Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Bars are a delightful twist on classic pecan pie bars, perfect for holiday gatherings and potlucks.
This post was created in collaboration with Karo® Syrup as part of a holiday baking program. Thank you for supporting the brands that help bring recipes like this to life.
I’m a bit of a control freak when it comes to holiday meals. My family always offers to bring dishes for Thanksgiving, and while I appreciate the help, I tend to keep the main carbs—mashed potatoes, stuffing and dessert—under my own care. This year I’m embracing convenience and scheduling grocery delivery, which makes holiday prep less hectic and gives me more time to bake.
Thanksgiving isn’t complete without pecan pie, but switching to bars makes serving easier and cleanup minimal—no forks, fewer dishes, and a portable snack guests can pick up and enjoy. I added a splash of bourbon and plenty of dark chocolate for depth and richness. The result is gooey, balanced, and irresistibly festive.
Karo® Syrup helps achieve the ideal texture in the filling—smooth and gooey without being overly runny. This recipe yields a large batch, so you’ll have plenty to share and to enjoy as leftovers. My family lives on Thanksgiving leftovers for a week, so making enough to send everyone home with a treat is always appreciated. My only rule: bring your own containers.
These bars work for any season—take them to potlucks, after-game gatherings, or holiday parties. They’re crowd-pleasers and easy to transport. And yes, they pair perfectly with festive music while you bake.
Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Bars
Ingredients
For the Crust:
- 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter cut into pieces
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For the Filling:
- 4 large eggs
- 1-1/2 cups Karo® Light OR Dark Corn Syrup
- 1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 1-1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons bourbon*
- 2-1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans
- 1-1/2 cups dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- For the crust: Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine flour, butter, powdered sugar and salt with an electric mixer until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press firmly and evenly into a greased 15 x 10 x 1-inch pan or a 17 x 12 x 1-inch pan.
- Bake 20 minutes, or until golden brown.
- For the filling: In a large bowl, beat eggs, corn syrup, granulated sugar, cinnamon, melted butter, vanilla and bourbon until well blended. Stir in pecans and dark chocolate chips.
- Pour the filling over the hot crust and spread evenly.
- Bake 25 minutes at 350°F, until the filling is firm around the edges and slightly firm in the center. Cool completely on a wire rack before cutting and serving.
Notes
- If you prefer not to use bourbon or don’t have any on hand, you can omit it—the bars will still be delicious.