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Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars

chocolate pecan pie bars on white parchment paper

When I asked what kind of pie is on your holiday tables in December, you had so many delicious suggestions. Chocolate and pecan, in their many different variations, were the most mentioned.

So that’s where I found inspiration for these bars, which are easy to make and everything you love about pecan pie, with the addition of a rich chocolate layer, and sweetened condensed milk (no corn syrup) poured over the top before baking. The simple pat-in-the-pan crust has pecans in it as well for depth of flavor, and lard makes it very flaky.

I find pie bars to be less intimidating than making pie, and the results are just as delicious. I decided to streamline a typical pecan pie by making a pat-in-the-pan pie crust, using sweetened condensed milk for rich flavor, and adding a single egg to help bind the filling and slightly lightening the rich condensed milk. Bourbon is optional, but also helps cut the sweetness and adds great flavor.

Additionally, these bars pack well for holiday cookie boxes.

Lard Makes Great Pie Crusts

Lard has a lot of advantages in pastry making. It’s ideal for pie crusts (sweet or savory), as it makes a great non-hydrogenated alternative to shortening. It blends into the dry ingredients of pie crust easier than butter, and browns beautifully.

Because it has a higher melting point than butter, it’s also easier to work with. I also use lard for the crust on this Chocolate Meringue Pie recipe and love how light and flaky it is.

Storing Pecan Pie Bars:

These bars can be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated for up to 4 days, or frozen for up to two weeks. Place the bars in the refrigerator the night before serving. Bars can be served cold or at room temperature.

chocolate pecan pie bars on white parchment paper

More Bar Recipes:

chocolate pecan pie bars on white parchment paper

Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars

Servings: 12 bars
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Refrigeration Time: 2 hours
These rich and delicious pecan pie bars are easy to make and everything you love about pecan pie, with the addition of a rich chocolate layer, and sweetened condensed milk (no corn syrup) poured over the top before baking. A simple pat-in-the-pan crust is the base.
Sarah Kieffer
4.60 from 5 votes
Print Pin Rate

Ingredients

Crust

  • 1 cup [142 g] all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup [50 g] granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup [30 g] toasted pecans
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1/3 cup [65 g] lard
  • 2 tablespoons crème fraiche or sour cream

Filling

  • One 14 oz can [395 g] sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 large egg at room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon bourbon, optional
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup [170 g] semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 ½ cups [180 g] pecans toasted and chopped into bite-sized pieces, divided
  • 2 oz [57] bittersweet chocolate chopped into bite-sized pieces

Instructions

For the crust

  • Adjust an oven rack to the middle of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350F [180C]. Grease and line an 8 in [20 cm] square baking pan.
  • In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a blade, pulse together the flour, sugar, pecans, and salt until the pecans are broken down and ground. Add the lard and crème fraiche and pulse again until the lard is incorporated and the dough starts to come together. (This dough is very forgiving and you don’t have to worry quite as much about overworking it as you do a normal pie dough.) Put the dough into the prepared pan, and press and smooth the dough with your hands to an even thickness. Bake the crust for 20 minutes, until the dough is no longer wet to the touch.

For the filling

  • While the crust is baking, make the filling: In a medium bowl, whisk together the sweetened condensed milk, egg, vanilla, bourbon (if using), and salt.
  • Remove the pan from the oven and scatter the chocolate chips over it (be careful, the pan is hot!). Return to the oven for 2 minutes, then remove again and use the back of a spoon to spread the chocolate into an even layer. Scatter 1 cup [120 g] of the pecans over the chocolate. Pour the filling evenly over the crust, then top with the remaining ½ cup [60 g] of pecans and bittersweet chocolate. Return the pan to the oven and bake until the filling barely jiggles in the center when the pan is shaken, 24 to 30 minutes (if the filling makes a waving motion when the pan is shaken, the bars need more time).
  • Remove the bars from the oven and place the pan on a wire rack to cool. After 5 minutes, run a knife around the edges of the bars (if the sweetened condensed milk gets between the parchment lining and the pan at all, the bars will stick and can be hard to remove from the pan.)
    Refrigerate the bars for 2 hours or overnight, then slice and serve. Store leftovers in fridge (because of condensed milk). Bars can be served cold or at room temperature.
  • Reply
    Laura C
    Friday, December 1, 2023 at 9:55 am

    3 stars
    I wanted to love these but alas I didn’t. Way too sweet with the chocolate and condensed milk. The crust also stuck to the pan
    even though I buttered and lined with parchment. So sad!

    .

  • Reply
    RC
    Thursday, November 23, 2023 at 9:01 am

    5 stars
    These are absolutely delicious. I subbed vegetable shortening for the lard in the crust and they baked / cut beautifully.

  • Reply
    Gina
    Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at 5:31 pm

    HI! Ive been using tallow in baking lately over shortening for health reasons. Can tallow be used over the lard or shortening? Or is butter a better alternative? thanks!

  • Reply
    Jean
    Friday, November 10, 2023 at 11:03 pm

    5 stars
    Can butter be used instead of lard?

  • Reply
    Theresa
    Monday, December 5, 2022 at 12:44 pm

    These are delicious! I used a glass 9×13 and they were a little bit thick but still very tasty. I think I will use 2 8×8’s next time when I want to double. Two questions. 1. What % of chocolate is considered bitter sweet? I used too melt-y of chocolate so it didn’t keep the distinct chopped shape. 2. Can I freeze these? Thank you in advance for any help! Also, I really enjoy this blog and have made many many things. A family fave are the pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting. I skipped pumpkin pie this year and made this instead. I also used my own pumpkin purée from the winter luxury pumpkins I grew. Turned out great!

  • Reply
    Sheila Rixon
    Saturday, December 3, 2022 at 9:27 am

    Hi! These look delightful – thank you for sharing this recipe with us 🙂

    Curiously I have a can of sweetened condensed milk in my pantry that is only 11.25oz! Is there something I can use to make up for the less than 14oz the recipe calls for? Cream/Whole Milk/Water/Maple Syrup or a combo of these??

    I appreciate any suggestions….even trying this with the amount I have as an option!

    • Reply
      Sarah Kieffer
      Sunday, December 4, 2022 at 2:49 pm

      It will still turn out with the slighter smaller amount that your can is.

  • Reply
    Nabeela
    Friday, December 2, 2022 at 11:52 am

    I don’t want to use lard either, but I have both butter and shortening. Which would you say would be better in this recipe?

  • Reply
    B
    Friday, December 2, 2022 at 11:30 am

    I cannot wait to bake these for a friends Christmas get together. However, I want to double the recipe and have a question about the pan size for 24 bars. What would you recommend?
    Thanks so much,
    Betsy

    • Reply
      Sarah Kieffer
      Friday, December 2, 2022 at 11:42 am

      Hi Betsy! Use a 9×13 pan to double (not glass).

  • Reply
    Donna Lindsay
    Friday, December 2, 2022 at 9:48 am

    I really want to make these, they sound fantastic! But, I need a substitute for the Lard! I’m not in a position to buy a tub of lard for 1/3 cup. And I’d rather not use it for other baking.
    Should I use Butter? I’d also rather not have to buy “Shortening”, I haven’t used it in years.
    I hope this question makes some sense to you.
    Thanks so much,
    DL

    • Reply
      Sarah Kieffer
      Friday, December 2, 2022 at 9:52 am

      You can use butter if your prefer.

4.60 from 5 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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