Pecan Pie Bars

If you like pecan pie you will love these bars that my sister-in-law made for us when we were visiting them a few years ago. The recipe starts with a cake mix for the cookie base which keeps things simple. Broken pecans are added to a rich brown sugar filling that is piled on top of the base and then it's baked until golden brown. Rich, huh? Blessings...

Recipe:

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter
1 pkg. (18.25 oz.) yellow cake mix, preferably Duncan Hines
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 egg
1-1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
2/3 cup light corn syrup
2/3 cup whipping cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 lb. pecan pieces

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously grease a 9"x13" baking pan.
2. Melt 1/2 cup butter. At medium speed beat cake mix with flour, melted butter and egg until dough forms. Press dough into bottom and 1" up sides of the pan.
3. Bake 20 minutes or just until base starts to brown; cool on rack 10 minutes.
4. In a 2-quart saucepan over medium heat combine sugar and corn syrup. Bring to boil, stirring to dissolve sugar; boil 1 minute. Remove from heat; stir in cream and remaining butter.
5. Over low heat cook mixture 3 minutes; do not stir. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla, then pecans. Pour over crust.
6. Bake 20-25 minutes or until filling is set, being careful not to over bake. Cool on rack for 1 hour.
7. Cut into bars and let cool completely.

Yield: 18 or 24 bars
505 calories and 3 gms. fiber per bar for 18
397 calories and 2 gms. fiber per bar for 24
Note: The original recipe had 2 ounces of melted white chocolate drizzled on the bars which was just too rich so I deleted it, but the calorie count includes the drizzle, so the calorie count is a bit off. If you can handle "too rich" go for it and enjoy!