Chocolate Chip Toasted Pecan Bars

5 from 6 votes

Posted by Dan from Platter Talk

on Dec 03, 2016, Updated Jun 13, 2025

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Chocolate Chip Toasted Pecan Bars are rich, chewy dessert bars packed with melty chocolate chips and crunchy toasted pecans.

A stack of chocolate chip pecan bars with a glass of milk.

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They’re quick to make, easy to slice, and impossible to stop at just one. Grab your mixing bowl—this is one chocolate and pecan recipe you’ll want to bookmark for your next bake!

Table of Contents

Chocolate Chip Pecan Bars – Recipe Details

Category: Easy Bar Desserts, Cookie Bars, Holiday Baking
Cuisine: American
Skill Level: Beginner
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20–25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 24 bars
Main Ingredients: chocolate chips, toasted pecans, brown sugar, whole wheat pastry flour, vanilla extract, unsalted butter
Equipment Needed: 9×13-inch baking pan, parchment paper, large bowl, hand mixer, small bowl

Summary:
These Chocolate Chip Pecan Bars are rich, chewy dessert bars made with melty chocolate chips, crunchy pecans, and a buttery cookie base. They bake up golden brown with toasty edges and gooey centers—perfect for potlucks, cookie swaps, or an easy pecan chocolate dessert any day of the week. No corn syrup needed!

About These Chocolate Chip Pecan Bars

Easy dessert bar recipes are frequent fliers in our kitchen oven. From Chocolate and Pecan Turtle Bars and Delicious Magic Cookie Bars, to our popular Gooey Oatmeal Bars with Apple Butter Filling, our family and friends can’t get enough of these homemade desserts from scratch.

There’s something timeless about the flavor combo of chocolate and pecans. We use this tasty combination in our Chocolate Pecan Pie with Bourbon in It as well. These chocolate chip pecan bars have a cookie-meets-blondie vibe and bake up beautifully in bar form—no scooping or chilling required.

We made them on a chilly weekend at the lake and they were gone before the coffee brewed. With pantry staples and a handful of simple ingredients, this is one of those easy delicious cookie bar recipes you’ll come back to again and again.

Overhead view of a knife and some cut-out pecan bars on parchment paper.

Even better? This is a no-fuss chocolate pecan pie bars recipe that can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container for several days. Perfect for the holiday season, bake sales, or a Tuesday sweet tooth.

Variations & Add-Ins

This chocolate pecan bars recipe is totally flexible. Try mixing in coconut flakes, using dark chocolate chunks, or even swirling in caramel drizzle. Want a fun twist? Press into muffin cups for individual chocolate chip pecan blondies or add bourbon and make it bourbon chocolate chip pecan bars for grown-up flair.

Ingredients (Highlights)

You’ll need good-quality semisweet chocolate chips, chopped toasted pecans, and brown sugar for that classic chewy texture. A mix of unsalted butter and a little oil helps the cookie dough stay soft and tender. You can use whole wheat pastry flour, all-purpose flour, or even try it with gluten-free flour if needed.

How to Make Chocolate Chip Pecan Bars

(See the full set of ingredients and instructions in the recipe card below.)

A skillet full of toasted pecans.
  1. Toast the pecans: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spread pecans in a dry skillet or on a small baking sheet and toast for about 8 minutes. Let cool.
  2. Mix the dough: In a large bowl, cream together butter, oil, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth. Add vanilla extract and an egg, and beat until creamy.
  3. Combine dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk whole wheat pastry flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to wet ingredients and mix on low speed just until combined.
  4. Add the good stuff: Fold in chocolate chips and toasted pecans.
  5. Bake: Line a 9×13 baking pan with parchment paper. Spread the dough evenly, smoothing the top. Bake for 20–25 minutes until the edges are set and the center is just slightly soft.
  6. Cool & slice: Let cool completely in the pan. Use the parchment paper to lift and transfer to a cutting board. Slice into squares.

Recipe Tips

  • Don’t overmix the dough after adding dry ingredients—this keeps your bars soft.
  • Let bars cool completely before slicing for clean edges.
  • Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
A stack of pecan bars with a glass of milk.

Recipe Questions and Answers

Can I freeze chocolate chip pecan bars?

Yes! Once cooled, wrap bars in plastic wrap and store in a freezer-safe bag. Thaw at room temperature.

Can I make these without nuts?

Absolutely. Just leave out the pecans or swap in chocolate chips or toffee bits.

Can I use condensed milk instead of sugar?

This recipe doesn’t need condensed milk, but it can work in some chocolate pecan bars with condensed milk variations.

Why You’ll Love These

These chocolate chip pecan bars come together fast with no need to chill the dough, and cleanup’s a breeze with just one bowl. Every bite is packed with melty chocolate chips and toasty pecans, making them totally irresistible. Plus, they’re a great base recipe—easy to tweak into pecan chocolate chip bars, chocolate pecan shortbread bars, or chocolate chip cookie bars, depending on what your sweet tooth is craving.

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A stack of dessert bars with a glass of milk.
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Chocolate Chip Toasted Pecan Bars

5 from 6 votes
These Chocolate Chip Pecan Bars are soft, chewy cookie bars packed with toasted pecans and melty chocolate chips. They bake up golden brown in under 25 minutes and are the perfect bar form dessert for holidays or weekday cravings.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Yield: 15 servings
By: Dan from Platter Talk

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Ingredients 

  • 1 cup pecans
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • teaspoon A pure vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
US Customary – Metric

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 350° and line the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Spread the pecans in a pie plate and toast for about 8 minutes, until golden.
  • Using large bowl, cream butter and oil with the granulated sugar and brown sugar. Beat in the egg and vanilla until smooth. In a small bowl, whisk the flour with the baking soda and salt; beat the dry ingredients into the mixer at low speed. Add the chocolate chips and pecans; beat just until incorporated.
  • Transfer the dough to the prepared baking pan and press into an even layer. Bake for about 20 minutes, until lightly browned and nearly set in the center. Let cool completely, then run a knife around the edges and invert the rectangle. Peel off the paper and invert onto a cutting board. Cut and serve.

Notes

Important Recipe Tips
  1. Toast the pecans for 8–10 minutes before mixing them in—this brings out their rich, nutty flavor and adds depth to the bars.
  2. Don’t overmix the dough once you add the dry ingredients; mixing just until combined keeps the bars soft and chewy.
  3. Let the bars cool completely in the pan before slicing—this helps them firm up for clean, bakery-style edges.

Nutrition

Calories: 234kcal, Carbohydrates: 23g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 19mg, Sodium: 121mg, Potassium: 149mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 12g, Vitamin A: 120IU, Vitamin C: 0.1mg, Calcium: 23mg, Iron: 1.4mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @plattertalk or tag #plattertalk!

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Dan & Scott split their time between Wisconsin and Southwest Florida and are dads to six boys. Good food runs through their veins, and they love showing others how to cook easy recipes.

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5 from 6 votes

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33 Comments

  1. Oh God! These bars are s scrumptious. I just love the flavor of toasted pecans and these are something I would love to use the nuts in. I am definitely going to try them soon.

    Reply

  2. I live in a pecan grove and I am always looking for delicious sweet recipes with pecans – you made my day with this one! The bars look to-die for! I can’t wait to make some…like this weekend! 🙂

    Reply

  3. 5 stars
    Yum. These Chocolate pecan bars are a perfect holiday treat. I love pecans this time of the year especially toasting them before adding them to the mix. There is nothing better. Bet Santa loves them too:)

    Reply

  4. These bars have two of my favorite things in them! Also what a great way to use such an unique kitchen tool.

    Reply

  6. I was looking for recipes to bake with my kids. THIS looks like the perfect one! Thank you for sharing! I can’t wait to try it!

    Reply