maple pecan bites

Reasons why you should bake these maple pecan bites today

1. Because they’ll be ready in under an hour
2. Because they taste just like pecan pie, but are already pre-portioned into cute little bars
3. Because they contain healthy fat in the form of nuts and butter.
4. Because butter just got voted as a healthy fat.
5. Because maple syrup is a beautiful thing.
6. Because you could sprinkle crispy bacon on top and it would probably be amazing.
7. Because they travel extremely well.
8. Because they make cute gifts.
9. Because they give you an excuse to eat bits of the topping that “falls off”
10. Because your coworkers will love you.
11. Because your boyfriend will love you (even if he doesn’t like pecans).
12. Because the shortbread crust will make you swoon.
13. Because they’ll make you lift your cat’s paws in celebratory dance.
14. Because the scent of these cooking will attract cute neighbors.
15. Because you don’t have to worry about pie crust.
16. Because you don’t have to worry about pie in general.
17. Because bite sized desserts don’t count.
18. Because pecan crumbs don’t count.
19. Because Thanksgiving is next week.
20. ….and because it’s just a good idea.

Do it.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t really get all that excited about pie. I mean, sure, I love peach pie and I have a heck of a good time making my own crust from scratch, but the cold sad truth is that if faced with an elaborate dessert platter, I’ll always pick cake.

Yep, I’m a cake girl. I just feel like you get more bang for your buck.

However! Then I discovered these maple pecan bites.

They’re like small slices of extra loaded pie (kinda like a baked potato?) with all of the fixins’ and none of the mess. Usually, pecan pie recipes call for corn syrup, but I opted for pure maple syrup instead…a worthy substitution indeed. I love the flavor complexity that the syrup brings, and maple plus pecans?

Plus shortbread, plus brown sugar, plus…..butter?

#win.

So……you got an hour? You got a bag of pecans? Let’s go!

Mix together: one cup flour, pinch of salt and a quarter cup brown sugar.

Add six tablespoons of cold butter. Work it baby, work it!

Now, press that mixture into a greased nine inch pan and bake for twenty minutes. It’ll get all nice and toasty lookin’.

While that’s baking, melt some butter on the stove and add these fun things.

Plus a little vanilla and just a smidge of cream….(it’s a good idea).

and then pour all that loveliness right onto your hot, golden crust.

Moaning is allowed here. In fact, it’s recommended.

Bake for twenty minutes. Let cool (or else you will burn your fingers off), slice and eat. Repeat.

Maple Pecan Bites

adapted from Gourmet

makes about 20 small bars

Print this recipe!

1 cup all purpose flour

1/4 cup packed light brown sugar

pinch of salt

6 tablespoons cold salted butter, cut into slices

1 cup chopped pecans

1/4 cup pure maple syrup

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tablespoon cream

4 tablespoons salted butter

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, 1/4 cup brown sugar and salt. Cut in the six tablespoons cold butter with your fingers, working the mixture together until crumbs form.

Press shortbread into a nine inch pan sprayed with cooking spray and bake for twenty minutes, or until golden.

Remove hot crust from oven and set aside. In a small saucepot, melt the remaining butter (four tablespoons). Add the brown sugar, maple syrup and cream and whisk well. Simmer for one minute while whisking continuously. Add the pecans and pour into the hot crust.

Bake for 18-20 minutes. When done, remove from oven and let cool for half an hour—this gives the bars a chance to harden.

Enjoy!

**These maple pecan bites are also being on The Pioneer Woman’s Tasty Kitchen site…today!

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Tagged as: baking, dessert, thanksgiving