Healthy Gluten-Free Pecan Pie Bars Recipe
These Healthy Gluten-Free Pecan Pie Bars combine a buttery almond flour crust with a rich, maple-sweetened pecan filling. Perfect for a nutritious dessert or snack, these bars are naturally gluten-free and use coconut sugar and maple syrup as wholesome sweeteners. With a simple baking process and wholesome ingredients, they offer a delicious twist on the classic pecan pie flavor in a convenient bar form.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
- Yield: 16 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
Crust Ingredients
- 2 cups almond flour
- 1/4 cup melted coconut oil
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional, but recommended)
Filling Ingredients
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar (or brown sugar)
- 1/4 cup melted coconut oil
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (optional, but recommended)
- 2 eggs (at room temperature, very important!)
- 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans (raw and unsalted)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat the oven to 350° Fahrenheit and line a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper to ensure easy removal of the bars after baking.
- Make and Bake Crust: In a large bowl, combine all the crust ingredients—almond flour, melted coconut oil, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. Mix thoroughly, then press the mixture evenly into the base of the prepared baking pan. Bake for 10 minutes or until the crust is lightly golden brown around the edges.
- Prepare Filling: While the crust is baking, whisk together the coconut sugar, melted coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and room temperature eggs until smooth and well combined. Then fold in the chopped pecans evenly throughout the filling mixture.
- Assemble and Bake Filling: Remove the baked crust from the oven and pour the pecan filling mixture over it, spreading evenly. Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 20-25 minutes, or until the filling is set and no longer jiggly when gently shaken.
- Cool and Chill: Remove the pan from the oven and allow the bars to cool at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. Once cooled, transfer the pan to the refrigerator and chill the bars for about 1 hour to firm up.
- Slice and Serve: After chilling, lift the bars out of the pan using the parchment paper. Cut into 16 even squares and serve immediately, or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week.
Notes
- Ensure the eggs are at room temperature before mixing to help the filling set properly.
- The vanilla extract is optional but recommended for enhanced flavor.
- Make sure to press the crust evenly in the pan for uniform baking.
- Use raw, unsalted pecans for the best flavor and texture.
- These bars can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week; they can also be frozen for longer storage.
Keywords: gluten-free pecan pie bars, healthy pecan bars, maple pecan bars, almond flour crust, gluten-free dessert, healthy pecan dessert
