Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie Bars

Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie Bars

16 oz. raw pecans, divided
1 cup all-purpose flour
8 Tbs. butter, chilled
2/3 cup + 2 Tbs. sugar, divided
1 cup good bourbon, divided
10 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chunks (or chips), divided
3 large eggs
2/3 cup dark corn syrup
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. hickory smoked salt, divided

 

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

Using a food processor, chop 1/2 the pecans into a semi-fine powder. 

Add the flour, 1/2 tsp. smoked salt, and cold butter. 

Pulse again until crumbly. 

Add 2 Tbs. sugar and 1/3 cup bourbon and pulse again until wet enough to spread and nice and doughy.

Transfer to a square baking dish and press down evenly with a spatula.

Next, melt 1/2 the chocolate either in the microwave or over a double boiler. Whisk in another 1/3 cup of bourbon.

“Paint” the crust with this chocolate bourbon mixture.

Finally, in a medium bowl, combine the remaining pecans, sugar, bourbon, chocolate, and salt, and whisk in the eggs, corn syrup, and vanilla until everything is well combined.

Bake for 30-40 minutes, until gooey and bubbly, but also set.

Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 4-6 hours before cutting into bars.

 

Serve with vanilla ice cream and drizzled with a little extra bourbon, if desired!