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Derby Pie Bars Recipe Easy Homemade Chocolate Pecan Dessert Bars

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These Derby pie bars feature a buttery shortbread crust with a gooey chocolate and pecan filling, delivering a perfect balance of sweet and nutty flavors. Easy to make and perfect for any occasion, they bring a taste of Kentucky tradition to your kitchen.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (190g)
  • ½ cup unsalted butter (113g), softened
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar (50g)
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • ¾ cup light corn syrup (240ml)
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar (200g)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (170g)
  • 1 cup chopped pecans (120g), toasted lightly
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (28g), melted

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×9-inch pan lightly with butter or line it with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy removal.
  2. In a medium bowl, cream together ½ cup softened unsalted butter and ¼ cup granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes with an electric mixer.
  3. Add 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour and ¼ teaspoon salt to the butter mixture. Stir until just combined and crumbly but holds together when pressed. Press this mixture evenly into the bottom of your prepared pan using your fingers or the back of a spoon.
  4. Bake the crust for 15 minutes or until it just starts to turn golden on the edges. Remove from oven and set aside.
  5. While the crust bakes, prepare the filling: In a large bowl, beat 2 large eggs until smooth. Add ¾ cup light corn syrup, 1 cup packed brown sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 2 tablespoons melted butter. Mix until well combined and glossy.
  6. Stir in the chocolate chips and chopped pecans until evenly distributed throughout the filling.
  7. Pour the filling over the warm crust, spreading it evenly with a spatula.
  8. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the filling is set but still slightly jiggles in the center. A toothpick inserted near the center should come out with moist crumbs, but not wet batter.
  9. Remove from oven and cool completely in the pan on a wire rack, about 1.5 hours. Chill in the fridge for another hour if you want clean slicing.
  10. Slice into bars using a sharp knife, wiping it between cuts for neat edges. Serve at room temperature or slightly chilled.

Notes

If edges brown too quickly, cover loosely with foil after 20 minutes. Use fresh pecans for best flavor. For gluten-free, substitute flour with a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking blend. For dairy-free, use coconut oil instead of butter and dairy-free chocolate chips. Corn syrup can be substituted with honey or maple syrup but will alter texture. Toast pecans at 350°F for 5-7 minutes, stirring once.

Nutrition

Keywords: Derby pie bars, chocolate pecan bars, dessert bars, homemade dessert, Kentucky dessert, easy dessert recipe, chocolate pecan dessert

Find it online: https://katedishes.com/derby-pie-bars-recipe-easy-homemade-chocolate-pecan-dessert-bars/