These buttery, caramel-kissed pecan bars feature a shortbread crust topped with a gooey praline layer—like pecan pie in handheld form! Perfect for holiday baking or gifting.
Ingredients
For the Shortbread Crust:
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1½ cups (190g) all-purpose flour
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½ cup (100g) brown sugar
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½ cup (115g) cold unsalted butter, cubed
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¼ tsp salt
For the Praline Topping:
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½ cup (115g) unsalted butter
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½ cup (100g) brown sugar
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⅓ cup (80ml) honey or maple syrup
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2 tbsp heavy cream
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¼ tsp salt
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2 cups (200g) pecans, roughly chopped
(Optional: Flaky sea salt for garnish)
Instructions
1. Prep & Preheat
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch pan with parchment paper.
2. Make the Crust
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Pulse flour, brown sugar, butter, and salt in a food processor until crumbly (or mix by hand).
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Press into the pan. Bake for 15 minutes until lightly golden.
3. Make the Praline Topping
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In a saucepan, melt butter, brown sugar, honey, cream, and salt over medium heat. Simmer 3–4 minutes until slightly thickened.
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Off heat, stir in pecans.
4. Assemble & Bake
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Pour topping over the crust. Bake 15–18 minutes until bubbly.
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Cool 1 hour, then refrigerate 30 minutes to set.
5. Slice & Serve
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Cut into bars. Sprinkle with flaky salt if desired.
Why You’ll Love Them
✅ Buttery + crunchy + chewy—texture heaven!
✅ Easier than pecan pie—no custard to worry about.
✅ Keeps for a week in an airtight container.
Tips & Variations
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Extra decadent: Add ½ cup chocolate chips to the topping.
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Gluten-free: Use 1:1 GF flour for the crust.
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Spiced: Add ½ tsp cinnamon to the praline sauce.
These bars are pure caramelized pecan magic! ✨