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Kentucky Derby Bars Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 147 reviews

Kentucky Derby Bars are a decadent and rich dessert featuring a buttery, crumbly crust topped with a gooey, nutty filling loaded with pecans and semisweet chocolate chips. Perfect for special occasions or casual indulgence, these bars combine a delightful texture with deep, caramel-like sweetness from brown sugar and dark corn syrup.

Ingredients

Scale

Crust

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • Pinch of salt

Filling

  • 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 1 cup dark corn syrup
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 cups chopped pecans
  • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat and prepare pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 13×9-inch baking pan with aluminum foil and spray it with nonstick cooking spray to ensure easy removal of the bars.
  2. Make the crust: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, confectioners’ sugar, and a pinch of salt. Cut in the softened butter until the mixture becomes crumbly, resembling coarse crumbs.
  3. Bake the crust: Evenly press the crumbly crust mixture into the prepared baking pan. Bake it for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the crust is lightly browned, creating a firm base for the filling.
  4. Prepare the filling: In another bowl, combine the brown sugar, dark corn syrup, melted butter, eggs, chopped pecans, and semisweet chocolate chips. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated and the mixture is smooth.
  5. Bake with filling: Pour the prepared filling evenly over the baked crust. Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 25 to 30 minutes until the filling is set but still slightly soft in the center, ensuring a gooey texture.
  6. Cool and serve: Remove the pan from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely in the pan. Once cooled, lift the bars out using the foil and cut into squares for serving.

Notes

  • Ensure the butter is softened, not melted, when making the crust for the best crumbly texture.
  • Do not overbake the filling; it should be set but still slightly soft in the center to maintain gooeyness.
  • For easier slicing, chill the bars after cooling completely.
  • These bars store well in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
  • Pecans can be toasted beforehand to enhance their flavor if desired.

Keywords: Kentucky Derby Bars, pecan bars, chocolate chip bars, gooey dessert bars, southern dessert, nutty dessert, baked bars

Find it online: https://ellaeatsdaily.com/kentucky-derby-bars-recipe/