Welcome to the enchanting world of holiday baking, where cherished traditions meet exciting new flavors! This festive season, prepare to dazzle your taste buds and impress your guests with an extraordinary dessert that effortlessly blends classic comfort with a delightful twist: **Blueberry Pecan Pie Bars**. Imagine the rich, nutty goodness of a traditional pecan pie elevated by the vibrant, juicy burst of blueberries, all nestled in a tender, buttery shortbread crust. These bars aren’t just a dessert; they’re an experience, a symphony of textures and flavors designed to become your new holiday obsession.
Why These Blueberry Pecan Pie Bars Are a Must-Bake This Season
The holiday season is synonymous with gathering, celebrating, and indulging in delicious food. Our ovens work overtime, churning out an array of sweet treats, and these **Blueberry Pecan Pie Bars** are destined to be the star of your dessert table. What makes them so special? It’s the impeccable balance of contrasts that creates an unforgettable culinary journey with every bite. The sweet, caramel-like notes of traditional pecan pie are perfectly complemented by the tangy, bright essence of blueberries, offering a refreshingly complex flavor profile that will leave your senses captivated.
Beyond flavor, the textural interplay is simply divine. Picture a crust that is both buttery and tender, with a satisfying chewiness and the delightful crunch of toasted pecans. Then, there’s the filling – a truly magical concoction that’s sweet, tangy, wonderfully gooey, and packed with plump, juicy blueberries and more crunchy pecans. As it bakes, it caramelizes into an amazing crispness, creating a dessert that is rich yet not overly heavy. Each element works in harmony, ensuring every mouthful is a celebration of taste and texture. Your taste buds won’t just dance; they’ll demand an encore!
The Versatility of Canned Blueberries: A Year-Round Delight
One of the many beauties of these **easy pecan pie bars** is their year-round appeal. While blueberries might be a summer fruit, you don’t have to wait for peak season to enjoy this incredible dessert. Thanks to high-quality canned blueberries, you can bake these bars with confidence any time of year, knowing they’ll always taste absolutely delicious. We highly recommend Oregon Fruit Products canned blueberries, which are harvested and packed at their peak of ripeness. This ensures maximum flavor, juiciness, and a luscious sweetness that rivals fresh fruit.
Having Oregon Fruit Products canned fruits in your pantry is a game-changer for any baker. They offer a quick and convenient way to incorporate the vibrant flavors and essential nutrients of fruit without the hassle of searching for seasonal produce. No more disappointment when your favorite berries are out of season! Oregon Fruit Products blueberries are consistently amazing and readily available throughout the year. You can easily order them on Amazon or find them at most grocery stores nationwide, making it simpler than ever to whip up these delightful **blueberry dessert bars** whenever a craving strikes.
Deconstructing the Deliciousness: The Elements of Perfect Pie Bars
Let’s take a closer look at what makes these **Blueberry Pecan Pie Bars** an absolute dream dessert. From the satisfyingly crackly top to the chewy, substantial bottom, every layer contributes to an unparalleled sensory experience. You’ll want to bake these soon and often, perhaps even making them a staple in your **holiday dessert recipes** collection.
The Perfect Shortbread Pecan Crust
The foundation of these incredible bars is a buttery shortbread crust that’s truly something special. What sets it apart is the generous addition of finely chopped pecans, which toast beautifully as the crust partially bakes. This creates an incredibly aromatic and flavorful base, infusing every bite with a warm, nutty essence. The best part? This crust is incredibly simple to make! It’s the kind you just press directly into the pan with your hands and then pre-bake, making it an effortlessly elegant starting point for your **homemade pecan pie bars**. This sturdy yet tender crust holds up perfectly to the rich filling, ensuring a delightful texture contrast.
The Irresistible Blueberry Pecan Filling
Once the crust is par-baked, it’s time for the star of the show: the rich, gooey filling. This filling achieves the perfect harmony of sweet and tart, with a captivating chewiness balanced by the crunch of pecans. It’s generously loaded with plump, juicy blueberries and more chopped pecans, all suspended in that classic, gooey pecan pie base. The secret to its vibrant flavor profile lies in the delicate inclusion of lemon zest and lemon juice. These citrus notes don’t just add a bright, zesty tang; they brilliantly highlight the natural sweetness of the blueberries, preventing the dessert from becoming overly cloying and adding an extra layer of complexity that keeps you coming back for more. This is truly what makes these **blueberry pecan squares** stand out.
The Signature Caramelized Crackly Top
As these **pecan pie bars with blueberries** bake to golden perfection, a glorious caramelized crackly top emerges. This happens as the pecans gently rise to the surface, creating a delightful texture that’s absolutely to die for! It’s that familiar, satisfying crunch you anticipate when biting into a classic pecan pie, and this recipe absolutely nails it. This beautiful top not only adds incredible visual appeal but also contributes another layer of texture that enhances the overall experience, making these bars truly irresistible.
Tips for Perfect Blueberry Pecan Pie Bars
Achieving bakery-quality **homemade pecan bars** is simpler than you think with a few key tips:
- Drain Blueberries Well: Ensure your canned blueberries are thoroughly drained. Excess moisture can make the filling too thin.
- Don’t Overmix the Crust: Mix just until the ingredients are combined and resemble coarse crumbs. Overmixing can lead to a tough crust.
- Par-bake the Crust: Pre-baking the crust ensures it’s perfectly crisp and prevents it from becoming soggy once the filling is added.
- Know When It’s Done: The filling should be set, and a toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean. The top will be beautifully golden and crackly.
- Cool Completely and Chill: This is crucial for clean, neat slices. Allow the bars to cool fully at room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (or longer) before cutting.
- Storage: Store any leftover **blueberry pecan bars** in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
You can see just how beautifully these bars bake up! And speaking of baking, the right equipment makes all the difference. For achieving consistently perfect results, a high-quality pan is essential. I absolutely adore the 360 Cookware Baking Pan I use. It ensures even heat distribution, resulting in perfectly baked bars every time. It’s my absolute favorite baking pan, and it truly makes a difference in the outcome of my recipes!
Serving Suggestions & Variations for Your Dessert Bars
These **easy blueberry pecan pie bars** are incredibly versatile. They are significantly easier to make, serve, and eat than a traditional pie, making them ideal for holiday gatherings, potlucks, or simply a sweet treat at home. Cut them into small squares for individual servings, perfect for a crowd. Serve them as they are, or elevate them with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, a dollop of freshly whipped cream, or a dusting of powdered sugar. For an extra touch of warmth, you can gently heat them before serving.
Feeling adventurous? Consider these variations:
- Nut Swaps: While pecans are classic, feel free to experiment with walnuts or a mix of your favorite nuts.
- Spice It Up: A pinch of nutmeg or a dash of ginger can add another layer of warm spice to the filling.
- Citrus Boost: For an even brighter flavor, add a little extra lemon zest to the crust mixture.
These bars are designed to be a joyous addition to your festive celebrations. They offer all the beloved flavors of pecan pie with the added delight of blueberries, in a convenient bar form. I genuinely hope you fall as madly in love with these **blueberry dessert squares** as we have.
Enjoy every delightful bite!
xoxo,
This post was created as part of my partnership with Oregon Fruit Products. All thoughts and opinions expressed are authentically my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make The BakerMama possible.
Blueberry Pecan Pie Bars
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Author: Maegan – The BakerMama
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 40 mins
Total Time: 50 mins
Yield: 16-20
Category: Dessert
Description
These Blueberry Pecan Pie Bars are an irresistible twist on a holiday classic. With a tender pecan-studded shortbread crust and a gooey blueberry and pecan loaded filling, they’re sure to be a holiday hit!
Ingredients
Crust:
- 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
Filling:
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 large eggs
- 1–1/2 cups light corn syrup
- 1 tablespoon lemon Zest
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cans Oregon Fruit blueberries, drained
- 1–1/2 cups chopped pecans
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350°F.
- Crust: Beat the butter and sugar until smooth. Add the flour and cinnamon and beat at low speed until starting to combine and then medium speed until well combined. Mixture will resemble coarse crumbs. Mix in the chopped pecans.
- Press the crust mixture evenly into the bottom of an ungreased 13×9-inch baking pan with your hands. Bake 20 minutes, rotating pan halfway through, until edges are very light golden brown. Remove from oven.
- Filling: While the crust is partially baking, combine the brown sugar, flour, salt and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl and whisk until mixed together. Add the corn syrup, lemon zest, lemon juice, eggs, and vanilla and whisk until well combined. With a mixing spoon, stir in the drained blueberries and then the chopped pecans.
- Pour the filling evenly over the hot, partially baked crust. The filling should evenly cover the crust. Bake 40 minutes or until the filling is set and a toothpick inserted in several places throughout the center comes out clean.
- Cool completely in pan and then refrigerate at least 30 minutes before cutting into bars to get clean slices. Store bars in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.