CHOCOLATE PECAN BARS

Chocolate Pecan Bars image

This is like a toned-down pecan pie in bar form.

Provided by Martha Rose Shulman

Categories dessert

Time 1h30m

Yield 18 to 20 bars

Number Of Ingredients 15

Ingredients

4 ounces (1 cup) whole-wheat pastry flour
2 ounces (1/2 cup) all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
3 ounces 6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 to 3 teaspoons ice water
2 ounces 4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter
1/3 cup mild honey, like clover
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Pinch of salt
1/2 cup chopped bittersweet chocolate or chocolate chips
8 ounces (2 cups) pecan halves

Steps:

Butter or oil a 9-by-13-by-2-inch pan and line with parchment. Butter the parchment. Sift together the flours and salt. Place the mixture in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade and add the sugar. Pulse to blend together. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture is crumbly. With the machine running, add the vanilla extract and ice water and process until the dough comes together on the blades. Stop the machine and, using your hands, press into an even layer in the prepared pan. Pierce with a fork all over and chill for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Bake the cookie base for 20 minutes, until it is just beginning to color. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before adding the top layer.
Cream the butter with the honey, salt and nutmeg in a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or in a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. The mixture will look broken, which is fine.
Distribute the chocolate and then the pecans evenly over the cookie layer. Scrape in the butter and egg mixture and spread in an even layer. Place in the oven and bake 20 to 25 minutes, until set. Remove from the heat and allow to cool completely before cutting.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 199, UnsaturatedFat 9 grams, Carbohydrate 18 grams, Fat 14 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 3 grams, SaturatedFat 4 grams, Sodium 60 milligrams, Sugar 9 grams, TransFat 0 grams