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These Maple Pecan Bars are the perfect holiday treat and taste just like pecan pie! They’re easy to make and easy to serve, making them ideal for parties, potlucks, picnics, gatherings, holiday treat plates — the options with this tasty treat are endless! 

 

 

I especially love dessert recipes that you can serve as a bar because they’re so easy to share. You don’t have to spend time alternating baking sheets full of cookies in the oven, you just bake a pan of these yummy pecan pie bars and serve them up! 

And if you thought this recipe description couldn’t get any better, just you wait — these pecan pie bars are also freezer friendly! That means you can make them ahead, save the leftovers, or share with last-minute visitors or family. There’s so much to LOVE about these pecan pie bars! 

 

 

What ingredients are in pecan pie bars?

Pecan bars are easy to make and the ingredients list is simpler than you might imagine. So rich and sweet, you’re bound to love this recipe! To get started you’ll need the following ingredients: 

• All-purpose flour – one of my favorite things about this pecan pie bars recipe is the pie-crust-meets-sugar-cookie crust! So delicious and easy to make! 
• Brown sugar – brown sugar has a much richer flavor than regular sugar, and it pairs so perfectly with maple! 
• Salt – a little flavor enhancing salt goes a long way. 
• Butter – you’ll want the butter for the crust to be cold and cut into small pieces so you can make the perfect crust for your maple pecan bars. 
• Maple syrup – I’m not talking about the fake stuff … you want PURE maple syrup for this recipe. Nothing else will do! 
• Brown sugar – again, brown sugar and maple go together so perfectly, it’s like a match made in heaven. Taste bud heaven. 
• Heavy cream – cream adds richness and a slight creamy texture to your pecan bars. 
• Pecans – they wouldn’t be pecan pie bars without the pecans, right?! You’ll want these roughly chopped. 
• Oats – use the quick cooking variety for these maple pecan oatmeal bars. 

 

 

How to make pecan pie bars?

1. Blend the crust ingredients together. 
2. Line a baking dish with parchment paper. 
3. Press the crust mixture into the baking dish and bake. 
4. Combine filling ingredients in a saucepan. 
5. Boil, then add the rest of the filling ingredients. 
6. Pour into the crust and bake. 
7. Allow the pecan pie bars to cool before cutting and serving. 

 

 

When to cut pecan pie bars?

One lesson I learned the hard way when it comes to both pecan pie and this pecan bars recipe is the importance of letting the pie/bars cool before cutting them. 

In order for the bars to fully set and NOT be a dish of molten sugar, they need to cool for at least 1 ½ hours — preferably entirely cooled — before serving. 

 

 

How long do pecan bars last?

Depending on how they’re stored, pecan bars can last a little or a long time (assuming they aren’t completely devoured before it comes time to store them). 

In an airtight container at room temperature, they can be stored up to 3 days before the quality and texture will start to noticeably decline. 

 

 

How to store pecan pie bars?

As mentioned above, you’ll want to store your pecan pie bars in an airtight container or bag for up to 3 days at room temperature. 

Do pecan pie bars have to be refrigerated?

You can also store an airtight container or bag with pecan pie bars in the fridge for up to 5 days. Because this recipe does not contain eggs, you do not NEED to store it in the fridge unless you prefer to. 

 

 

Can I make pecan pie bars ahead of time?

Absolutely! That’s one of my favorite things about these tasty treats — you can make them ahead of time and either store them in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or you can freeze them for up to 6 months. 

 

 

Can I freeze pecan pie bars?

In the section above, I mentioned that you can freeze these maple pecan bars for up to 6 months. To do so, you’ll want to fully prepare the bars and then cut them into single-serving-size pieces.

I recommend pre-freezing the single servings on a parchment lined baking sheet, then transferring the frozen bars to an airtight zipper bag for storage. 

When you’re ready to eat or share the maple pecan bars, simply remove them from the freezer and allow them to sit at room temperature until they’re soft enough to eat! 

The ability to freeze these treats make it especially easy to share on holiday goody plates or during last minute friends or family visits. 

 

 

Can I use walnuts instead of pecans?

Walnuts and pecans are fairly interchangeable, though they do have different flavors. Walnuts have a more buttery flavor and texture while pecans are a bit sweeter. 

That being said, either nut will work well in this recipe! Use your favorite (though I personally have to recommend pecans as they are MY preference and make these tasty bars taste just like pecan pie).  

 

 

If you are a fan of pecan pie, you’re bound to LOVE these maple pecan pie bars. They’re the perfect blend of sweet, caramelly maple flavor and nutty crunch — and the shortbread crust is divine! Make and freeze a pan to enjoy during any season or add this tasty recipe to your holiday goody plate rotation; your friends and family will love it too! 

 

Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Essentials of Baking Cookbook

Originally Posted: November 19, 2013

Photos & Text Updated: October 26, 2021

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