Description
Indulge in these rich, crunchy, and buttery maple pecan bars that perfectly balance sweetness with a deep, toasted nut flavor. Featuring a crisp, dairy-free shortbread base topped with a gooey, maple-infused pecan filling, these bars are a professional-grade dessert that is as beautiful as it is delicious. Perfect for gift-giving or office parties, this recipe uses simple pantry staples to deliver a luxurious, gourmet snacking experience that will delight any crowd.
Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour
150g dairy-free plant-based butter (divided)
2/3 cup brown sugar (tightly packed)
1/3 cup real maple syrup
2 cups pecans (roughly chopped)
2 large eggs (room temperature)
1 tsp vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) and grease a 20cm square pan with dairy-free butter.
Combine 75g of melted dairy-free butter with 1/3 cup of brown sugar and a pinch of salt in a bowl.
Stir in 1 cup of flour to form the base dough.
Press the dough firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
Bake the base for 20 minutes, then remove and let it cool for 15 minutes.
Toast the pecans on a small tray in the oven for 10 minutes.
In a saucepan, simmer the remaining 75g of dairy-free butter, the maple syrup, the remaining brown sugar, and a pinch of salt until thickened.
Cool the syrup mixture for 5 minutes, then whisk in the eggs and vanilla extract.
Fold the toasted pecans into the maple custard mixture.
Pour the pecan filling over the baked shortbread base.
Bake for an additional 25 minutes until the center is set.
Cool completely before slicing into squares.
Notes
Always use a high-quality dairy-free plant-based butter for the best flavor and texture. Ensure pecans are toasted properly to unlock their flavor, but watch the oven closely as they can burn quickly. Store these bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer shelf life.
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 45
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 square
- Calories: 260
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 140mg
- Fat: 19g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 45mg