Dark Chocolate Pecan Bars

Rich and fudgy chocolate pecan bars with a chocolate crust. These dessert bars are a great make-ahead dessert for potlucks, parties, and holiday celebrations.

Chocolate Pecan Dessert Bars

When I think about Thanksgiving dinner, I imagine a golden roasted turkey, creamy mashed potatoes, fresh green beans, tart cranberry sauce, and my mom’s savory stuffing. What doesn’t immediately come to mind is pie – it’s always been sort of an afterthought, like, “oh, yeah, can someone bring pies?”  

I know the whole “who cares about pie“ attitude stems from the simple fact that I’m not very good at making pie dough. I’ve fully accepted this fact, which means I’m happy to delegate pie duty to someone else.

But what if there’s no one to make the pies? I would never deprive anyone of something sweet after Thanksgiving dinner, so these dark chocolate pecan bars are the perfect answer to the whole need-something-sweet-but-I-don’t-love-pie-probably-because-I’m-terrible-at-making-pie-dough issue.

These dessert bars are made with dark chocolate, studded with pecans, and baked with a chocolate crust. They have a rich brownie-like texture and are a great make-ahead dessert.

How to Make the Crust

The crust is similar to a shortbread cookie. Assemble the crust and, while it’s baking, you can make the filling.

• First, line a 9×3 baking dish with tin foil leaving extra over the edges to make it easier to remove the bars before you slice them.
• Combine flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, and confectioner’s sugar. To it, add the butter and cut it into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles sand.
• Press the crust mixture into the bottom of the baking dish. Be sure it’s in an even layer.
• Bake the crust for 18 to 20 minutes at 350°F.

How to Make the Filling

While the crust is baking you can prepare the filling.

• It starts with 6 ounces of dark chocolate. I bought a bar and chopped it, but you can also substitute dark chocolate chips. Melt the chocolate in the microwave. I like to do this is 30 second incrementsm stopping each time to stir the chocolate, until it’s melted.
• In a bowl, combine light corn syrup, brown sugar, eggs, flour, and the melted chocolate. Add the chopped pecans.
• Once the crust is done baking, pour the filling over it. You don’t need to wait until the crust is cooled.
• Bake the dessert bars for 30 to 40 minutes or until the bars are set and a toothpick comes out clean.

Cool the bars completely in the baking dish. Once cooled, cover the baking dish with plastic wrap and leave the bars a room temperature overnight so they fully set. Slice and serve the bars once they’re set.

Happy baking!

More Dessert Recipes

• 18 Classic Christmas Cookies
• Cranberry Apple Crisp
• Pumpkin Pudding Parfaits

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