Southern Pecan Pie Bars

Ingredients and Weight:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup pecan halves
• 1/2 cup heavy cream

Preparation Time:

15 minutes

Cooking Time:

30-35 minutes

Difficulty Level:

2 (Easy)

Preparation Method Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
5. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined.
6. Press the dough into the prepared baking dish.
7. Bake for 15 minutes.
8. In a small bowl, whisk together the pecan halves and heavy cream.
9. Spread the pecan mixture over the partially baked crust.
10. Bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the pecans are toasted.
11. Let cool completely before cutting into bars.

Nutritional Information:

Per serving (1 bar):

• Calories: 350
• Fat: 20g
• Saturated fat: 12g
• Cholesterol: 60mg
• Sodium: 150mg
• Carbohydrates: 40g
• Fiber: 2g
• Sugar: 25g
• Protein: 4g

Dish Characteristics:

• Sweet and decadent
• Chewy crust with a crispy exterior
• Toasted pecans add crunch and flavor

User Comments:

• "These bars were a hit at my holiday party! They were so easy to make and everyone loved them."
• "The combination of the sweet crust and crunchy pecans is perfect."
• "I've made these bars several times and they always turn out great."
• "I love that you can use ingredients that are easily available in most supermercados."

Special Precautions and Tips:

• To prevent the crust from becoming too brown, cover the edges of the baking dish with foil during the last 10 minutes of baking.
• If you don't have heavy cream, you can substitute milk or half-and-half.
• For a richer flavor, use dark chocolate chips instead of pecan halves.