Ketchup With That

Hey Summer Butterscotch Pecan Bars

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Butterscotch Pecan BarsIn summer, the song sings itself. ~William Carlos Williams

In Canada, the second Monday in May is a national holiday, with this long weekend marking the beginning of our summer season.

The garden centers are open, the barbecues are out of the shed and there’s a three or four week window before the mosquitoes and black flies hit.

People are everywhere – on lawns, in parks… walking aimlessly with smiles on their faces, surprised (again!) that another winter has well and truly ended.

We’re like lizards crawled out from under rocks and basking in the northern hemisphere’s sun.

There’s definitely a summery celebratory vibe pervading these eastern regions (even though the buds have only just broken out on the trees).

So here’s something to celebrate with. These Butterscotch Pecan Bars aren’t exactly light and summery, but they are rich and celebration-y (now that it’s a word).

These squares are a pecan shortbread topped with butterscotch, caramel and chocolate ganache. There are a few steps involved, but none of them are complicated.

Something to put together on a leisurely holiday weekend.

(And for a good summer story, try this animated short from the National Film Board of Canada. It tells the Mi’kmaq legend of how summer came to Canada.)

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Butterscotch Pecan Bars
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Butterscotch Pecan Bars
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
45 mins
Total Time
1 hr 15 mins
 
These squares are very rich with a luxurious combination of butter pecan shortbread, butterscotch, caramel and chocolate.
Servings: 16 2-inch bars
Author: Mary Gillespie
Ingredients
Crust
  • 1/2 cup pecans
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup butter softened
Filling:
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup whipping cream
  • 2 tablespoons corn syrup or honey
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 eggs beaten
  • 1/2 cup butterscotch chips
  • 1/2 cup pecans coarsely chopped
Topping:
  • 1 cup chopped semi-sweet chocolate or chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup whipping cream
  • 2 tablespoons grated orange rind optional
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Lightly grease an 8x8-inch baking pan.
  3. Cut a sheet of parchment or aluminum foil 8-inches wide and long enough to extend above the pan on two sides. (This will make it easier to remove the bars from the pan before cutting them. It makes for better and more even cuts.)
  4. Toast the pecans for the crust and the filling by placing in a frying pan over medium-low heat. Heat gently for approximately 5 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent burning. The nuts should begin to smell fragrant when they are ready. Remove from heat immediately and place nuts in a bowl to prevent any further cooking.
Crust:
  1. If using a food processor, place 1/2 of the toasted nuts in the processor bowl. Pulse until the nuts are very finely chopped. Add flour, brown sugar, and salt and pulse until the ingredients are thoroughly mixed.
  2. With the food processor running on low speed, add lumps of the softened butter and mix until incorporated and crust mixture becomes a similar texture throughout. It will be somewhat stiff.
  3. If you are not using a food processor, beat the butter until smooth with an electric mixer. Add the brown sugar and beat until thoroughly mixed. Add the flour, finely chopped nuts and salt and stir until a stiff dough is formed.
  4. Spread over parchment paper in prepared pan, and press down firmly to create an even crust. .Bake for 15 minutes.
  5. While crust is baking, prepare the filling.
Filling:
  1. Heat butter and brown sugar together over medium-low heat until the butter has melted.
  2. Stir the mixture until the butter is evenly mixed with the sugar. Heat until it starts to bubble. Let cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly.
  3. Add the salt and whipping cream. Heat until the mixture is bubbling again. Cook for 4-5 minutes. The color of the mixture should begin to darken a bit, and it should thicken slightly. Remove from the heat and let cool for 5 minutes.
  4. Add 1/4 cup of the cooled cream mixture to the beaten eggs and stir quickly until completely mixed.
  5. Pour the egg into the remaining cream mixture and stir thoroughly.
  6. When the baked crust is removed from the oven, let it cool for 5 minutes, then sprinkle with the chopped pecans and butterscotch chips. Pour the the cream mixture over the crust and return to the oven for 25 more minutes, or until the filling has firmed and the crust is lightly browned.
  7. Remove from the oven and let cool completely in the pan.
  8. While the bars are cooling, prepare the topping.
Topping
  1. Place the chocolate in a small mixing bowl.
  2. If you are using the orange rind, add it to the cream and let the mixture sit for 5-10 minutes.
  3. Heat the cream to boiling point in microwave or on stove top.
  4. Pour hot cream over chocolate. If you are using the orange rind, pour the cream through a strainer to remove the rind.
  5. Let chocolate sit for 5 minutes so that the heat of the cream can melt the chocolate.
  6. After five minutes, stir until the chocolate becomes smooth and glossy. If there are still a few unmelted lumps remaining, heat mixture in microwave for 30 seconds, or place bowl over a pan of simmering water and stir until smooth.
  7. Put the chocolate aside until the bars are completely cool. Spread chocolate over cooled bars. (You can heat cooled chocolate for 30 seconds so that it will pour more easily.)
  8. Let chocolate set (you can refrigerate the bars to speed this process up).
  9. When ready, loosen edges of bars, then lift out with the parchment paper.
  10. Cut into squares and serve.

 

Comments

    • admin says

      Thanks for stopping by 🙂 My kids really liked this one. I think I will have to make a double batch next time 🙂 Happy Birthday to your little one!

      Reply

  5. Louisa says

    Hmmm. These bars have everything I love in them. No matter the season, I’ll take some caramel, butterscotch, pecans and chocolate!

    Reply

    • admin says

      Thanks 🙂 This works well for a few kids to make because they can each do a part and then put it all together.

      Reply

  7. Kim says

    Another fellow Canadian here! I love this time of year in Canada. I have the fondest memories of forcing Spring, driving around with the windows open, grinning from ear to ear, pretending it wasn’t only 52 degrees outside, simply because the sun had made it’s appearance. But Victoria Day.. that’s always my favorite. 🙂 These look so yummy!

    Reply

    • admin says

      It’s true 🙂 The minute things go above 2 degrees Celsius you see scores of university and high school kids in shorts. It seems to take forever to get here, but once it’s here it’s like winter never happened 🙂

      Reply

  8. Leslie says

    Oh, my gosh! Those look decadent. I have always loved the flavor of butterscotch. It reminds me of the Snack-Pak puddings my mother used to put in my lunch back in kindergarten!

    Reply

  14. Michele says

    It is so appropriate that I found your blog via Creative Bloggers Network today since I am headed to Canada tomorrow. It will be my first trip to Montreal. I am glad to know there is such deliciousness in Canada!

    Reply

    • admin says

      Thanks for stopping by 🙂 Have a wonderful trip! I love Montreal – and there is so much deliciousness there 🙂 Lots to see and do, and a great time of year to be going.

      Reply

    • admin says

      Thanks for stopping by 🙂 I’m thinking these might make it on the Christmas baking list, too.

      Reply

    • admin says

      Thanks 🙂 One good thing about these is that they are quite rich, so I can only eat 2 (which is unusual :))

      Reply

    • admin says

      Happy Victoria Day 🙂 These went well after the barbecue– now I have to catch up on all the yard work 🙂 Somehow I’m already behind…

      Reply

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