Easy Pecan Pie Dessert Bars and more...

If you love pecan pie but want something easier to serve, slice, and share, these pecan pie dessert bars are exactly what you’re looking for.

They have all the rich, gooey, nutty flavor of classic pecan pie, just baked in a sheet pan and cut into bars instead of fussing with a traditional pie.

These bars are perfect for holidays, potlucks, bake sales, or anytime you need a dessert that feeds a crowd without a lot of extra work.

No crimping edges and no worrying about perfectly sliced wedges.

Just simple, delicious dessert bars that everyone recognizes and loves.

I started making dessert bars instead of traditional pies when I realized how much easier they are when serving groups.

One pie does not go very far, but a pan of bars stretches much better, especially when pecans are involved and prices can add up quickly.

These pecan pie dessert bars feel just as special as a classic pecan pie but are much more practical.

You can cut them small or large depending on the crowd, they travel well, and they are always one of the first desserts to disappear from the table.

For me, that is the perfect balance between homemade and stress free.

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Pecan Pie Bars Recipe

Easy pecan pie dessert bars made with refrigerated pie crust and simple ingredients. Perfect for holidays, potlucks, and feeding a crowd.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword pecans, pie

Prep Time 9 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Servings 18

Calories 257062kcal

Author Kristie Sawicki

Ingredients

• 3 – 9 in refrigerated pie crusts
• 12 T unsalted butter softened
• 1 ½ c brown sugar
• 6 eggs
• 2 t vanilla
• 1 ½ c corn syrup
• 1 ½ T corn starch
• 2 T. bourbon optional
• 4 c pecan halves

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 12×17 baking sheet with non-stick spray, set aside.
• Carefully unroll the pie crusts. Stack them on top of each other. Use a rolling pin to flatten the pie crusts together and make into a rectangular shape about 15×20 inches.
• Carefully transfer to the baking sheet and press into the bottom and up the sides. Trim the edges. Fill in any gaps, if needed.
• Place the pecans in the bottom of the pie crust. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the softened butter and brown sugar. Cream until smooth.
• Add in the eggs, vanilla, corn syrup, corn starch and bourbon (if using). Mix until thoroughly combined, scraping down the sides often.
• Pour the mix over the pecans in the pie crust.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 50-60 minutes or until the edges are browned and the center is set. Allow to cool.

Notes

Storage: Pie should be stored in an airtight container or covered, in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 257062kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 75mg | Sodium: 1158mg | Potassium: 2361mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 41g | Vitamin A: 325IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 45mg

Ingredients

• Pie Crust
• Butter
• Brown Sugar
• Eggs
• Vanilla
• Corn Syrup
• Corn Starch
• Pecans

How to Make Pecan Pie Dessert Bars

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 12 by 17 inch baking sheet with non stick spray and set it aside.

Step 2: Unroll all three refrigerated pie crusts and stack them on top of each other.

Use a rolling pin to press and roll them together into one large rectangle, about 15 by 20 inches.

Step 3: Carefully transfer the crust to the prepared baking sheet.

Gently press it into the bottom and up the sides of the pan.

Trim any excess dough and use scraps to fill in gaps if needed.

Step 4: Spread the pecan halves evenly over the bottom of the crust and set the pan aside.

Step 5: In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the softened butter and brown sugar.

Cream together until smooth and well mixed.

Step 6: Add the eggs, vanilla, corn syrup, and corn starch.

Mix until everything is fully combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.

Step 7: Slowly pour the filling mixture over the pecans in the crust, spreading it out evenly.

Step 8: Bake in the preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned and the center is set.

Step 9: Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely before slicing and serving.

Now That You’ve Made the Recipe, What Else Do You Need to Know?

The bars will puff up slightly while baking and then settle as they cool. That’s completely normal.

For the cleanest cuts, let them cool fully before slicing.

If you are serving them for a holiday or gathering, this is a great make ahead dessert.

These bars are rich and sweet, so smaller pieces work perfectly.

If you want to dress them up, a drizzle of caramel sauce or a dollop of whipped cream on top makes them extra special.

Helpful Tips/Variations

• Make sure your butter is softened so the filling mixes smoothly and evenly.
• Press the crust well into the corners of the pan to prevent gaps and help the bars hold their shape.
• For extra flavor, lightly toast the pecans before adding them to the crust.
• For cleaner slices, refrigerate the bars for 30 to 60 minutes before cutting.

Storage

Store pecan pie dessert bars covered or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. They can be served cold, at room temperature, or warmed slightly in the microwave.

FAQs

More recipes

If you liked this recipe, you’ll love these ones too:

• Homemade Candy Bars
• Blondie Bars
• Samoas Cookie Bars
• Chocolate Sea Salt Bars
• Kit Kat Bars
• Granola Bars
• Strawberry Oatmeal Bars
• Lemon Berry Cheesecake Bars

    

These Christmas Tree Cookies are going to be the talk of the holiday season.

This meringue recipe will easily dress up a cookie tray for your holiday sweet tooth cravings.

The best part of all, the meringues are so easy to make.

Pair these meringues with my red-nosed reindeer cupcakes or even these festive M&M cookies.

Both are fun and easy Christmas desserts.

Reasons You Will Love These Tree Meringues

• Light, crispy, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
• A stunning presentation value when served up for family and friends.
• Place in your cookie or dessert tins for gifting loved ones. Or serve at your holiday feasts.
• Minimal ingredients are needed for these tree meringues.
• Pretty easy to make! Plus you can double or even triple the recipe.

Ingredients Needed

Egg Whites – Make sure you use egg whites only and they are fully at room temperature. This is going to ensure you get the best bake on these meringues.

Cream of Tartar – The most important ingredient dare I say. You will use this for adding height to the meringue.

Sugar – A bit of sugar creates the perfect sweetness to the cookies. So when you bite in you get a nice hint of sweetness.

Vanilla – Vanilla is going to help add more flavor to the meringues. You could always change up the extract for a different flavoring. Peppermint, almond, or a fruit extract would work as well.

Food Coloring – Reach for green food coloring to add the perfect color to the meringue batter. Go as light or deep in color as you would prefer.

Sprinkles – I used festive sprinkles for the holidays as well as a gold star sprinkle for topping each tree.

Peppermint Meringue Cookies

It’s super easy to add peppermint extract or any other extract flavors you’d like to add to your meringue to change the flavor of the cookies.

Peppermint is always perfect for the holidays and would be great in these Christmas Tree cookies.

How to Make Meringue Cookies

Full steps on how to make these Christmas Tree Meringues are in the printable recipe card.

This is a quick walk-through on how it is made.

Step 1: Preheat the oven and prep your baking sheet.

Step 2: Then in a stand mixer, you will add the egg whites and cream of tartar, and whip up as directed.

Step 3: Add in part of the sugar mix for a bit, and then work in the rest of the sugar as directed.

Step 4: Work in the extract.

Step 5: Add food coloring in. Once fully mixed transfer to a piping bag.

Step 6: Pipe your Christmas tree-shaped meringue and top with sprinkles. Then bake as directed.

Allow to cool completely before serving.

Tips for Making Meringue

• Make sure that you don’t have any yolk in the egg whites or can cause the egg whites to not become as stiff, which will affect the texture of the meringue.
• Line the baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. This is important to prevent the meringue from sticking.
• Bake your meringue low and slow. The low temperatures will dry out the meringue, and help create that crispy texture when you bite into it.
• Ensure the meringue trees cool completely before you go to store them. If you don’t allow them to cool fully, they can get soft. The condensation can build in the container and you will lose the crunch.
• Decorate the meringue as you would like with sprinkles and such. You could even dust the meringue with powdered sugar to mimic snow once cooled.
• Add as much or as little food coloring as you would like to the batter. I find that gel food coloring offers the best mix-in.

Storing

Ensure the tree meringues are fully cooled and then place them in a sealed container and store at room temperature for up to a week or so.

Avoid storing in the fridge as it will add moisture and cause the cookies to soften.

How to Freeze Meringue Cookies

You can freeze the cookies but just know they can lose some of the crunch factor when you bite into them.

Place in a single layer and freeze for 1-2 months.

Then thaw on the counter.

More Christmas Cookie Recipes

If you like these yummy Christmas treats, you’ll love these ones too:

• Thin Mints Cookies – This is a copycat Girl Scout Thin Mints recipe.
• Peppermint Hot Cocoa Cookies – These cookies are the perfect treat to have on hand during the holiday season.
• Frosted Gingersnap Cookies – This old-fashioned Recipe for Gingersnap Cookies is a Christmas cookie classic.
• Melted Snowman Cookies – These cookies are SO simple to make and look great sitting on the dessert table!
• Gingerbread House Cookies – These are not quick and easy cookies to make, they require some extra effort and time, but the results are SO worth the wait!
• Ultimate Peanut Butter Cookies – This is a tried and true, soft and chewy peanut butter cookie.
• M&M’s Christmas Cookies – These classic M&M Cookies are a must-have during the holidays, and they are super easy to make.
• Classic Snowball Cookies – A melt-in-your-mouth delicious cookie studded with chopped walnuts and rolled in sweet powdered sugar.

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Meringue Christmas Tree Cookies Recipe

Get into the festive spirit with our Christmas Tree Meringue Recipe! Add a dash of holiday magic to your dessert table this season with these enchanting meringue treats. Crafted with love and a sprinkle of yuletide joy, these meringue trees are the perfect way to sweeten your celebrations.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword christmas, cookies, meringue

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 2 hours hours

Resting Time 1 hour hour

Servings 36

Calories 23kcal

Author Kristie Sawicki

Ingredients

• 4 egg whites room temperature
• ¼ t cream of tartar
• 1 c sugar
• 1 t vanilla
• Green food coloring
• Gold star sprinkles
• Rainbow non-pareils

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment and set aside.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the egg whites and cream of tartar. Mix on medium speed until bubbly and frothy looking.
• Add in about half of the sugar and continue to whip on medium speed for about 2 minutes.
• Add in the remaining sugar and vanilla and mix on medium speed for another 2 minutes.
• Bump up the speed to high and whip to stiff peaks – about another 2 minutes. Do not overwhip as the mixture can deflate if over-worked.
• Transfer the meringue mixture to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip.
• Pipe a small mound of meringue on the parchment, working in a spiral upwards. Repeat until all the meringue is piped.
• Carefully place a gold star at the tip of each meringue tree.
• Sprinkle with a light dusting of rainbow non-pareils.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 2 hours. Do not open the door or cause drastic temperature fluctuations.
• After the 2 hours of bake time, turn off the heat to the oven. Crack the door to the oven open slightly and place a wooden spoon handle in the door to keep it open. Allow to set for an additional 1 hour or overnight.

Video

 

Notes

Storage: Meringues can be stored in an airtight container for 2 weeks.

Nutrition

Calories: 23kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 0.4g | Fat: 0.02g | Sodium: 6mg | Potassium: 9mg | Sugar: 6g | Calcium: 0.3mg | Iron: 0.01mg

    

This Elf on a Shelf Printable Snack Stand is a fun way to count down the days to Christmas!

There are several different colors to choose from, so you can customize your snack stand to whatever color your kiddos like.

It’s so easy to print off and put together for some holiday fun!

Elf on a Shelf Printables

There are a bunch of different signs to choose from so you can change up the kind of snacks your elf is serving each day. 

You could even make it into an advent calendar by adding a new sign each day until Christmas Eve.

I love the idea of using the blank signs to write your own messages each day too!

The best part about this project? It’s super simple to do with just a few supplies.

Elf on a Shelf Signs included:

• Hot Cocoa
• Candy Canes
• North Pole Breakfast
• Donut Hut
• Popcorn Bar
• Ice Cream Stand
• Cookie Shop
• Lemonade Stand
• Candy Shop
• Pancake Shack
• Sweet Treats
• Bake Sale 
• Milkshake Hut
• Treat Shop
• Movie Tickets
• Cupcake Stand 
• Food Hut
• Fruit Bar
• Taco Hut
• Breakfast Toppings
• Gingerbread Bakery
• Pizza Parlor
• Burger Bar
• Sprinkles & Toppings

Plus several different blank signs that you can use to name your elf’s stand whatever you’d like!

How to Make the Elf on a Shelf Snack Stand

Let’s get started!

Start by printing out all of your signs and snack stand pieces on cardstock.

You could use regular paper, but cardstock will make it much more sturdy and that will help it hold up all throughout the holiday season.

Make sure to print out extra signs if you’ll need more.

Remember you will need one sign for each day of December leading up to Christmas, if you’d like to use this as an advent calendar.

Cut out all of your signs and snack stand pieces using scissors or a craft knife.

Make sure to only cut on the cut lines that show a small pair of scissors. The other dotted lines are the fold lines.

Once you’ve cut out everything, fold the pieces wherever you see a dotted fold line.

Choose whichever color canopy you’d like and attach to the top of the shack. Use a small amount of glue to secure it in place.

Hand up a sign of your choice and you elf on a shelf snack stand is ready to go!

More Holiday Activities

If you like this holiday activity, you’ll love these ones too:

• 25 Elf on the Shelf Printables & Ideas – If you are one of those parents that gets stuck trying to come up with lots of great ideas each night for your elf, you’ll want to grab this free printable pack today!
• Printable Letter to Santa – This free Printable Letter to Santa is a great way to find out exactly what your kids want most this year!
• “Magic” Reindeer Food Recipe & Poem – Using the printable Reindeer Food poem and some simple ingredients, you and your kids can whip up a batch of this sparkly reindeer food in no time!

    

Still, looking for a gift for that hard to shop for person on your list?

Check out this FREE printable Christmas coupon book!

Printable Christmas Coupon Book

These printable Christmas coupons are a simple and fun way to show your family and friends that you care.

Coupon books are a great gift for husbands to wives, kids to give to parents and any other family or friends.

Enjoy the gift of giving with our original Christmas coupon book!

Christmas coupons include

• A coffee date
• A hike together
• A homecooked meal
• A night of babysitting
• Breakfast in bed
• A dog walk
• A batch of homemade cookies
• A load of washed & Folded laundry
• Plus a bunch of blank coupons.

You can make this simple gift quickly and easily for your loved ones.

Print your FREE Printable Christmas Coupon Book.

    

You can request a FREE subscription to LEGO® Life magazine!

These subscriptions make great FREE Gifts for Kids too!

Designed for LEGO® fans ages 5-9 years old, these magazines feature comics, activities, posters, competitions, sneak peeks & the latest LEGO® news, all shipped to your door four times a year!

My son loved getting the FREE LEGO® Life magazine subscriptions for several years! 

It was always a fun surprise for him to get a new magazine in the mail. Plus they have the added bonus of keeping him occupied with new building challenges and fun comics for reading. 

I cannot wait until my grandsons are old enough to start getting their own magazines in the mail too!

How to Get Your Free LEGO® Life Subscription

1. Go Here and click ‘Sign up’ and follow the on-screen instructions to create a LEGO Account.
2. Enter your address details so they know where to send the magazine.

That’s it! Easy, peasy!

It takes about 6 weeks to receive your first issue of LEGO® Life, depending on when you first request your free subscription.

Don’t want to wait that long? You can also download the current issue here. 

You’ll also be able to access several past issues at any time online.

I seriously cannot say enough great things about this fun freebie! 

Request your FREE subscription today!