I was so impressed by my recent visit to Alabama that I went online to Amazon as soon as I got home and ordered 1001 Ways To Cook Southern by Southern Living.
There was a bunch of selections to choose from, but I was taken with this book because it was more than just recipes. It also promised stories which are always important, but are an especially unique element of Southern cuisine with so many recipes handed down from generation to generation. I wasn’t sure what to start with until I found a recipe for pecan pie squares. When I saw I could re-create a staple of Southern cuisine like pecan pie in a potentially less guilty square form, well, that’s all I needed to see.
Maybe because I don’t own a ton of cookbooks, but I felt a fun sort of excitement using this cookbook for the first time. It was like the giddiness of opening up a present, but the excitement was multiplied because I knew there were tons of more presents waiting in the book!
Unfortunately, my pastry blender is in a box somewhere, so I had to make do with a fork, but other than that, this was a very simple recipe that turned out really nicely. The pecan topping is sweet, but not outrageously sugary like I’ve had in other pecan pies. Don’t get me wrong, I do like crazy, über sweet, but this one was good in that it didn’t make it feel like you were one more bite away from a cavity! The crunch of the pecan is definitely there and it’s a perfect compliment to the soft and buttery crust that by the way I am totally impressed with myself for making!
Pecan Pie Squares – Makes approximately 30 squares
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2/3 cup powdered sugar
- 3/4 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2/3 cup butter
- 3 Tbsp. whipping cream
- 3 1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Sift together flour and powdered sugar. Cut in 3/4 cup softened butter using a pastry blender or fork until mixture resembles coarse meal. Pat mixture on bottom and 1 1/2 inches up sides of a lightly greased 13×9 inch baking dish.
- Bake at 350F for 20 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool. Bring brown sugar, honey, 2/3 cup butter and whipping cream to a boil in a saucepan over medium-hight heat. Stir in pecans and pour hot filling into prepared crust.
- Bake at 350F for 25-30 minutes or until golden and bubbly. Cool in pan on a wire rack before cutting into 2-inch squares.
Tastes better with friends 
These sound so yummy. I like the idea of “less guilty square form”. Now to eat just one square. 😉
yea, I forgot to mention that part…the whole eating one square thing doesn’t really work lol
This looks terrific. As a Southerner, I was raised on pecan pie. Love it. But this seems more like pecan pie on top of buttery shortbread. I think I’ll put it on my must-make holiday list.
Thanks Mark! I’m flattered to have the Southerner seal of approval! and you know what, you’re exactly right, it is pecan pie on top of shortbread! I think I was too busy eating them to come up with that on my own. Thank you for pointing that out to me and hope you enjoy them too!
Hubba hubbaroo! These look absolutely decadent and all that’s needed is a glass of iced tea to counter the richness? And a porch overlooking a lake 🙂 Preferably with rocking chairs or a swinging seat!
You have just described my dream setting…maybe late afternoon with the sun slowly falling:)
Ahhh, absolutely in the late afternoon with the sun setting and the water glistening!
J’en veux!!!!!!! En passant tes photos sont de plus en plus belles, j’observe une nette amélioration… c’est ça quand on met des efforts dans notre passion 🙂
Bonne continuité!
merci! J’essaie de mon mieux a ameliorer mes photos:)
That pecan pie looks gorgeous! If the second picture would be a woman she would be a temptress! lol! 🙂
I not only tasted pecan pie for the first time this Thanksgiving, but I made it also. Mine wasn’t as sweet as I had anticipated (and wanted!) and I think I overcooked it because it was way too crunchy. I was very underwhelmed.
But now I understand. I needed to make the crust with a fork, and cut the pie into squares. 😉 This urges me to try again.
Welcome to the world of pecan pie, it’s a wonderful place! Enjoy eating the practice:)
I LOOVEEE pecan pie! Thank you for a great recipe. And don’t you just love cookbooks that tell a story!? Better than fiction if you ask me!
Thank you and yes, definitely makes a great read.
Boy this pecan pie squares look good! And you totally got me with the fact that they are not too sweet. I also like very sweet things but pecan stuff can get a little too much toward the “if I give one more bite I become a cookie”. I totally have to bookmark this recipe!
These look incredibly delicious!.. Thank you very much for sharing. All the best. Luna
Oh my goodness! I think I’ve died and gone to heaven. I love pecan pie! this looks great and I like that it’s not a pie and I can cut them up in squares! Now I can enjoy little bites (will last longer) Thanks!
Pecan pie with a little less guilt:)
And … now I’m starving for some dessert!! Great post Ethan, I don’t normally like Pecan Squares, but these actually sound wonderful.
I’m sorry for making you hungry, but that’s one of the best compliments you could say, so thank you!
Now this warms my Southern Heart!
That’s exactly what I like to hear!
Now these I could eat quite happily! I do prefer less sweet sweets just because you can usually taste all of the separate ingredients much better. And you can eat more without feeling queasy so yes I could eat many of these. I love this recipe. And you know, bars makes it that much homier than a pie.
These pecan pie squares look and sound wonderful!
These look delicious! And, from the recipe, I think that even I could manage baking them. Thanks :).
Give yourself more credit, you could rock it!