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Cozy Maple Bourbon Pecan Pie Bars – Easy Holiday Dessert

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These Maple Bourbon Pecan Pie Bars feature a buttery shortbread crust, a rich maple-bourbon filling, and crunchy pecans. They’re a quick, easy, and crowd-pleasing holiday dessert that tastes like a warm hug.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (2 sticks / 226g) unsalted butter, softened
  • ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
  • 2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 cup (240ml) pure maple syrup (Grade A Dark Amber preferred)
  • ¾ cup (150g) packed brown sugar (light or dark)
  • ¼ cup (½ stick / 57g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • 3 tablespoons (45ml) bourbon (e.g., Buffalo Trace or Maker’s Mark)
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups (200g) raw, unsalted pecan halves

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with a parchment paper sling (two long strips crossing each other, letting excess hang over edges).
  2. Make the shortbread crust: In a large bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. In a small bowl, whisk flour and ½ teaspoon salt. Add flour mixture to butter mixture on low speed, mixing just until a soft, crumbly dough forms. Do not overmix.
  3. Press dough evenly into the prepared pan using fingertips or a flat measuring cup. Prick dough all over with a fork. Bake for 15-18 minutes, until set and edges are light golden brown. Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Leave oven on.
  4. Make the filling: In a large bowl, whisk eggs until frothy, about 30 seconds. Add maple syrup, brown sugar, melted butter, bourbon, vanilla extract, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Whisk until completely combined and smooth.
  5. Pour filling over the warm pre-baked crust. Scatter pecan halves evenly over the top (do not stir in).
  6. Bake for 35-40 minutes, until filling is set around the edges but still slightly jiggly in the center. If top browns too quickly after 25 minutes, tent loosely with foil.
  7. Cool completely on a wire rack for at least 2 hours. For cleanest cuts, refrigerate for 30 minutes before slicing.
  8. Use parchment sling to lift bars onto a cutting board. Cut into 24 even bars (6 rows lengthwise, 4 rows widthwise) using a sharp knife, wiping blade clean between cuts. Serve at room temperature.

Notes

For best results, use room temperature ingredients. The filling should have a slight jiggle in the center when done; it will set as it cools. Refrigerating before cutting yields cleaner slices. Bars taste even better the next day. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: pecan pie bars, maple bourbon, holiday dessert, shortbread crust, easy pecan bars, Thanksgiving dessert, Christmas dessert

Find it online: https://siennaspoon.com/cozy-maple-bourbon-pecan-pie-bars-easy-holiday-dessert/