Best Pecan Squares With Dipped Chocolate Ganache Recipes

PECAN SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the crust, beat the butter and granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, until light, approximately 3 minutes. Add the eggs and the vanilla and mix well. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix the dry ingredients into the batter with the mixer on low speed until just combined. Press the dough evenly into an ungreased 18 by 12 by 1-inch baking sheet, making an edge around the outside. It will be very sticky; sprinkle the dough and your hands lightly with flour. Bake for 15 minutes, until the crust is set but not browned. Allow to cool.
• For the topping, combine the butter, honey, brown sugar, and zests in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan. Cook over low heat until the butter is melted, using a wooden spoon to stir. Raise the heat and boil for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat. Stir in the heavy cream and pecans. Pour over the crust, trying not to get the filling between the crust and the pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the filling is set. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold. Cut into bars and serve.

PECAN SQUARES ALA THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA - INA GARTEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the crust, beat the butter and granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, until light, approximately 3 minutes.
• Add the eggs and the vanilla and mix well. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
• Mix the dry ingredients into the batter with the mixer on low speed until just combined.
• Press the dough evenly into an ungreased 18 by 12 by 1-inch baking sheet, making an edge around the outside. It will be very sticky; sprinkle the dough and your hands lightly with flour.
• Bake for 15 minutes, until the crust is set but not browned.
• Allow to cool.
• For the topping, combine the butter, honey, brown sugar, and zests in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan.
• Cook over low heat until the butter is melted, using a wooden spoon to stir.
• Raise the heat and boil for 3 minutes.
• Remove from the heat. Stir in the heavy cream and pecans.
• Pour over the crust, trying not to get the filling between the crust and the pan.
• Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the filling is set.
• Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
• Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold.
• Cut into bars.
• Dip one end in chocolate, if desired.
• Flatten cupcake papers and top each with a bar.

PECAN SHORTBREAD SQUARES

Steps:

• Cover a 9-inch square baking pan with heavy duty aluminum foil. Push foil neatly into corners and up sides of the pan, using two pieces if necessary to ensure it overlaps all edges (the overhang will help removal from pan). Spray foiled pan with nonstick cooking spray.
• Place the flour, cornstarch, confectioners sugar and salt in a bowl of a food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Pulse a few times to mix. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal with pea-size clumps of butter within. It will seem dry; that's okay. Transfer mixture to the prepared pan and press firmly with your fingers into an even layer over the bottom. Refrigerate for 15 minutes. While the crust is in the refrigerator, adjust an oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 350° F. Bake the crust until crust is set but not browned, about 17 minutes. Set on rack to cool. Leave oven on.
• In a heavy medium saucepan over medium-low heat, combine butter, brown sugar, honey, vanilla and salt. Stir with a wooden spoon until sugar dissolves. Turn up the heat and boil gently for 3 minutes. Stir in heavy cream and chopped pecans.
• Pour pecan mixture over crust (it's fine if the crust is still warm). Bake until filling is bubbling and caramel in color, about 20 minutes. Cool completely on rack. To cut, use the foil overhang to lift baked square out of pan and onto cutting board. Loosen the foil from the edges, then cut with a sharp knife into 2-inch squares. Store finished pecan squares in air-tight container and serve at room temperature.
• Freezer-Friendly Instructions: These can be frozen for up to 3 months. After they are completely cooled, double-wrap them securely with aluminum foil or plastic freezer wrap with the layers separated by wax or parchment paper. Thaw overnight on the countertop before serving.

DARK CHOCOLATE PECAN BARS

Steps:

• Make the crust: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with foil, leaving a 2-inch overhang on two sides; coat the foil with cooking spray. Pulse the pecans in a food processor until finely ground. Add the flour, granulated sugar and salt and pulse to combine. Add the cold butter and pulse until the dough starts clumping together (it will still be crumbly). Transfer to the baking dish and press into an even layer with your fingers. Bake until golden brown and set, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the topping: Whisk the corn syrup, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, melted butter, vanilla and salt in a large bowl until smooth, then stir in the pecans.
• Spread the topping over the warm crust and sprinkle evenly with the chocolate. Return to the oven and bake until the top is set and no longer jiggly, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool completely in the pan. Remove and cut into diamonds or squares.

CHOCOLATE PECAN BARS

Steps:

• For the crust: Adjust the oven rack to the bottom position and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C).
• Coat the bottom and sides of a 9-by-13-inch (23-by-33 centimeter) baking pan with cooking spray. Line the pan with parchment paper, letting the paper overhang the edges of the pan by a few inches on two sides (this will help you lift the bars out of the pan).
• In a food processor, pulse together the butter, flour, salt and sugar until the butter is in pea-sized pieces. Add the water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and pulse until the dough begins to pull from the sides of the bowl. Transfer the dough to a floured surface, gather together, and pat into a rectangle. Roll the dough into a rectangle 1/8 inch (3 mm) thick that measures about 13 by 15 inches (33 by 38 centimeters). Trim the rough edges and ease the dough into the prepared pan, pressing it onto the bottom and about halfway up the sides (trim the dough more on the sides as needed). Prick the dough a couple times with a fork. Cover with aluminum foil and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake until the dough starts to set up, about 15 minutes. Remove the weights and foil and continue to bake until the crust is just golden, about 5 minutes more. Let cool completely.
• For the filling: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C). Spread the pecans in an even layer on a baking sheet. Toast until fragrant and golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool slightly, then roughly chop.
• Beat the honey and brown sugar with an electric mixer until smooth. Beat in the eggs. Add in the melted butter and continue to beat. Add the flour, Bourbon, orange zest and vanilla. Sprinkle the pecans and chocolate chips over the crust and pour the honey mixture over the top. Bake until the top of the filling is golden brown and the center sets up, 30 to 40 minutes. Cover and put in the refrigerator until cool. When ready to serve, cut into 12 to 24 bars.

CHOCOLATE-PECAN SHEET PIE WITH MOLASSES RECIPE

Steps:

• Pulse pecans, granulated sugar, and salt in a food processor until finely ground. Add 4 1/2 cups flour and pulse until combined. Add butter and pulse until pea-size pieces remain. With motor running, stream in 3/4 cup ice water; pulse until dough begins to form large clumps.
• Turn out dough onto a work surface. Knead briefly to combine, then pat into a flat rectangle. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill 1 hour.
• Arrange a rack in center of oven; preheat to 375°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on 2 long sides.
• Transfer dough to a lightly floured, long piece of parchment (at least 20") and roll out to a larger rectangle. Top with another floured piece of parchment; roll to a 19x15" rectangle about 1/4" thick (if dough becomes too warm, chill 5 minutes). Remove top layer of parchment. Gently transfer parchment-lined dough to baking sheet so short sides of parchment hang over short sides of baking sheet. Press dough up sides of baking sheet until dough is just hanging over rim, then trim so edges are flush. Crimp with a fork, if desired, then prick bottom of dough with fork. Freeze dough 20 minutes.
• Bake crust until edges are lightly browned and beginning to set, 15-20 minutes. Transfer baking sheet to a wire rack and let cool.
• Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until solids begin to brown and butter smells nutty, about 5-8 minutes. Remove from heat and immediately stir in granulated sugar. Add corn syrup, molasses, lemon juice, vanilla, and salt and stir to combine. Add eggs and whisk until smooth.
• Pull out center rack of oven; place crust on rack. Pour filling into crust and carefully return rack to oven. Bake pie 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 325°F and continue to bake until filling is set but wobbles slightly when baking sheet is tapped, 20-25 minutes more. Transfer pan to a wire rack and let cool.
• Increase oven temperature to 350°F. Whisk egg white in a large bowl until frothy. Add brown sugar and salt and whisk to combine. Add pecans and mix with a spoon until evenly coated.
• Spread pecan mixture on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet and bake, tossing once halfway through, until toasted and crisp, about 8 minutes. Toss pecans, then transfer to a large bowl. Sprinkle with granulated sugar and toss to coat. Let cool, tossing occasionally to ensure pecans don't stick together, then coarsely chop.
• Place chocolate in a small bowl. Bring cream to a simmer in a small saucepan, then pour over chocolate. Tap bowl to submerge chocolate in cream; let stand 1 minute.
• Using a small whisk, stir chocolate mixture in the center until shiny and smooth. Pour ganache over pie and spread evenly with an offset spatula. Sprinkle candied pecans over pie while chocolate is warm. Let pie cool at room temperature at least 2 hours or chill 1 hour.
• Using parchment, transfer tart to a large cutting board or serving platter. Cut into squares to serve.
• Pie can be made 1 day ahead; loosely cover and chill.