Easy Pecan Squares Recipe

This easy pecan squares recipe goes on forever – you’ll have pecan squares for breakfast, lunch and dinner for a year, because one square inch of them is probably equal to your daily caloric intake. They are just sinful. But, the recipe is pretty involved – it feels like it takes forever to make them (I mean do you know how long it takes to unwrap nine sticks of butter? I’m sweating just thinking of it!)

So I was browsing online and found this delicous looking alternative for Ina’s 9-sticks-of-butter-bars (that’s what I’m renaming them) from Just a Taste, and it looked easy and equally as delicious!

Easy Pecan Squares Recipe

Ingredients:

FOR CRUST:

• 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
• 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon salt

FOR TOPPING:

• 1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/3 cup honey
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• 2 cups chopped pecans

Directions:

1) Preheat the oven to 350ºF and line a 9×13-inch pan with foil, leaving enough for a 2-inch overhang on all sides. (I sprayed my foil with non-stick cooking spray, just in case)

2) First make the crust by creaming together the butter and brown sugar until fluffy in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add in the flour and salt and mix until crumbly.

3) Press the crust into the foil-lined pan and bake for 20 minutes until golden brown.

4) While the crust bakes, prepare the filling by combining the butter, brown sugar, honey and heavy cream in a saucepan and stirring it over medium heat. Simmer the mixture for 1 minute, then stir in the chopped pecans.

5) Remove the crust from the oven and immediately pour the pecan filling over the hot crust spreading it to cover the entire surface.

6) Return the pan to the oven and bake an additional 20 minutes.

7) Remove the pan and allow the bars to fully cool in the pan.

8) Use the foil overhang to lift out the bars and transfer them to a cutting board. Peel off the foil, slice into bars.

9) *An optional, highly recommended last step, stolen from Ina – DIP THE ENDS IN CHOCOLATE! Milk or Dark – you won’t be sorry! I didn’t do it this time, but, it will only make them that much more amazing.

Well what’s the verdict? Could these put Ina out of business? I think so! They were absolutely delicious. Not quite as thick and hearty as hers, but that means you get to eat more of them! The same great flavor, without all the hassle, time, and BUTTER.

 

 

 

 

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