This dessert bar has been around for generations, yet, no one knows the actual origin of these delightful Carolina Pecan Bars. The Southern Carolina Pecan Bars are filled with a buttery and pecan flavor that will stay in your memory.
This is what makes them such a long lasting dessert in time. Many claim these are more like a cookie than they are a bar, and some say the opposite. All I can say is that they are rich and decadent!
This is quite the unique method to making a dessert bar, but you will find that it is actually pretty easy to accomplish.
This recipe calls for a cake to be made, crumbled and then mixed with frosting. That mix is then pressed into a cake pan or baking sheet. The remaining frosting is then spread over the bars and you can enjoy it at that point.
Is there a certain flavor of cake that I should make?
The recipe includes a cake that should be made from scratch. I would like to believe that a box mix could be used now to make it easier. I have not tried it to compare the difference in taste.
Do these bars need to be refrigerated?
It is best to keep these decadent bars in the refrigerator. They would be fine if they are left out for a few hours, but, much longer than that you should have it covered and placed into the refrigerator.
Can these be made in advance and frozen?
You can certainly make them ahead of time and wrap them tightly or place them into an airtight container. You can then place them into the refrigerator for up to 4 months.
Ingredients:
Cake:
2 cups granulated Sugar
4 eggs, room temperature
1 stick butter
2 tsp Vanilla extract
1 tsp Maple extract
3 cups Flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 cup whole Milk
1 tsp Salt
Pecans:
1 ½ cup Pecans roughly chopped
1 tbsp Butter
Frosting:
12 ounces Cream Cheese, softened to room temperature
6 cups Confectioners Sugar
⅔ cup Butter
1 tsp Maple extract
1 tsp Vanilla extract
1 to 2 tbsp Milk
HOW TO MAKE SOUTHERN CAROLINA PECAN BARS:
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 350*
Step 2. Grease or spray a 9×13 baking pan
Step 3. Melt 1 tbsp butter in small skillet over medium high heat
Step 4. Add in the chopped pecans and stir until coated
Step 5. Cook for 5 minutes until the chopped pecans have toasted
Step 6. Remove from the heat
Step 7. In a large bowl combine the butter and 1 cup of sugar, Beat until fluffy, then add one at a time beating after each one. Add in the vanilla extract and the Maple extract
Step 8. In another bowl combine the flour baking powder and salt, blend well
Step 9. Slowly add the flour mix to the butter and egg mixture, alternating with 1 cup milk
Step 10. Mix until just combined, then fold in the toasted pecans
Step 11. Put the batter into the prepared baking pan and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean
Step 12. As the cake is baking, place the Confectioner’s Sugar in a bowl with the butter. Add the Vanilla extract and the maple extract and begin to blend, add a small amount of milk at a time until the desired consistency is reached.
Step 13. When the cake is done and cool enough to handle, divide the cake in half. Place one half into a bowl and crumble the cake
Step 14. Stir ¼ of the frosting in the bowl with the crumbs
Step 15. Repeat the process with the second half of the cake
Step 16. Put all of the cake crumbles with frosting mixture into the baking pan and press down in an even layer
Step 17. Top the layer with the remaining frosting
Step 18. Refrigerate until fully set, 4 hours or overnight.
Step 19. Cut into small squares and serve chilled.
Southern Carolina Pecan Bars
This recipe is extra special however, a couple of ingredients added to improve the moistness and the flavor is bumped to a whole new level.
Ingredients
Cake:
- 2 cups granulated Sugar
- 4 eggs, room temperature
- 1 stick butter
- 2 tsp Vanilla extract
- 1 tsp Maple extract
- 3 cups Flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 cup whole Milk
- 1 tsp Salt
Pecans:
- 1 ½ cup Pecans roughly chopped
- 1 tbsp Butter
Frosting:
- 12 ounces Cream Cheese, softened to room temperature
- 6 cups Confectioners Sugar
- ⅔ cup Butter
- 1 tsp Maple extract
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
- 1 to 2 tbsp Milk
Instructions
1.Preheat the oven to 350*
2.Grease or spray a 9x13 baking pan
3.Melt 1 tbsp butter in small skillet over medium high heat
4.Add in the chopped pecans and stir until coated
5.Cook for 5 minutes until the chopped pecans have toasted
6.Remove from the heat
7.In a large bowl combine the butter and 1 cup of sugar, Beat until fluffy, then add one at a time beating after each one. Add in the vanilla extract and the Maple extract
8.In another bowl combine the flour baking powder and salt, blend well
9.Slowly add the flour mix to the butter and egg mixture, alternating with 1 cup milk
10.Mix until just combined, then fold in the toasted pecans
11.Put the batter into the prepared baking pan and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean
12.As the cake is baking, place the Confectioner's Sugar in a bowl with the butter. Add the Vanilla extract and the maple extract and begin to blend, add a small amount of milk at a time until the desired consistency is reached.
13.When the cake is done and cool enough to handle, divide the cake in half. Place one half into a bowl and crumble the cake
14.Stir ¼ of the frosting in the bowl with the crumbs
15.Repeat the process with the second half of the cake
16.Put all of the cake crumbles with frosting mixture into the baking pan and press down in an even layer
17.Top the layer with the remaining frosting
18.Refrigerate until fully set, 4 hours or overnight.
19.Cut into small squares and serve chilled.
Notes
Do these bars need to be refrigerated?
It is best to keep these decadent bars in the refrigerator. They would be fine if they are left out for a few hours, but, much longer than that you should have it covered and placed into the refrigerator.
Nutrition Information
Yield 24 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 427Total Fat 20gSaturated Fat 10gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 9gCholesterol 71mgSodium 275mgCarbohydrates 58gFiber 1gSugar 45gProtein 5g
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