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Perfect Derby Pie Bars with Irresistible Chocolate Bourbon Filling

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These Derby Pie Bars feature a gooey chocolate bourbon filling nestled inside a tender, buttery crust, offering a comforting yet indulgent dessert perfect for gatherings or a cozy treat.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (190g)
  • ½ cup granulated sugar (100g)
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed (115g)
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • ¾ cup packed brown sugar (150g)
  • ⅓ cup light corn syrup (80ml)
  • 3 tbsp bourbon
  • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (175g)
  • 1 cup chopped pecans (120g)
  • 3 tbsp butter, melted
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, and salt.
  2. Cut in cold, cubed butter using a pastry cutter, two forks, or fingers until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
  3. Stir in vanilla extract and 2-3 tbsp cold water until dough holds together but isn’t sticky (about 5 minutes).
  4. Press dough evenly into bottom of a 9×9-inch square baking pan, packing firmly to create a sturdy base.
  5. Bake crust alone for 12-15 minutes until just golden around edges.
  6. While crust bakes, whisk eggs and brown sugar until smooth and slightly fluffy (about 2 minutes).
  7. Add light corn syrup, melted butter, and bourbon, mixing well after each addition.
  8. Stir in a pinch of salt.
  9. Fold in semisweet chocolate chips and chopped pecans until evenly distributed.
  10. Pour filling over baked crust and spread gently with a spatula.
  11. Bake for 25-30 minutes at 350°F (175°C) until filling is set but slightly jiggly in center and edges are bubbling and lightly browned.
  12. Remove from oven and cool completely in pan on a wire rack (up to 2 hours).
  13. Chill in fridge for an additional hour if firmer bars are desired.
  14. Use a sharp knife warmed under hot water and wiped dry to cut bars into smaller squares.
  15. Serve at room temperature or slightly chilled.

Notes

Use cold butter for crust and melted butter for filling for best texture. Blind bake crust to prevent sogginess. Fold chocolate chips and pecans gently to avoid deflating filling. Watch oven closely starting at 25 minutes to avoid overbaking. Cool bars completely before slicing for neat squares. Substitute bourbon with vanilla extract or strong brewed coffee for alcohol-free version. Almond flour can be used for gluten-free crust. Walnuts or sunflower seeds can replace pecans for nut-free options.

Nutrition

Keywords: Derby Pie Bars, chocolate bourbon filling, pecan bars, dessert bars, easy dessert, bourbon dessert, chocolate dessert, Southern dessert

Find it online: https://breezybake.com/perfect-derby-pie-bars-recipe-with-irresistible-chocolate-bourbon-filling-made-easy/