Description
Delightfully rich and creamy caramel pecan cream bars featuring a buttery crust, smooth cream cheese filling swirled with luscious caramel, and crunchy toasted pecans on top. Perfect as a decadent dessert or indulgent snack, these bars balance sweet and nutty flavors with a satisfying texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
Filling
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Topping
- 1/2 cup caramel sauce
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper to ensure easy removal of bars later.
- Make the crust: In a medium bowl, combine the all-purpose flour and granulated sugar. Cut in the softened unsalted butter using a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press this crumbly mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form the crust base.
- Bake crust: Bake the crust in the preheated oven for 15 to 18 minutes, or until it turns lightly golden in color. Remove the pan from the oven and let the crust cool slightly so it firms up and won’t mix into the filling.
- Prepare cream cheese filling: In a separate bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract together until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Spread this filling evenly over the slightly cooled crust.
- Add caramel swirl: Drizzle the caramel sauce over the cream cheese layer and gently use a knife or skewer to swirl the caramel into the filling, creating a marbled effect without fully blending it in.
- Top with pecans and salt: Sprinkle the chopped pecans evenly across the top of the filling. Add a pinch of salt to enhance the flavors and contrast the sweetness.
- Bake the assembled bars: Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 20 to 25 minutes, or until the filling is fully set and the pecans have toasted to a golden brown color.
- Cool and serve: Remove the bars from the oven and let them cool completely before cutting them into 12 servings. These bars can be served chilled or at room temperature for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Use softened butter and cream cheese for easier mixing and a smooth texture.
- Ensure the crust is fully baked and slightly cooled before adding the filling to prevent it from becoming soggy.
- Drizzling and swirling caramel gently prevents the filling from becoming overly sweet or runny.
- Allow the bars to cool completely before slicing to achieve clean, neat bars.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- For extra indulgence, drizzle additional caramel sauce on top before serving.
