If you’re a fan of Pecan Pie, you’re going to fall in love with this twist on the classic! Chocolate Pecan Bars are bite-sized treats that capture all the rich, nutty flavor of pecan pie but with a touch of chocolate that makes them feel extra festive. I’ve made these for bake sales, and they always disappear fast, and everyone raves about them!
If you are entertaining this holiday season, these hand-held treats are a host’s dream: easy to prepare ahead of time, freezer-friendly, and effortlessly elegant on any dessert tray. Whether tucked into holiday cookie tins, served at a festive gathering, or shared with friends over coffee, these Chocolate Pecan Bars are a true celebration of flavor and tradition, and a must for your holiday baking list!
The Best Chocolate Pecan Bars
Course: DessertDifficulty: Easy12
servings15
minutes30
minutesChocolate Pecan Bars are bite-sized treats that capture all the rich, nutty flavor of pecan pie but with a touch of chocolate that makes them feel extra festive.
Ingredients
- Crust
½ cup salted butter (1 stick) room temperature
⅓ cup brown sugar
1¼ cups all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon salt
- Chocolate Pecan Topping
4 tablespoons salted butter
⅓ cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon heavy cream (or sour cream)
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1¼ cups halved pecans
½ cup chocolate chips
Flaked salt for topping
Directions
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees and line an 8″ square baking pan with parchment paper.
- To make the crust, add butter and brown sugar to a bowl and using a hand mixer, beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2 – 3 minutes. Add flour and salt, and continue to mix until crumbly. Press dough into the bottom of your prepared pan. Bake for 12-14 minutes, or until edges are light golden brown. Set the crust aside to cool and lower the oven temperature to 325 degrees.
- Next, combine the butter, brown sugar, honey, heavy cream, and salt in a saucepan and stir over medium heat. Bring to a low boil and simmer for only 1 minute. (Make sure you don’t let your filling boil for too long, or you risk it becoming too hard once baked in the oven.) Remove pan from heat and add vanilla and pecans. Stir until combined. Add the chocolate chips and let them melt. Once melted, pour the mixture over the cooled crust. Bake at 325 for 15-18 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with flaked salt immediately. Allow the dish to cool completely before cutting to let the filling set.
Notes
- These bars can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature or refrigerated for 4-5 days. You can also freeze these bars in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Allow to come to room temperature before serving.
