This post is sponsored by Truvia® Sweetener. As always, all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that help make Browned Butter Blondie possible.
Classic pecan pie meets chewy, chocolatey cookie with these easy and delicious cookie bars. These positively irresistible chocolate pecan pie cookie bars have a buttery shortbread crust and a sweet, pecan pie topping loaded with dark chocolate chips. Dusted with a sprinkle of Truvia® Confectioners Sweetener these one pan bars make the perfect treat for your holiday dessert buffet!
Thanksgiving is just around the corner and if you’re a planner like me, you’ve already started lining up your holiday menu from the sweet potatoes to the pumpkin pie. You don’t need me to tell you that the holidays will look a bit different this year, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be delicious! You might be looking for some fresh ideas to breathe new life into this year’s Thanksgiving feast or maybe you need some last minute inspiration for dessert in a hurry. Either way, you’ve come to the right place and these chocolate pecan pie cookie bars will not let you down. These perfectly sweet, ooey, gooey, nutty and chewy chocolate pecan cookie bars combine two of my all-time favorite desserts. There’s a whole lot to love about these easy cookie bars and I just know you are going to love them.
WHAT MAKES THESE CHOCOLATE PECAN PIE COOKIE BARS SO GOOD?
These quick and simple chocolate pecan pie cookie bars come together in a heartbeat and they deliver all the deliciousness of a real pecan pie with waaayyyy less fuss. No need for mixing, chilling, and rolling pie dough. These perfectly sweet, deliciously nutty, gooey, chewy cookie bars are one of my favorite holiday desserts. If there ever was a cookie bar that said “Hello Fall”, this would be it!
I made these cookie bars with Truvia® Sweet Complete™, an all purpose stevia sweetener with zero calories per serving that bakes, browns, sweetens and measures like granulated sugar in recipes. I love that I can sweeten up these cookie bars without any complicated conversions while still not compromising on taste. Because they come together in no time, these one pan bars make the perfect sweet treat in a hurry. Friendly warning….these bars are soooo decadent it’s impossible to eat just one!
INGREDIENTS YOU NEED TO MAKE CHOCOLATE PECAN PIE COOKIE BARS
These chocolate pecan pie cookie bars bake up easily with just 15 minutes of prep time and a handful of simple ingredients. Check your pantry for the list of ingredients below and get ready to fall in love with these positively irresistible cookie bars.
Flour. Regular all purpose flour is all you need for this easy peasy recipe. Be sure to spoon and level your flour correctly for best results. Feel free to substitute cup for cup of your favorite gluten free flour blend if you are looking for a gluten-free option.
Butter. For best success, use unsalted, room temperature butter. If you didn’t leave the butter out ahead of time to soften, check this post for a fast and easy way to soften butter in a hurry.
Truvia® Sweet Complete ™ All Purpose Sweetener. A granulated sweetener that is easy to enjoy in all of your favorite holiday recipes – especially these bars! Simply replace the sugar in your favorite treats with Truvia® Sweet Complete ™. I love it because you can use it cup-for-cup exactly as the recipe calls for, whether it is by the pinch, tablespoon or cup.
Eggs. This recipe call for three large eggs at room temperature. Let your eggs rest on the counter for an hour before baking or soak them in a bowl of warm water for 10 minutes before mixing your batter.
Maple Syrup. No corn syrup required for these pecan pie cookie bars. Maple and pecan are a match made in heaven so it seemed like the obvious choice for these pecan pie cookie bars. Use a good quality, grade A maple syrup for the very best flavor.
Chocolate Chips. These super simple cookie bars are a delicious twist on the classic pecan pie. They are nothing fancy but they are made extra ooey gooey with the addition of a handful of bittersweet chocolate chips. I love the flavor that bittersweet chocolate lends to these bars – they are perfectly sweetened but not cloyingly so. If you prefer a sweeter bar, use semi sweet chocolate chips.
Pecans. Wouldn’t be a pecan pie cookie bar without the pecans! I like to use pecan halves and roughly chop them before adding to the batter for a bit of crunch in every bite.
Truvia Confectioners Sugar. Truvia® Confectioners will become your holiday baking BFF. It measures and sweetens just like traditional confectioner’s sugar in your favorite recipes all while adding zero calories per serving. It’s the perfect finishing touch for these bars but can just as easily be swapping into baking staples like frosting.
TIPS FOR THE BEST PECAN PIE BARS
These chocolate pecan pie cookie bars are ooey, gooey, crunchy, chewy perfection. They’re just like a pecan pie but in bar form and made even better with the addition of chocolate. The perfect simple and delicious holiday dessert to feed a crowd, especially on Thanksgiving day! Whip these bars up at the last minute or prepare them the night before. Just follow the tips and tricks below for the very best pecan pie bars.
Cream the butter and sugar well. A good shortbread crust starts with butter and sugar that have been combined well. Don’t rush this step as it’s critical to making a soft and tender shortbread crust. Cream the softened butter and Truvia® Sweet Complete™ together until light and fluffy. I love that Sweet Complete™ measures, sweetens, bakes and browns just like conventional sugar.
Bake the crust until golden brown. Because the crust is essentially baked twice, be careful not to over bake it on the first go around. The crust is done when the edges are ever so slightly golden brown and the center is set.
Allow the crust to cool. Allow the crust to cool slightly before adding the chocolate pecan pie layer.
Do not over bake. Once you add the pecan pie layer, be careful not to over bake the bars or they will turn out dry. For the best oooey, gooey texture, bake until the edges are just set and the center is cooked through.
Allow the bars to cool completely before cutting. These bars slice up best when completely cool so allow ample time to let the bars reach room temperature. Slice with a sharp knife, cleaning the knife with warm water and a clean dishtowel in between each slice.
Sprinkle with Truvia Confectioner’s Sugar. For the very best flavor and a pretty presentation, sprinkle the tops of each cookie bar with sifted Truvia® Confectioners Sweetener. It this dessert feel like a special holiday treat!
CAN I MAKE THESE CHOCOLATE PECAN PIE COOKIE BARS GLUTEN FREE?
Absolutely! These pecan pie cookie bars are just as delicious when made gluten free so feel free to substitute your favorite gluten free flour blend for the regular, all purpose flour. The shortbread crust will be a bit on the crumbly side, but it will bake up perfectly with no adjustment to the baking time.
HOW CAN I TELL WHEN THESE CHOCOLATE PECAN PIE COOKIE BARS ARE DONE?
Because we pre-bake the shortbread crust, it takes a lot of the guesswork out of baking the pecan pie layer. The bars are done when the chocolate pecan pie topping looks set and the edges of the cookie bars are fully baked and beginning to pull away from the edges of the pan. The bars will continue to bake a bit even after the pan is removed from the oven so do not over bake. Once cooled completely, the bars will slice into perfect squares with a sharp knife. Simply sprinkle with Truvia® Confectioners Sweetener and serve at room temperature.
HOW TO STORE CHOCOLATE PECAN PIE COOKIE BARS
Once the chocolate pecan pie cookie bars have cooled completely, store them tightly covered at room temperature for up to four days. These bars are best at room temperature, served with a light sprinkle of Truvia® Confectioner’s Sweetener. If you are feeling extra fancy, serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top for a truly indulgent dessert!
If you love these Chocolate Pecan Pie Cookie Bars, you’ll also love….
Brown Butter Chocolate Pecan Tart
The Ten Best Thanksgiving Desserts
Print
Chocolate Pecan Pie Cookie Bars
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 50
- Total Time: 60
- Yield: 20 1x
Description
1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
1 ¼ cups all purpose flour, spooned and leveled
2/3 cup Truvia® Sweet Complete™ All-Purpose Sweetener, divided
2/3 cup grade A maple syrup
3 large eggs, room temperature
3 TBSP unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 ½ tsp vanilla
½ tsp kosher salt
2 cups chopped pecans
1 ½ cups bittersweet chocolate chips
¼ cup Truvia® Confectioners Sweetener (for sprinkling)
Ingredients
1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
1 ¼ cups all purpose flour, spooned and leveled
2/3 cup Truvia® Sweet Complete™ All-Purpose Sweetener, divided
2/3 cup grade A maple syrup
3 large eggs
3 TBSP unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 ½ tsp vanilla
½ tsp kosher salt
2 cups chopped pecans
1 ½ cups bittersweet chocolate chips
¼ cup Truvia® Confectioners Sweetener (for sprinkling)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9 x 13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing the sides and ends to extend an inch or two over the sides of the pan for easy removal of the bars once baked.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the softened butter, flour and Truvia® Sweet Complete™ until fluffy, about 4-5 minutes on medium high speed.
Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking pan and use your hands or a spatula to press the shortbread dough into the pan evenly. Poke the crust with a fork.
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the edges are ever so slightly golden brown and the center is set. Remove from the oven and let it cool for about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, make the pecan pie topping. In a medium bowl, stir together maple syrup, Truvia® Sweet Complete™, eggs, melted butter, vanilla and salt until well combined. Stir in the chocolate chips and chopped pecans.
Spread the pecan topping over the cooled crust. Bake for an additional 25-30 minutes or until the edges are set and the center is baked through. Do not over bake. The bars will continue to bake from the residual heat once removed from the oven.
Cool the bars completely before dusting with Truvia® Confectioners Sweetener. Slice into squares and serve at room temperature.
Notes
Store cookie bars tightly wrapped in a cool, dry place for up to 4 days.
May be frozen.
*Recipe inspired by Martha Stewart.
No Comments