Ooey Gooey, Easy Pecan Pie Bars

These decadent Pecan Pie Bars are ridiculously good and the perfect no-fuss treat. An unapologetically rich pecan pie filling loaded with flavorful goodness sits atop a buttery shortbread crust. Whether you’re looking for a holiday-inspired dessert to bring to the table or an anytime sweet treat, these bars are the move, friends!

Each year, around the holidays, I’m always excited about what I plan to add to the dessert menu. Usually, it’s a delectable, moist cake of some sort. Or it’s a dreamy cheesecake or pie. With all the rich, savory, and hearty foods on the table…you gotta have that “something sweet”, ha! These pecan pie bars are one of the items that typically get devoured with a quickness. This dessert is basically a slice of pecan pie that’s made easily and in a more compact form!

Thanksgiving is upon us and I’d be remiss not to re-share these bars with you. I make them all the time for turkey day, Christmas, and just in general whenever the craving for ’em strikes. Gah, I can’t wait for y’all to make a batch!

The Best Pecan Pie Bars! 👅

These bars start with a buttery shortbread crust that’s so tender and slightly crumbly. Do you remember those old-school shortbread cookies? Well, the crust on these pecan pie bars reminds me of those biscuits. While I can keep talking about the shortbread crust, let’s get into the pecan pie filling! Ooooeee, the filling is loaded with all the signature, indulgent pecan pie goodness that traditional pecan pie offers. Heaps of crunchy pecans, and buttery creaminess, and it’s laced with toffee. The bars are rich, gooey, and so incredibly delicious.

Ingredients You’ll Need For This Dessert:

(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card directly below.)

• Flour: For the shortbread crust, I use all-purpose flour.
• Powdered sugar: The sweet factor that blends in seamlessly.
• Butter: Shortbread is everything it is because of butter, mmhmm.
• Sweetened condensed milk: I love the sweet, creaminess that this adds.
• Corn syrup: Just a little for pecan pie perfection!
• Eggs: For a bit of structure and texture in the filling.
• Maple syrup: A little maple flavor, chefs kiss.
• Vanilla essence: I use vanilla bean paste but extract works.
• English toffee bits: I feel like the touch of toffee flavor is what gives these pecan pie bars so much depth. The bits sort of melt and caramelize within the filling and give these bars an undeniable gooeyness that you’ll swoon over!
• Pecans: I mean, we are making pecan pie bars so…yeah.

How To Make These Pecan Pie Bars:

(Note: please see the recipe card directly below for the complete written instructions.)

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Coat a 9×13-inch baking pan with non-stick spray and then line it with parchment paper and set aside.
2. For the crust: In a large bowl, combine the flour and powdered sugar and stir well to combine. Add the butter and toss to coat. Then use a pastry blender to cut the butter into the flour. Continue until the butter is fully incorporated and the flour mixture has a sand-like consistency. Empty the crust into the prepared baking pan and use a glass/measuring cup to evenly pack the crust into the baking pan.
3. Bake the crust for 15 minutes until lightly golden. Afterward, set aside to slightly cool while you prepare the filling.
4. For the pecan pie filling: In a large bowl, combine the condensed milk, corn syrup, eggs, maple syrup, and vanilla essence and whisk the mixture until well combined. Then fold in the toffee bits and pecans. Pour the pecan filling over the crust and use an offset spatula to spread evenly.
5. Bake for 20-25 minutes until mostly set with the slightest wiggle in the center. Set the pie onto a wire rack to cool for at least 4 hours. Then go on and slice ’em into bars and serve! Trust, they won’t last long, ha…🤭

Let’s Talk About Toffee Bits

I use Heath brand English toffee bits for these pecan pie bars! They’re typically stored in the baking aisle of grocery stores near the chocolate chips. I’ve tested this recipe using English toffee bits as well as milk chocolate English toffee bits.

The difference between the two is one bag will contain only toffee bits and the other features milk chocolate bits in addition to the toffee bits. So, if you’re a chocolate fan, the latter will give your bars a slight pop of chocolatey goodness (think chocolate pecan pie). Otherwise, if you want only toffee flavor going on, use plain toffee bits. It’s all about personal preference! 👌🏾

Storing & Serving Your Pecan Pie Bars

These pecan pie bars can be stored inside an airtight container for freshness and kept on the counter for up to 4 days. They are a fantastic make-ahead dessert for all of your Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other holiday-centered festivities!

For serving, these bars are simply so dang good when eaten by themselves. However, I highly recommend adding a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a few dollops of whipped cream to the party. Just like you would with a slice of regular pecan pie, it takes these bars up several notches for the ultimate sweet treat experience! 🤤

Who needs traditional pie when you can have these Pecan Pie Bars, y’all? They’re honestly so perfect and so delicious! Be sure to tag @butterbeready in your BBR recipe creations, I sure love to see it when you do. Until next time! 🤟🏾

More treats for that sweet tooth:

• Sticky Toffee Pudding
• Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
• Lemon Sheet Cake
• Sweet Potato Pound Cake
• Bread Pudding with Rum Sauce
• Creamy Peanut Butter Pie

*This post was originally published on 11/6/2017 and updated as of 11/25/2024.

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Recipe by: Quin Liburd- Butter Be Ready

Photography by: Ashley McLaughlin