Joanna Gaines Pecan Bars Recipe

Introduction

Joanna Gaines Pecan Bars are a delightful treat combining a buttery crust with a rich, gooey pecan filling. Perfect for sharing or enjoying as a sweet snack, these bars offer a wonderful balance of textures and flavors that pecan lovers will adore.

Ingredients

• Cooking spray or melted butter
• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup dark or light corn syrup
• 1/4 cup packed light or dark brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (for filling)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (for filling)
• 1 1/2 cups pecan pieces

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8×8-inch baking pan with cooking spray or melted butter.
2. Step 2: In a stand mixer, cream together the butter, granulated sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt until the mixture is pale and fluffy.
3. Step 3: Gradually add 1 cup of flour to the creamed mixture, mixing until it becomes crumbly.
4. Step 4: Press the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan. Bake for about 22 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown.
5. Step 5: While the crust bakes, whisk together the corn syrup, brown sugar, eggs, 2 tablespoons flour, vanilla extract, and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt in a bowl until smooth. Fold in the pecan pieces.
6. Step 6: Pour the filling evenly over the baked crust. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 25–30 minutes, until the filling is set and golden on top.
7. Step 7: Let the pecan bars cool completely in the pan before slicing into squares and serving.

Tips & Variations

• Use toasted pecans for a deeper, nuttier flavor.
• Swap out the corn syrup for maple syrup for a unique twist.
• For extra richness, add a pinch of cinnamon or a dash of bourbon to the filling mixture.
• Make sure the butter is at room temperature to ensure the perfect crumbly crust texture.

Storage

Store pecan bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerated for up to a week. To enjoy them warm, reheat briefly in the microwave or oven until just heated through.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted?

Yes, but reduce the added kosher salt slightly to avoid oversalting the crust and filling.

Can I make these bars gluten-free?

Substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend that measures cup-for-cup for best results.

Joanna Gaines Pecan Bars Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 57 reviews

• Author: Andria
• Total Time: 1 hour 7 minutes
• Yield: 16 bars 1x

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Description

Joanna Gaines’ Pecan Bars are a deliciously rich and buttery dessert featuring a flaky shortbread crust topped with a sweet, gooey pecan filling. Perfect for any occasion, these bars combine crunchy pecans with a luscious caramel-like topping for a classic Southern treat that’s easy to make and sure to impress.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Crust

• Cooking spray or melted butter (for greasing)
• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup all-purpose flour

Filling

• 3/4 cup dark or light corn syrup
• 1/4 cup packed light or dark brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 1/2 cups pecan pieces

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Instructions

1. Preheat and prepare pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8×8-inch baking pan generously with cooking spray or melted butter to prevent sticking.
2. Make the crust: In a stand mixer, cream together the room temperature butter, granulated sugar, and kosher salt until the mixture is pale in color and fluffy in texture. Gradually add 1 cup of all-purpose flour and mix until the dough becomes crumbly.
3. Bake the crust: Press the crumbly dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan. Bake in the preheated oven for about 22 minutes, or until the crust turns a golden brown color.
4. Prepare the filling: While the crust bakes, whisk together the corn syrup, brown sugar, eggs, 2 tablespoons of flour, vanilla extract, and kosher salt in a bowl until fully combined and smooth. Gently fold in the pecan pieces to evenly distribute them throughout the filling.
5. Add filling and bake: Once the crust is done baking, carefully pour the pecan filling mixture over the hot crust. Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 25 to 30 minutes, or until the filling is set and the top is golden brown.
6. Cool and slice: Remove the bars from the oven and allow them to cool completely in the pan, which helps the filling to firm up. Once cooled, slice the dessert into squares and serve.

Notes

• For best results, let the bars cool fully before slicing to ensure clean cuts and proper set filling.
• You can use light or dark corn syrup and brown sugar depending on your preferred sweetness and flavor depth.
• Chopping pecans coarsely will give a nice texture contrast, but you can finely chop if desired.
• Store pecan bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
• These bars can be served as a dessert or snack and pair wonderfully with coffee or tea.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 52 minutes
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Keywords: Joanna Gaines, pecan bars, pecan dessert, baking, Southern dessert, pecan recipe, buttery crust, sweet filling