I've always felt very neutral about pecan pie. You won't ever find me rushing to make pecan pie, but I certainly won't turn down a slice if it comes my way. These maple "pecan pie" bars, on the other hand, are a fantastically different thing. In fact, they are everything I've always wished pecan pie would be, I just didn't know it yet.
The Challenges of Pecan Pie
Maybe I'm just overly particular, but it's rare when I find a pecan pie that strikes a perfect balance of, well, pecan and pie. Maybe it's too ooey-gooy, or perhaps it has a soggy crust, or possibly the flavor even falls a little flat. And considering my Southern roots and penchant for redoing recipes, one would think I'd have come up with my own solution already.
But nope, it wasn't until I was given the oh-so-tough (yeah, right) assignment for our Thanksgiving Gathering this year — to create a perfect pecan pie in handheld form — that I even stopped to think about it. But think about it I did, and what resulted was a fairly simple yet very amazing dessert. As it turns out, putting pecan pie in bar form eliminated those otherwise fatal flaws I mentioned.
A Few Tweaks to a Classic Recipe
My recipe renovation started with considering the crust. I wanted the ease of shortbread but one that didn't crumble if you looked at it wrong, and so I had to to think about both ingredients and technique. Ultimately I decided on a blend of cake flour and all-purpose flour, to yield a tender yet durable crust. I replaced more traditional powdered sugar with brown sugar, to better marry with the flavors with the impending filling. Of course high-quality butter was essential, and a splash of vanilla just seemed like the right thing to do.
A Press-In Crust
After looking up a million different shortbread techniques — food processor, stand mixer, pastry cutter — the method that grabbed my attention from a few different websites was for a melt-the-butter, pour-it and press-it-in kind of crust (think graham cracker or chocolate wafer). I'll admit I was intrigued but not optimistic. But I went for it anyway, and boy, was I wrong. It was so delicious, not to mention the easiest thing in the history of ever — no more dragging out special equipment or stressing about over-processing the dough!
A Pecan Filling with a Maple Twist
For the filling, I wanted a firm texture with a complex taste that managed to still be all about the pecans. Personally I think maple is the quintessential pairing for this favorite nut, so it seemed like a no-brainer to use it for these bars, while brown sugar and butter added a caramel note. I finished off the filling with a dollop of creme fraiche and a healthy glug of vanilla extract to add a luxe finish to the dish. A generous pinch of salt brought each of the elements together.
Putting It All Together
The true test, however, would be if the individual parts would harmonize as a whole. And so I waited rather (im)patiently for the caramel-y pecan bars to set before I went at them with my knife. I politely sat down at my desk with an adorable sliver, ready to examine my creation. And then I meandered back in the kitchen, because I "needed" to "test" it a little bit more. With every tiny slice came another, then another, until I balked at the fact I had just managed to Pac-Man half the pan. (And while calorie counting isn't really my thing, I vaguely understood the diet crime I had probably just committed.)
But oh-my-gosh, I couldn't resist! It was so. Very. Good. When I finally came up for air, I had to call for reinforcements. (a.k.a my very generous friends who come to "take these kinds of things away.") And so a few neighborhood pals arrived to save me from myself, but they too caved under the pecan pie pressure. We were all just too weak.
To put its yumminess into perspective I made it two more times that week and have plenty of plans for more. I have a funny feeling its simplicity might be the end of me. (Which I guess means so much for death by chocolate?)
Maple Pecan Pie Bars
Makes 24 to 30 small bars
For the crust
5 1/2 ounces all-purpose flour (approximately 1 1/4 cups)
4 1/2 ounces cake flour (approximately 1 cup)
6 tablespoons light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
8 ounces (16 tablespoons) good-quality unsalted butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
For the filling
4 ounces (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup pure maple syrup, preferably grade B
2 tablespoons creme fraiche or heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
12 ounces chopped pecans (about 3 cups)
For the crust, preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13-inch baking dish with aluminum foil or parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on all sides for easy removal of the bars.
Combine the all-purpose flour, cake flour, brown sugar, and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Pour in the melted butter and vanilla and, using a fork, stir until it forms a thick, sandy dough. (It should be fairly moist.)
Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and press evenly into the bottom. Transfer the dish to the freezer for 10 minutes (or the refrigerator for 30) to allow the dough to firm. Bake for exactly 20 minutes, making sure to remove the crust before it starts to turn golden. Allow the crust to cool for at least 20 to 30 minutes for adding filling.
For the filling, heat the butter, brown sugar, and maple syrup in a medium saucepan over medium heat until the butter is melted and the sugar is dissolved. Turn off heat and whisk in creme fraiche, vanilla, and salt. Fold in the pecans.
Pour the mixture over the baked shortbread crust and use an off-set spatula to spread the pecans evenly. Bake in the 350°F oven for 18 to 20 minutes, until mixture is hot and bubbly. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before slicing into desired size bars. Store bars, covered, at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Recipe Notes
- You can use all all-purpose flour if you don't have any cake flour on hand (Pastry flour would also be great.)
- You can substitute honey or corn syrup for the maple syrup, although in my opinion, you won't get nearly as delicious the flavor.
(Image credits: Leela Cyd)
via Recipe | The Kitchn http://ift.tt/111lX6v
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