“Holy MOLY were these tasty! I think my dad ate half the tray himself LOL.”
These Carolina Pecan Bars are a delightful treat featuring a moist, pecan-studded cake base topped with a rich, creamy frosting. The combination of toasted pecans and maple extract gives them a warm, comforting flavor, perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients:
Cake Ingredients:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Pecans, roughly chopped | 1 ½ cups |
| Butter | 1 tablespoon |
| White sugar | 2 cups |
| Butter | 1 cup (2 sticks) |
| Eggs, room temperature | 4 |
| Vanilla extract | 2 teaspoons |
| Maple extract | 1 teaspoon |
| Flour | 3 cups |
| Baking powder | 2 teaspoons |
| Salt | 1 teaspoon |
| Whole milk | 1 cup |
Frosting Ingredients
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Powdered sugar | 6 cups |
| Cream cheese, room temp | 12 oz (1 ½ packages) |
| Butter | ⅔ cup |
| Vanilla extract | 1 teaspoon |
| Maple extract | 1 teaspoon |
| Milk | 1-2 tablespoons |
Instructions:
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Prepare the Oven and Pecans:
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- In a small skillet over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon of butter.
- Add the chopped pecans and stir until toasted, about 3-4 minutes.
- Remove from heat and set aside.
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Make the Cake Batter:
- In a large bowl, combine the sugar and 1 cup of butter. Beat until fluffy.
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Stir in the vanilla and maple extracts.
- In a separate large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the milk. Mix until just combined.
- Fold in the toasted pecans.
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Bake the Cake:
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
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Prepare the Frosting:
- While the cake is baking, prepare the frosting.
- In a large bowl, combine the powdered sugar, cream cheese, ⅔ cup of butter, vanilla extract, and maple extract.
- Beat until smooth.
- Add milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the frosting reaches a spreadable consistency.
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Assemble the Bars:
- Once the cake has cooled enough to handle, remove half of the cake from the baking dish and crumble it into a large bowl.
- Stir in a quarter of the frosting into the crumbled cake.
- Repeat with the second half of the cake and another quarter of the frosting.
- Press the crumbled cake mixture back into the baking dish, forming an even layer.
- Spread the remaining frosting over the top.
- Sprinkle with additional pecan pieces, if desired.
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Chill and Serve:
- Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight, until fully set.
- Cut into small squares and serve chilled.
