Salted Caramel and Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars ~ You'll never want plain pecan pie again! Caramel and chocolate makes the bars taste amazing!
INGREDIENTS:
Crust
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, very soft (1 stick)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- pinch salt, optional and to taste
Filling
- 8 ounces roasted salted pecans, halves or pieces okay; about 2 cups (I used Trader Joe’s roasted salted halves)
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1/3 cup whipping cream or heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
DIRECTIONS:
- Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8-by-8-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, spray with cooking spray; set aside. I strongly urge lining the pan with foil for easier cleanup.
- Crust – In a large bowl, combine all crust ingredients and using two forks or your hands (I find hands easier), cut butter into dry ingredients until evenly distributed and pea-sized lumps and sandy bits form. The softer the butter is, the quicker and easier it is.
- Turn mixture out into prepared pan and pack down firmly with a spatula or hands to create an even, uniform, flat crust layer.