Vegan Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie Bars

I cannot consider how briskly this Fall goes. It appeared prefer it had simply began, and now it’s darkish exterior early, the leaves have fallen off the bushes and we’re method into November and Thanksgiving is that this week!  So I’m excited about the Thanksgiving desserts.  I do not often make pecan pie another time of the 12 months.  It was my favourite Thanksgiving dessert rising up. My Mother and Grandma have been huge pecan pie lovers, and I feel I inherited that too.  Not that I did not at all times take a chunk of the pumpkin and apple pie that we at all times had as properly, dessert was my favourite half, and I saved room.  I used to be excited about that pecan pie this week and the way good it was and determined that I wanted to make one thing related.  So I made Vegan Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie Bars!

Certainly one of my favourite pecan pies that I’ve made (I are likely to make completely different variations to maintain it fascinating), was one with chocolate chips or chunks. I didn’t wish to make an enormous pie proper now although, so I went with pecan pie bars.  I like making bars, as a result of they’re a great factor to retailer in my freezer and pull out when the craving strikes.  Plus they’re simple to share!

For these, I made form of a brief bread kind crust, as a result of I figured it could go so properly with the pecans. As an alternative of utilizing straight flour, I used a combination of flour and tapioca flour to provide it a pleasant soften in your mouth texture. If you do not have tapioca flour although, you need to use cornstarch as an alternative with good outcomes. For the filling, as an alternative of constructing a corn syrup or sugar and egg crammed filling like within the authentic, I made a gooey vanilla date caramel.  I like date caramel!  It tastes simply pretty much as good as common to me however is method much less processed. Dates are about as pure because it will get in relation to sweetener in the event you mix them up your self.

I added loads of pecans to this, and naturally the darkish chocolate chunks.  I couldn’t wait to strive these bars.  They smelled so heavenly whereas baking!  I needed to wait till the subsequent day although, since I used to be making them at night time, and I wished them to chop properly which requires full cooling. They turned out sooo good!  I feel I like these even higher than the uber candy pecan pie I grew up consuming, these have extra of a real pecan taste together with the candy caramel!  In case you are a pecan pie fan, give these Vegan Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie Bars a strive!

Vegan Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie Bars

Makes 16

Crust:

• 3/4 cup natural complete wheat pastry flour*
• 1/4 cup tapioca flour (or cornstarch would work as properly)
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/8 tsp sea salt
• 6  Tbsp vegan butter (equivalent to Earth Stability)

Filling:

• 1 cup comfortable pitted medjool dates (if they don’t seem to be comfortable, soak them in filtered water for half-hour and drain properly
• earlier than utilizing)
• 1/4 cup pecan butter (or uncooked cashew butter or almond butter)
• 1 Tbsp maple syrup, plus extra for brushing the highest of the pie
• 1/8 tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup filtered water
• 1 Tbsp coconut oil
• 2 cups toasted pecans, plus extra for high of bars
• 3/4 cup chopped vegan darkish chocolate, plus extra for high of bars
• maple syrup for brushing bars

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375F levels.
2. To make the crust, in a big bowl, combine collectively flour, tapioca flour,  sugar, and sea salt. Combine in butter and stir (or use your arms and knead) till a easy dough is created. Press into the underside of an 8×8 inch sq. pan.
3. Place within the oven and bake for quarter-hour or till simply beginning to brown.  Take away from the oven.
4. To make filling, mix all substances in a excessive pace blender or meals processor besides the pecans and chocolate chunks. Course of till easy, then scrape right into a bowl and stir within the pecans and chocolate chunks. Unfold the filling over the crust, and high with extra pecans and chocolate chunks. Brush the highest evenly with maple syrup. Place within the oven.
5. Bake for about 20 minutes till it’s beginning to brown evenly.
6. Take away from oven and let cool fully earlier than serving.

*When you desire common AP flour, that can work as properly. Or if you need to make these gluten free, you may swap the entire wheat flour for a gluten free flour mix like Bob’s Purple Mill AP baking flour (I’ve had success with this model).