Live, Love, & Eat in Sayulita: Pecan Pie Bars

Today I am talking Thanksgiving, as November 23rd will be here before we know it! Are you ready with your menu plan? Even if you will not be making a special meal, a yummy dessert is always welcome for your table, a potluck lunch, or a dinner you may be going to in Sayulita. And what speaks of Thanksgiving more than pecan pie? Some of you may not be comfortable making pie crust, so I thought Pecan Pie Bars! They are so easy to prepare and all of the ingredients can be found in many of our Sayulita tiendas.

INGREDIENTS FOR CRUST:

-1 & 1/4 cups white flour. I only use organic flour now. *Regular flour is sprayed with chemicals two weeks or so before harvest, as it dries the wheat out faster.

-1/4 cup powdered sugar; it is called "glass" here in Mexico.

-1/4 teaspoon salt

-1/2 cup frozen unsalted butter

METHOD FOR CRUST:

-Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8x8 pan with butter on the bottom and up all sides. Line the greased pan with parchment paper that overhangs the sides. This makes for easy removal after the bars have cooled.

-Combine above ingredients, except for the butter.

-Grate frozen butter into the above ingredients, and bring together with your hands until pastry resembles coarse crumbs.

-Press crumbs evenly into the prepared baking pan.

-Bake until golden around edges, approximately 20-25 minutes.

-Remove from oven and let cool. 

INGREDIENTS AND METHOD FOR FILLING:

-In a pot melt 3/4 cup unsalted butter.

-Add 1/2 cup liquid honey.

-Add 1/3 cup brown sugar and whisk all together until well blended. At first you will think that the butter will not blend in, but please be patient because it will.

-Whisk in 1/4 cup whipping cream; called "Crema para Batir" here in Mexico. Alas Blancas in Sayulita always carries it.

-Add 3 & 1/2 cups pecans. I bought nice fresh ones at Don Rodolphos tienda in Sayulita this morning.

-Stir until all the pecans are well coated.

-Spread on top of cooled crust.

-Bake for 20-30 minutes until the filling is bubbling.

-Cool completely before cutting into desired size and shape pieces. 

These Pecan Pie Bars are wonderful served with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. You will totally LOVE these bars!

OH MY GOODNESS! I just have to add this; I tasted these bars for the first time this afternoon! They taste just like a YUMMY pecan pie! Serve these individually on a plate with a dab of whipped cream and you will feel like you are in heaven! Pecan Pie without having to make a pastry crust. Doesn’t get any better, does it?

Nutella, Nutella, Nutella! Such yummy flavors. My next column will tell you how to make the easiest, most delicious Nutella Brownies! Stay tuned!