German Chocolate Pecan Bars Recipe

We have updated this recipe for German Chocolate Pecan Bars since the original post in 2013.  We tried to reduce the sugar content and it worked, lowering the sugar and carbohydrate content slightly. 
 
I love German Chocolate Cake and Pecan Pie so why not make German Chocolate Pecan Bars Recipe?  Rich and sweet at the same time. Loved the crunchiness of the pecans and sweetness of all the chocolate.
 
german chocolate cake bars sliced on a cake dish
 
Because these reminded me of my Bourbon Chocolate Pecan Pie, I may some bourbon next time I make these. One person at the party where I served these dessert bars, remembered their mother calling them Dolly Madison Bars.
 

German Chocolate Pecan Bars Recipe 

We are no longer members but here is the gist of what we did back in 2013.

It is that time again, to reveal our Secret Recipe Club recipe. For those of you new to this club concept, each month we are assigned another blog and secretly find a recipe post that we would like to try and then reveal our experience with their recipe.

 

I am so thrilled to be assigned to Heather from Join Up Pull Up A Chair. She actually had me last month.

Her blog is filled with exciting and family-friendly recipes you will definitely want to browse through. We were attending a Family Game night party and I chose to bring a dessert after looking through her blog.

 

 

crust topped with chocolate chips Recipe TIPS:

 
 
  • When pressing down the crust, I like to use a measuring cup.
  • Allow the chocolate to melt on the warm crust before adding pecan mixture.  I used an offset spatula to spread the melted chocolate 

 

OTHER Cookie Bar Recipes You Might Like:

Cookie Bar Recipes

Cookie Bars are a great way to make cookies quickly and also are great for feeding a crowd.

 

Oatmeal Fudge Bars

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars For a Crowd

Slutty Brownies Recipe

 

I cut them into 24 pieces by cutting the entire recipe in half and then in thirds, etc.

 

 
These are very rich and I felt that was just the perfect size. You could cut into 36 pieces if these are going on a larger dessert bar/platter with other options.
 
For storing and serving, I put a little sheet of Parchment paper in between each layer to avoid sticking.
 
german chocolate bars cut and layered on a serving dish

 

 

 

These bars would make great bake sale bars if cut into larger squares like the older pictures.  I saw no true difference with by using some almond flour and white whole wheat.  

These dessert bars for a crowd are sweet enough and we did not miss the sweetness of the non-sweetened coconut.  They were gobbled up. 

 

Be sure to pin this for your next dessert to feed a crowd:

 

twist on Pecan Bars and German Chocolate Cake, these German Chocolate Pecan Bars will be a keeper in your home

German Chocolate Pecan Bars

German Chocolate Pecan Bars Recipe

German Chocolate Pecan Bars

Yield: 36 Bars
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

A classic cake recipe  in a bar recipe  These bars remind me of German Chocolate Cake and Pecan Pie.

Ingredients

  • 1 3/4 cups flour
  • 3 cups pecan halves
  • 3/4 cup confectioners sugar
  • 3/4 cup cold butter, cubed
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
  • 1 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
  • 3 eggs
  • 3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup light corn syrup
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a shallow baking pan, arrange pecan halves. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly toasted. Stir halfway through baking to avoid burning.
  2. Line the bottom and sides of a 9x13" baking pan with aluminum foil, leaving an overhang on the sides for handles. Grease foil with nonstick cooking spray.
  3. In a bowl, whisk together the flour, confectioners sugar and cocoa. Add the cold butter cubes and combine with a pastry blender until mixture resembles small crumbs. Press the mixture into the bottom and 3/4 inch up the sides of the prepared pan.
  4. Bake crust for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and immediately sprinkle the chocolate chips over the crust. The chips will begin to melt over the hot crust. Let cool at least 30 minutes on a wire rack.
  5. In the meantime, add the eggs to a large mixing bowl and beat lightly until combined. Add the brown sugar, corn syrup and melted butter. Whisk together until smooth. Stir in the coconut and pecan halves. Pour this mixture evenly over the cooled crust.
  6. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the edges are golden brown and the filling has set. Cool completely before placing in the refrigerate for a least an hour. Once ready to serve, remove from the baking pan with the aluminum foil handles and cut into bars with a sharp knife.

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Nutrition Information
Yield 36 Serving Size 1 bar
Amount Per Serving Calories 225Total Fat 15gSaturated Fat 6gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 8gCholesterol 29mgSodium 50mgCarbohydrates 24gFiber 2gSugar 17gProtein 2g
German Chocolate Pecan Bars Recipe

Lower Sugar German Chocolate Pecan Bars Recipe

Yield: 36 Bars
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Additional Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes

These bars remind me of German Chocolate Cake and Pecan Pie.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup White Whole Wheat flour
  • 3/4 cup Almond Flour
  • 3 cups pecan halves
  • 3/4 cup confectioners sugar
  • 3/4 cup cold butter, cubed
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
  • 1 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
  • 3 eggs
  • 2/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup light corn syrup
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 cup unsweetened flaked coconut

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a shallow baking pan, arrange pecan halves. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly toasted. Stir halfway through baking to avoid burning.
  2. Line the bottom and sides of a 9x13" baking pan with aluminum foil, leaving an overhang on the sides for handles. Grease foil with nonstick cooking spray.
  3. In a bowl, whisk together the flours, confectioners sugar and cocoa. Add the cold butter cubes and combine with a pastry blender until mixture resembles small crumbs. Press the mixture into the bottom and 3/4 inch up the sides of the prepared pan.
  4. Bake crust for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and immediately sprinkle the chocolate chips over the crust. The chips will begin to melt over the hot crust. Let cool at least 30 minutes on a wire rack.
  5. In the meantime, add the eggs to a large mixing bowl and beat lightly until combined. Add the brown sugar, corn syrup and melted butter. Whisk together until smooth. Stir in the coconut and pecan halves. Pour this mixture evenly over the cooled crust.
  6. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the edges are golden brown and the filling has set. Cool completely before placing in the refrigerate for a least an hour. Once ready to serve, remove from the baking pan with the aluminum foil handles and cut into bars with a sharp knife.
Nutrition Information
Yield 36 Serving Size 1 Bar
Amount Per Serving Calories 226Total Fat 16gSaturated Fat 6gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 9gCholesterol 29mgSodium 50mgCarbohydrates 21gFiber 2gSugar 16gProtein 3g

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15 Comments

  1. What a fantastic recipe to try for SRC! These look like all of my favorite ingredients rolled into one bar!

  2. We will just love your German Chocolate Pecan Bars, they look awesome!
    Happy Valentine Day!
    Miz Helen
    SRC Group B

  3. Those look so yummy!I’ll have to save the recipe & bring them to a housewarming I am going to.
    Theresa @ DearCreatives.com

  4. My husband would LOVE these. He loves German Chocolate Cake. Saving this one for future date night!

  5. These look delicious! Nice pick! 🙂

  6. I had Heather’s blog last month and know how good it is 🙂 You made an awesome, delicious choice!!

  7. So glad you liked them! They’re one of my favorite dessert bars and I can’t make them often, otherwise I’ll eat them all!

  8. That sounds amazing. Pinned.

  9. Oh wow, my mom would LOVE these…German chocolate is her favorite cake…so I’m sure these would be a great treat for her birthday or any time.

  10. These look amazing!

  11. Wow – those look amazing!!

  12. Yum! These look amazing and I love your idea about adding Bourbon! I think my hubby will like that version, too!

  13. You used the word, “amazing” and you are right, they look amazing and I want one.

  14. You got me at the words, “German Chocolate”….I have always loved the cake…these bars looks amazing…I can hardly wait… Pinning..

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