Brown Butter Pecan Pie Bars

These ultra flavorful brown butter pecan pie bars made with maple syrup are so much easier than baking an entire pie.

Ingredients

Brown Butter Crust

• 1 cup (16 Tbsp; 226g) unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)

Pecan Pie Topping

• 1/2 cup (8 Tbsp; 113g) unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup (100g) packed light or dark brown sugar (I prefer dark here)
• 1/2 cup (120ml) pure maple syrup
• 2 Tablespoons (30ml) heavy cream
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 3 cups (300g) coarsely chopped shelled pecans
• optional: sea salt for sprinkling

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C) and grease a 9×13-inch pan or line with parchment paper leaving an overhang on the sides to lift the finished bars out. Set aside.
2. For the crust: Slice the butter up into pieces and place in a light-colored skillet. (Light colored helps you determine when the butter begins browning.) Melt the butter over medium heat, stirring occasionally