I have some issues when it comes to food textures. It was worse when I was younger (I could barely handle the sight of any "creamed" vegetable), but now that I'm technically an adult, I try not to be a picky toddler about foods that may have caused a gag reflex in the past.
I can now handle (and enjoy!) most dishes, but I generally don't prefer nuts in desserts. Love them on their own, just not mixed in. So, the thought of an entire pie made of nuts, say a pecan pie, has zero appeal.
One of the ways I
can
do nuts in my sugar indulgences is when they are finely chopped and part of a topping or crust. So, when my mom passed on this recipe for Pecan Bars several years back, it quickly became a holiday staple in our house.
She originally found it in a magazine (I think Country Living) and it's now part of our family recipe box.
The best part is that it comes together in a cinch. It's so simple but packed with all those amazing flavors of a pecan pie.
Here's what you'll need...
1 cup softened butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 tsp salt
2 cups flour
4 large eggs, beaten
1 1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups chopped pecan pieces
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, cream butter, sugar and salt at a medium speed until well mixed. Gradually add flour, beating well to combine.
Pour mixture into a 9x13 baking dish
Press into the bottom of the pan.
Bake 18-20 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Like this...
In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, brown sugar, and vanilla until combined. Stir in pecans.
Pour over baked crust.
Then back in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until the topping is set.
Cool completely in pan, then cut into bars to serve.
Even my mini photo helper couldn't resist a pinch.
Does your family have any different takes on holiday classics? How about any fellow texture freaks? #noshame
Thanks so much for reading! We would love to hang out!



