Pecan Butter Tart Bars – SO good and SO easy

What is a butter tart? If you’re from Canada you may be looking at me like I’m off my rocker because who doesn’t know the deliciousness of a butter tart? Many, many folks haven’t tried a butter tart and that’s kinda sad.

Butter tarts are becoming well-known everywhere which is a glorious thing! They’re somewhat like a pecan pie, without the nut topping but the filling tends to be runnier. You start with a pastry shell and end up with a sweet dessert that we all adore.

Today I’m sharing my recipe for Pecan Butter Tart Bars which use the same filling as the butter tart but I’ve made them with a shortbread crust so that you can bring them along to events. My family adores shortbread and in this recipe it’s nicely accompanied by the sweetness of the butter tart filling and the nutty flavour of the pecan. 

Pecan Butter Tart Bars

INGREDIENTS

Crust

• 1 cup butter – keep it cold and cut into small pieces
• 4 tablespoons icing sugar
• 2 cups of flour

Filling

• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 cups brown sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 3/4 cups raisins
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

PREPARATION

Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees F

Line a 9×13 pan with parchment paper

Crust

1. Place icing sugar and flour into a bowl and “cut in the butter”. You do this by cutting the butter into pieces, place on top of the flour/icing sugar and coat them all. Use two forks or knives, moving in different directions to combine the butter with dry ingredients. You will end up with pea sized bits that stick together if you press them.
2. Press this mixture into the 9 x 13 parchment-lined pan and bake for 10 minutes and set aside.

Filling

1. Melt butter in the microwave and whisk in the eggs, lemon juice, vanilla, brown sugar.
2. Stir in the raisins and pecans.
3. Pour the mixture over the crust and bake until the filling is set, approx 25 mins. It will be jiggly but make sure it’s not still liquid.
4. Refrigerate for an hour or two before cutting and serving.

Print

5.0 from 6 reviews

Pecan Butter Tart Bars

Serves: 24 bars

Prep time:  10 mins

Cook time:  35 mins

Total time:  45 mins

Ingredients

• Crust
• 1 cup butter - keep it cold and cut into small pieces
• 4 tablespoons icing sugar
• 2 cups of flour
• Filling
• ½ cup butter
• 2 cups brown sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• ¾ cups raisins
• ½ cups chopped pecans

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F
2. Line a 9x13 pan with parchment paper
3. CRUST
4. Place icing sugar and flour into a bowl and "cut in the butter". You do this by cutting the butter into pieces, place on top of the flour/icing sugar and coat them all. Use two forks or knives, moving in different directions to combine the butter with dry ingredients. You will end up with pea sized bits that stick together if you press them.
5. Press this mixture into the 9 x 13 parchment-lined pan and bake for 10 minutes and set aside.
6. FILLING
7. Melt butter in the microwave and whisk in the eggs, lemon juice, vanilla, brown sugar.
8. Stir in the raisins and pecans.
9. Pour the mixture over the crust and bake until the filling is set, approx 25 mins. It will be jiggly but make sure it's not still liquid.
10. Refrigerate for an hour or two before cutting and serving.

3.5.3208