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Pecan Pie Carmelita Bars

By 12 Comments

These pecan pie carmelita bars are like a next level cookie bar, they’re stuffed with pecans, chocolate, and caramel sauce and are super delicious.

Pecan pie carmelita bars, dessert bars for two, dessert made in a loaf panBest of all, these bars are made in a loaf pan, so they’re a small batch, perfect for sharing with your special someone and minimizing the risk of eating the whole batch. Since today is Valentine’s Day, it’s only fitting that this recipe is for two, and is from my friend Christina’s new cookbook Simple and Sweet: Dessert for Two. 

Pecan pie carmelita bars, dessert bars for two, dessert made in a loaf panChristina blogs over at Dessert for Two, and you’ve already heard me rave about her first cookbook when I shared these 5 ingredient chewy brownie cookies. This is now her third cookbook, how impressive is that?! The cookbook is full of small batch desserts, accompanied with beautiful photography.

Pecan carmelitasA fun fact is that we share a cookbook publisher, and as I was flipping through her cookbook, I came across a recipe for eggnog bread pudding in which she wrote the sweetest recipe intro crediting me. After my cookbook came out last year, she share one of the cookbook recipes (chocolate bread pudding) and turns out she liked the recipe so much she modified it for inclusion in her cookbook, how sweet is that?

Pecan pie carmelita bars, dessert bars for two, dessert made in a loaf pan, pecan pie carmelitas, Sweet & Simple cookbookThe recipe intro states “Carmelitas may look unassuming, like they’re just another cookie bar. They are not. they are the best cookie bar. The one, the only.” And I have to agree. These are so good! It is recommended to chill them overnight for easy slicing, but they did not last that long in my house. They were gone in within minutes of being cool enough to cut! You’re going to love this recipe, along with all the others in the Simple and Sweet cookbook, which you should go buy today!

Yield: 8 small bars or 2 generous servings

Pecan Pie Carmelita Bars

Pecan Pie Carmelita Bars
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 5 tablespoons quick oats (you can pulse rolled oats in a food processor a few times for similar results)
  • 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
  • Pinch of fine sea salt
  • 7 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, diced
  • 1/4 cup chopped pecans
  • 1/3 cup chocolate chunks (or chocolate chips)
  • 1/3 cup store-bought caramel sauce (I didn't have any caramel sauce so I made a homemade one, see note)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 and line a loaf pan with parchment paper (do not use foil). Spray the parchment paper with cooking spray. These bars are very sticky! Be sure to leave enough parchment poverhanging the pan to use as handles to get the bars out of the pan.
  • In a small bowl, mix together the flour, oats, brown sugar, and salt.
  • Add the butter to the flour mixture and work it through the dough using tow knives or a pastry blender. The dough will be similar to cookie dough.
  • Divide the dough in half.
  • Press half of the dough into the baking pan.
  • Sprinkle the pecans and chocolate chunks on top.
  • Evenly drizzle the caramel sauce on top.
  • Scatter the remaining dough on top. It won't completely comer and nuts.
  • Bake for 25 minutes, until the caramel is bubbling and the crust is starting to brown.
  • Let cool completely before removing from the pan.
  • Slice in half (or into smaller pieces - I sliced mine into 8 small bars) and serve. (they're even easier to slice if chilled first).

    • Notes

    I used this recipe for 'oh so easy caramel sauce' (http://allrecipes.com/recipe/245648/oh-so-easy-caramel-sauce/) and halved it, here is the recipe:
    1/2 cup packed brown sugar
    1/4 cup butter
    1/8 cup milk
    1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
    Bring brown sugar, butter, and milk to a gentle boil and cook until thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat; add vanilla extract.

    © Sweetphi

     

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. DessertForTwo says

      ahhhhh Phi!! You are so sweet! I’m so glad this blogging and cookbook writing world brought us together! You are a joy in my life, and I’m so grateful for you!
      Now go eat both servings, because you’re eating for two now! <3

      Love youuuuuu,
      'tina

      Reply

      • Sweetphi says

        Awwwwwww, thank you so much for coming over to comment, so quickly too, you’re just the best. Congrats on such a wonderful third (omg!) cookbook!!!!
        Lots of love right back at you,
        phi

        Reply

    2. Dee says

      Hi Phi. Looking forward to making these. I don’t want to seem to picky but item #8: It won’t completely comer and nuts – I assume you mean that the top won’t be completely covered and to add the nuts.

      Reply

      • Sweetphi says

        I think you’d absolutely love these bars, they’re delish. And omg you do not seem picky, thank you for pointing out the typo, I am definitely going to fix that right this second (it was really early in the morning when I was finishing this up and clearly I wasn’t awake enough lol). Thanks again!

        Reply

    3. Little Cooking Tips says

      These are perfect for a quick bite in the morning if you’re in a hurry to get to the office! You can also easily get some with you for a snack later on! Thanx so much for the fantastic recipe Phi! xoxoxo
      PS Have you ever tried these with a pinch of cinnamon?

      Reply

      • Sweetphi says

        You know, I didn’t even think of having these for breakfast, that is genius though – there are oats in them after all 😉 I also think a pinch of cinnamon would be wonderful in these bars 🙂

        Reply

      • Sweetphi says

        Thank you so much girl! I’m so glad you like them! I love when recipes are portioned a little smaller (especially sweets, so i’m not as tempted to eat all of them lol)

        Reply

    6. Emma says

      Hi Phi! Thanks for posting such a luring recipe. Just curious- when you say loaf pan are you referring to a 9×3” bread loaf pan?

      Reply

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