted 3 teaspoons unsalted butter with a large spoon until smooth. Stir in the chopped pecans (chopped walnuts also work well with this recipe). Remove the crust from the oven and immediately spread the topping evenly over it.
Return to oven and bake for 25 minutes. Check that the topping is set (lightly jiggle the pan and look for movement) before removing from oven.
Cool completely on a wire rack before cutting with a sharp knife.
Mark three cut lines lengthwise and nine widthwise. Cut gently through the topping first, then go back and cut through the crust. This will result in cleanly cut pecan pie bar cookies.
Carefully lift them from the pan with a small spatula.

Makes 40 bar cookies when made in a jellyroll pan.

Wine and Pecan Pie Bar Cookies

Pecan Pie Bar Cookies can be served as sweet appetizers when paired with a grapey tasting dessert wine (like Robller Vineyard Winery's White Stueben).