Raising the Bar: Pecan Pie Squares for Dessert On-the-Go

Pecan pie to go!
Pecan pie to go!

Pecan pie is one of my favorite Thanksgiving desserts, but I rarely make it because my husband isn't a fan. Turns out, though, that if you add some chocolate (his all-time favorite food), he is suddenly quite interested in the dish. And I thought this version was even better than the classic pie. My three-year-old, who is surprisingly choosy about her desserts, agreed. Plus, this is much easier to serve (you can eat the bars without a fork) than a standard pecan pie.

Ingredients

CRUST:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup cold butter, diced
2 Tablespoons half & half (or cream)
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
FILLING:
5 Tablespoons butter
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
2 Tablespoons half & half (or cream)
1 Tablespoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Related: Add a slice of heaven to your life with 25 sweet pies

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a 9x9 baking pan with aluminum foil (with enough overhang that you can use it as handles to pull your bars out after baking) and spray with cooking spray.

2. In a stand mixer, combine the flour, cocoa powder and sugar. Add in the butter and mix until the butter is in pea-sized chunks. Pour in the half and half, and beat just until combined. Press evenly into the prepared pan and bake for 15 minutes.

3. Remove pan from oven, sprinkle 1/2 cup of chocolate chips over the crust, then bake for 4 minutes more. Remove and, with a spatula, spread the chocolate evenly across the crust.

4. While the crust bakes, stir the butter, brown sugar, honey, and half and half together in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, then remove from heat, and stir in vanilla and pecans.

5. When the crust (with the melted chocolate) is done, pour the pecan filling over the top and spread into the corners. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake for 20 minutes. As soon as you remove it, sprinkle the remaining 1/3 cup of chocolate chips over the top. Let cool completely before removing from pan and cutting into bars.

- By Janssen Bradshaw

For 23 more brownies and bars perfect for holiday entertaining, visit Spoonful!

Spoonful | Make. Everyday.
Spoonful | Make. Everyday.

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