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Lighter Maple Bourbon Pecan Pie Bars

maple bourbon pecan pie bars - featured image
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These Lighter Maple Bourbon Pecan Pie Bars are a quick and easy holiday dessert with a buttery shortbread crust, rich maple-bourbon filling, and toasted pecans. Perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any gathering, they come together in under an hour and are a crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups (190g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
  • ¼ cup (30g) powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup (160ml) pure maple syrup
  • ½ cup (100g) light brown sugar, packed
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 3 tablespoons (42g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 tablespoons (30ml) bourbon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ cups (170g) pecan halves, lightly toasted

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang on two sides. Lightly spray with non-stick spray.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, powdered sugar, and salt. Add cold cubed butter and cut in with a pastry cutter or fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal with pea-sized butter pieces. Stir in vanilla extract until dough just comes together.
  3. Press dough evenly into prepared pan. Bake for 15-18 minutes until edges are lightly golden and surface looks dry. Let cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
  4. In a medium bowl, whisk together maple syrup, brown sugar, eggs, melted butter, bourbon, vanilla extract, and salt until smooth and glossy.
  5. Spread toasted pecan halves evenly over the partially baked crust. Pour filling mixture over pecans, ensuring it flows into gaps. Tap pan gently on counter to release air bubbles.
  6. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 22-25 minutes until filling is set around edges and slightly jiggly in center. Tent with foil if browning too quickly.
  7. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack for about 2 hours. Use parchment handles to lift out, then slice into 16 squares with a sharp knife, wiping clean between cuts.

Notes

Toast pecans for 5-7 minutes for maximum flavor. Use room temperature eggs to prevent lumpy filling. Let bars cool completely (2 hours) before slicing to avoid runny filling. For clean slices, chill bars for 30 minutes after cooling. Store in airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, refrigerate for up to a week, or freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

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

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