Kentucky Derby Bars Recipe
Kentucky Derby Bars are a rich and decadent dessert featuring a buttery shortbread crust topped with a gooey, nutty filling of brown sugar, corn syrup, pecans, chocolate chips, and eggs. These bars combine a tender base with a chewy, caramel-like topping for a perfect sweet treat often enjoyed during festive occasions.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 24 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
Filling
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 cup dark corn syrup
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 4 large eggs
- 2 cups chopped pecans
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 13×9-inch baking pan with aluminum foil and spray it with nonstick cooking spray to ensure easy removal of the bars later.
- Make the Crust: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, confectioners’ sugar, and salt. Cut the softened butter into the flour mixture using a pastry cutter or your fingers until it resembles coarse crumbs, creating a shortbread-like dough.
- Bake the Crust: Firmly press the crust mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the crust is lightly browned and set, then remove from the oven.
- Prepare the Filling: In a separate large bowl, combine the brown sugar, dark corn syrup, melted butter, eggs, chopped pecans, and semisweet chocolate chips. Mix well until all ingredients are fully incorporated into a uniform batter.
- Assemble and Bake: Pour the prepared filling evenly over the baked crust in the pan. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 30 to 35 minutes, or until the filling is set and no longer jiggly in the center.
- Cool and Slice: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Once cooled, lift the bars out using the foil and slice into squares to serve.
Notes
- Ensure the butter for the crust is softened for easy mixing.
- Use a spatula or foil edges to help lift the bars out of the pan after baking for cleaner slicing.
- For a nut-free version, omit pecans and add extra chocolate chips or substitute with your favorite nuts.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
Keywords: Kentucky Derby Bars, pecan bars, chocolate chip bars, dessert bars, American dessert, nutty bars
Find it online: https://bakedbylisa.com/kentucky-derby-bars-recipe/
