If you love pecan pie you’re going to go crazy for these Turtle Pecan Pie Bars! Packed full of crunchy pecans, creamy caramel, and decadent chocolate, these bars are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth!
Thanksgiving seems so long ago doesn’t it? It’s hard to believe it was just last week that I was over-preparing for our guests, baking and cooking away. Now we’re already onto Christmas! Geez time flies!
One standout memory I will always, always cherish of this past Thanksgiving was my sister’s pecan pie. No. I’m not even joking. I don’t even know how to tell you how amazing it was. Seriously, I saw her pull out this gorgeous pecan pie and take it over to the table as I was putting leftovers away and then a couple of minutes – no, seconds later, I look over and there is this teensy tiny sliver left in the pie plate. I jumped over a few small children, dodged chatty relatives, and slid in just in time for the last remaining bites.
Totally worth it.
The poor pumpkin pie was sitting there half eaten while the pecan pie was demolished in mere moments. It was mesmerizing. Everyone couldn’t stop talking about how amazing this pie was and Melissa was like, “Well, I just took a couple recipes and made a few changes and here it is…” All modest and everything. I would’ve been like YES. I am a total rock star and I made this pie.
I’ve been dreaming and fantasizing about pecan pie in the days since and I finally succumbed to the intense desire and made one of my own. Except better.
I made pecan pie bars. With chocolate. And caramel. Thus, Turtle Pecan Pie Bars.
I think I just one-upped my sister 🙂 She’d be proud. In fact, these bars may just be making an appearance at our Christmas dinner…I think they would be gobbled up just as fast as her pie – if not faster!
These bars are just chock full of pecans – golden and delicious! Pecans are my VERY favorite nut – I eat them like candy and I just adore baking with them. There are so many recipes that I use them in; both sweet and savory. I’m so glad I found yet another recipe to use them in!
I love that this recipe is essentially pecan pie…but in bar form. You’ll love how easy these are to serve and you’re going to get a full 24 servings out of this recipe. That’s like TWO whole pies. Definitely the way to go here 🙂
Turtle Pecan Pie Bars
Ingredients
Crust
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
Caramel Layer
- 11 oz Kraft caramels, unwrapped
- 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 cup Diamond of California Nuts chopped pecans
Pecan Pie Filling
- 3/4 cup light corn syrup
- 3 eggs room temperature
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp butter melted
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Line a 9x13 baking dish with parchment paper.
Crust
- Combine all crust ingredients in a mixing bowl and beat until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Press crumbs into bottom of the lined baking dish, making sure the crust is even.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
- Let cool for 10 minutes on wire rack.
Caramel Layer
- Microwave caramels and heavy whipping cream in a microwave safe bowl on high for two minutes. Stir until completely melted.
- Set aside 1/4 cup of caramel mixture to drizzle on top of bars later.
- Stir in pecans and pour over cooled crust.
Pecan Pie Filling
- Combine corn syrup, eggs, sugars, butter, and vanilla in mixing bowl and blend until well combined.
- Stir in chopped pecans and chocolate chips.
- Pour over caramel layer.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until bars are set. Cool completely on wire rack before cutting and serving.
- Drizzle reserved caramel sauce over the top of bars if desired. Caramel may need to be warmed up in the microwave until it reaches a thinner consistency.
Nutrition
Ooh! And just look at that caramel drizzle on top…I just want to lick the edges…YUM!
Enjoy pecans as much as I do? Try out these other amazing pecan recipes:
Overnight Caramel Pecan Cinnamon Rolls
For all appetizer recipes, go HERE.
For all dessert recipes, go HERE.
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Erin {Delightful E Made} says
Hi Trish! Stopping by from Wake Up Wednesday. Had to come check out these AMAZING looking bars. There is nothing I love more than chocolate and caramel together. Have pinned! Merry Christmas to you and your family! ~Erin
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
So glad you stopped by Erin! Thank you so much for the pin and Merry Christmas to you too 🙂
Lisa @ Cooking with Curls says
These bars totally one-up pecan pie. Chocolate and caramel win every time in my book. 🙂
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Mine too Lisa 🙂 Thanks for visiting!
Cathy says
Love this! I hope you will link this post up to the All Things Linky Christmas Party tomorrow! See you there! http://wp.me/p466oG-qA
Cathy
APeekIntoMyParadise.com
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Thank you so much Cathy!
Sarah & Arkadi says
These bars are loaded with all sweet goodness!!!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Yes they are Sarah 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
BEST EVER BARS!!!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Thanks Dorothy!
Renee @ Two in the Kitchen says
Oh, these look absolutely decadent! YUM!!!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Thank you so much Renee! So glad you stopped by 🙂 Enjoy your weekend!
Julianne @ Beyond Frosting says
Pecan Pie Bars sound way more easy than a Pecan pie- which I have never made before! BUT I did make an apple pie lasagna for Thanksgiving and our poor pumpkin pie also went uneaten- completely uneaten until the end of our vacation and we divided it up and all took some home haha! Bad year for pumpkin pies I guess!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
LOL! The poor pumpkin pie…totally ignored 🙂 Now an apple pie lasagna would have ALSO been devoured in mere seconds at our Thanksgiving – especially yours! Thanks Julianne!
Allie | Baking a Moment says
Oh my gosh, my hubby would love these! I’m pinning! Thanks for sharing and ps- can I be adopted into your family???
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
You can absolutely be adopted into our family – we love bakers! Thanks Allie!
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
So gooey and full of textures! Mmm, my fave kind of bar!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Thanks Averie!
Nancy P.@thebittersideofsweet says
Okay yes YUM!! I could eat pecan pie all year! I don’t know why we have to wait for the holidays to enjoy!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Exactly! I could definitely handle one of these bars say, once a month 🙂 Thanks Nancy!