Chocolate Pecan Bars are perfect for the holidays or any special occasion.
Chocolate Pecan Bars showcase the classic taste pairing of quality chocolate chips that are combined with the savory goodness of toasted pecan halves.
Chocolate Pecan Bars
Use a pie pan or skillet to give your pecans or other nuts a quick toast in a hot oven.
I review recipes every day and as the old adage goes, “We eat with our eyes first.” When I first came across this recipe for Chocolate-Chip-Cookie Bars from Food & Wine, it wasn’t a question of if I would be making them but rather when. And then, I poured water over may MacBook Pro laptop.
These Chocolate Pecan Bars are made in a 9 x 13 inch baking pan.
It wasn’t intentional, needless to say, yet I felt like one of our six boys when they do something without appearing to give any thought to the consequences of their actions. A half eaten candy cane on our new sectional in the basement, leaving a new fishing pole out on the cottage pier overnight, ruining a very expensive piece of equipment because of a carelessly placed bottle of water. Oh wait. That was me. The father. The parent. The one who should have known better.
Quietly, I grieved both for the loss of my tethered computer and also for the egregious apparent absence of responsibility on my part. To teach myself a lesson, I forbade myself from buying a new laptop. Instead, I would have to use my old computer, a MacBook Pro that is nearly ten years old.
Chocolate Pecan Bars can be made ahead and stored in an air-tight container for up to five days.
I tried. I gave it my best shot. Through multiple technical freezes, using long-outdated editing software, and a hard drive laden with angry birds and other such games that were apparently gifted from our kids, I have managed to put together a couple of posts for Platter Talk: Our Fall Shepherd’s Pie and now, these wonderful Chocolate Pecan Bars.
The Essentials for these Chocolate Chip & Toasted Pecan Bars
- A 9 x 13 inch baking pan
- Parchment paper
- Good chocolate chips (We use Ghiradelli Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips)
- Pecans
- Whole wheat pastry flour (We used regular whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour would work too.)
- An Egg
- Pure vanilla extract
- Granulated and brown sugar
- Baking soda
- Butter
We made these on the first (but snowless) weekend of December at our small lake cottage in the middle of Nowhere, Wisconsin. It’s often a bit of a challenge when preparing food in our kitchen there. We might have a necessary part of any given recipe on hand and more times than not, we might not. On this day, we had no parchment paper and thus we used some aluminum foil that I treated with a non-stick spray and this worked perfectly when it was time to invert the finished product from the baking pan.
Chocolate Pecan Bars Recipe from Platter Talk
To evenly distribute the dough within the pan, we used a double rolling pin. It’s a handy kitchen tool and one of my favorites that is great for spreading pizza dough, filo dough, and various dough and batters like the one we were working with in this Chocolate Pecan Bars recipe.
This post features a delicious baked cookie-bar and a small but expensive life lesson. “It happens,” as Forrest Gump was known to say. Using an old laptop and substituting tin foil for parchment paper, we are still able to crank out some delicious recipes to share with you and these Chocolate Pecan Bars are a pretty good example of such. Give these a try and if you make a mistake now and then, don’t be too hard on yourself. Instead, turn your oven on, grab a baking pan and some good chocolate chips. Thanks for reading Platter Talk, it truly means the world to us. -Dan
A glass of cold milk is optional for these Chocolate Pecan Bars but we highly recommend it.
Other treats
- Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Bars
- Oatmeal Bars with Apple Butter Filling
- Turtle Dream Bars Recipe from Platter Talk
Chocolate Chip & Toasted Pecan Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup pecans
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
- 2 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- teaspoon A pure vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups whole wheat pastry flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
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.
Nutrition
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
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.
Kristine says
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! 🙂
Ali @ Home & Plate says
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:)
Jamie | The Kitchenarium says
These bars have two of my favorite things in them! Also what a great way to use such an unique kitchen tool.
Marilyn says
These bars look so crunchy and chewy at the same time!! I love pecans!!
Cindy Gordon says
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!
Annie @ Annie's Noms says
Love that you’ve used whole wheat flour; I love the earthiness it gives! These looks so addictive; I know the whole pan would disappear here!
linda spiker says
Well, I WAS ready for bed but all I can think about is these amazing bars! Guess I’ll be baking before bed!
Dan from Platter Talk says
Some things are worth the insomnia!
Christine says
Mmm pecans. I can’t get enough of them. And chocolate, of course. Ah, the joy of holiday baking. 🙂
Sarah says
Absolutely drooling with this one! These look delicious and I need to get my hands on one ASAP!
renz says
Ooh love the combination of pecans and chocolate!! These looks so delicious. Warm with a scoop of ice cream… yummy
Beth @ Binky's Culinary Carnival says
I’m sorry about your laptop, Dan but these really do look amazing! Toasted pecans take it right over the top!
Igor @ Cooking The Globe says
Love the idea of these pecan bars. Going to bookmark them and make when I’ll have some spare time!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
So much holiday cheer in these bars!
Sharon says
I love a great bar, especially because they are so easy to make. I love your addition of pecans. Living in Georgia. we have a great selection of pecans so this will be the best way to use them!
janie says
Oh dear, technology is great until it all goes pear shaped. My laptop died last week and somehow (magic, I assume) my partner managed to resuscitate it back to life. Hope you have evrything backed up safely x
Janie x
Julie | Bunsen Burner Bakery says
Such a perfect fall dessert! Why is it that pecans seem so fall appropriate even though we can get them year round? Either way, this looks like a great treat to bring to a holiday gathering.
Sam | Ahead of Thyme says
These look and sound amazing!! I love pecans and chocolate, yum!
Debra C. says
Oh my gosh when I read your blog I reached over and moved my water bottle further away (and put the lid on it). I’d be in mourning too if that happened. I’d probably have to eat the whole batch of these bars. You know… because I felt so bad and all! 😉
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy says
Just the perfect thing to have with an afternoon latte. They sound totally delicious and addictive.
Debi at Life Currents says
Oh these look so good! I like the little added nutrition of the whole wheat flour too. I’ll take 2 of these, please!
Dan from Platter Talk says
Coming right up, Debi! And two of these are just the right number!
Fiona Saluk says
Your poor laptop! What timing too with the new ones just being released…..but good for you resisting the temptation and powering up your old one for now! The bars look delicious, pecan and chocolate are meant for each other (see: chocolate pecan pie) and this whole wheat flour bar seems like the healthier version I could go for right about now!
Dan from Platter Talk says
Thanks for the kind comments, Fiona! Love your name, btw 🙂
Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine says
These are gorgeous! I love pecans. Perfect holiday treat.
Dan from Platter Talk says
Thanks for the nice comments, Michelle!
Scarlet @ Family Focus Blog says
These sound amazing. I just love chocolate and pecans together. This recipe will be perfect for an upcoming bake sale at my son’s school. Thanks!
Dan from Platter Talk says
These are perfect for a bake sale, especially this time of year!
Bintu - Recipes From A Pantry says
Chocolate and pecans are a great combination. These look scrumptious
Dan from Platter Talk says
Thanks so much, Bintu, we enjoyed these hardy treats and especially during these early days of December!
Rylee says
These brownies are perfect for a party we’re having next weekend. I love pecans and chocolate anything but these bars are exceptionally good looking.
Dan from Platter Talk says
Thanks, Rylee. You may want to go light on the chocolate, just sayin’. 🙂