Pecan Pie Bars

Do you have a hot Thanksgiving party to go to but don't know WHAT TO BRING?? (We have all been in this horrible predicament, no need to lie, it's 2bit you're talkin' to..) These pecan pie bars are your ticket to being the prince or princess of the party. I brought them to a get together and, let's just say, I shoulda brought my tiara, b/c I was the princess of that partay! (I am almost sure everyone there would agree)

If you are like 2bit Joy, you equate Thanksgiving Day to Pecan Pie Day, after all, didn't Thanksgiving start hundreds of years ago with Chief Pecan and General Pie coming together in peace in an effort to establish an agricultural treaty? I am pretty sure it did because I remember dressing up like Chief Pecan for a Thanksgiving lunch in kindergarten. Anyways, pecan pie is divine, these bars taste like little pecan pies, ergo these little babies are DIVINE...

Why not just make the real thing and do pecan pie? Well, these yummy treats, also called "graham cracker chewies," are wayyy easier because you don't have to make a pastry crust.

Oh man guys, I just realized Thanksgiving is 1 week away.... Whew. Luckily my mom does all the work; so I don't have much planning to do. But this year, 2Bit is making the pecan pie that Granny has made since 2Bit can remember, and it is cherished by all. Big shoes. To fill. Can 2bit. Do it? We shall. See.

Ok, who cares, right? You just wanna make pecan pie bars. I understand. In honor of you, I give, ze recipe: 

Pecan Pie Bars

(Recipe adapted from http://thecookiescoop.blogspot.com/2010/09/graham-cracker-chewies.html)

Crust:
1 1/3 cups graham cracker crumbs ( 8-9 whole crackers) (2Bit added a few chocolate graham crackers too)

1 tbsp. sugar

3/4 stick unsalted butter, softened
2 tbsp. AP flour

Topping:
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar ( I used light brown)
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/3 cup graham cracker crumbs ( about 2 1/2 crackers)
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. vanilla

2 large eggs, beaten

Preheat oven to 350.

To make crust:

Ziploc and pop it :)

1. Place the crackers in a ziploc bag and crush with a rolling pin to make fine crumbs. If you have fancy gadgets and want to cooler than 2Bit, use a food processor.

You can be a classy baker without a food processor. Just put your tiara on, roll out the crumbs in another room, and tell people you used a food processor. Oh 2Bit forgot to mention, she actually used a food processor, not a ziploc bag and rolling pin.. Nicely done, 2Bit, they will never know :)

2. Mix the crumbs, sugar, butter and flour in a mixing bowl til moist and crumbly.

The crust is the right consistency when you pinch it together and it sticks together like a snow ball.

3. Press the mixture evenly and firmly into the bottom of a 9" square pan. (Tip- Use a one cup measuring cup for easier pressing)

Or you can use some strange dimensioned baking dish. It's whatev you fancy. 2bit fancys using what she's got and she doesn't got a 9" square pan. Not even joking.

4. Bake til lightly browned, about 20 minutes.

To make topping:

1. Stir all the ingredients together til blended.

Just throw it in the bowl, uh huh uh huh uh huh, just throw it in the bowl.

2. Spread the topping over the baked crust

3. Bake for 20 minutes or til just slightly jiggly still.

4. Let it cool completely, then cut into the size pieces you'd like. ( Refrigerating helps make cutting the bars easier.)

Whoopsy.... 2Bit couldn't wait to try one.

Mmm... All that gooey pecan goodness..  Just throw it in the mouth, uh huh uh huh uh huh, just throw it in the mouth..